The King of Sodom and Abram’s Encounter
Bera is one of the earliest named kings in the Bible, reigning over the wicked city-state of Sodom. His entire historical role is contained within the dramatic narrative of Genesis chapter 14, which chronicles a battle of kings and introduces the patriarch Abram (later Abraham) as a warrior and a man of faith.
The King of the Cities of the Plain
The name Bera (Hebrew: Bera’) is of uncertain meaning, but is perhaps related to the idea of “gift” or “in evil”—a fitting, if ironic, name for the king of a city defined by its wickedness.
Bera ruled over Sodom, one of the five wealthy Cities of the Plain located in the fertile and well-watered Vale of Siddim (now the Dead Sea valley) . These cities, including Sodom, Gomorrah (ruled by King Birsha), Admah, and Zeboiim, were strategically positioned but morally bankrupt (Genesis 13:13, KJV).
The Battle in the Vale of Siddim
The core of Bera’s story is the War of the Kings described in Genesis 14. For twelve years, Bera and the allied kings of the plain had been tributary servants to Chedorlaomer, the powerful King of Elam, and his confederate kings from the east. In the thirteenth year, Bera and his allies rebelled (Genesis 14:4, KJV).
In the fourteenth year, the eastern coalition returned to crush the rebellion. Bera and the kings of the plain gathered for battle in the Vale of Siddim, which was full of slimepits (tar pits):
“And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela… and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;… And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.” (Genesis 14:8-10, KJV)
The defeat was catastrophic. Bera and the king of Gomorrah fled, and the four eastern kings plundered the cities, taking captives, including Abram’s nephew, Lot.
The Encounter with Abram
After Abram rescued Lot and recovered all the goods and people, Bera, the king of Sodom, came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (which is the King’s Dale) (Genesis 14:17, KJV). This meeting is crucial for two reasons:
- Melchizedek: This is the scene where Abram meets Melchizedek, the King of Salem and “the priest of the most high God,” who blesses Abram (Genesis 14:18-20, KJV).
- Abram’s Integrity: Bera offered Abram all the recovered goods, requesting only the rescued persons. Abram, having just received the blessing of God through Melchizedek, refused to take any of Bera’s goods, stating: “I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoe latchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich” (Genesis 14:22-23, KJV).
A Lesson in Separation
Bera, King of Sodom, is a lasting example of the world’s power and corruption. Abram’s interaction with him provides a powerful demonstration of separation and reliance on God alone. By refusing Bera’s wealth, Abram affirmed that his blessing came directly from the Most High God, possessing heaven and earth, and not from association with an ungodly ruler of a doomed city.