Lives of Scripture

Bera was king of Sodom when a coalition of four eastern kings led by Chedorlaomer invaded the Jordan valley to put down a rebellion by five vassal kings, Bera among them (Genesis 14:1-4). Bera and his allies marched out to battle in the Valley of Siddim but were routed; Scripture notes the valley was full of tar pits, into which the fleeing kings and armies fell, while survivors escaped to the hills (14:8-10). The invaders plundered Sodom and Gomorrah and carried off captives, including Abram's nephew Lot, who lived there (14:11-12). When Abram heard, he pursued the raiders with 318 trained men, defeated them, and recovered the captives and goods (14:13-16). Bera, "king of Sodom," then went out to meet Abram at the King's Valley after Abram's victory (14:17). He offered Abram a striking deal: "Give the people to me and take the goods for yourself" (14:21). Abram refused even a thread or sandal strap, so that Bera could never say, "I have made Abram rich" (14:22-23) -- Abram wanted his blessing traced to God alone, not to the king of a city already notorious for wickedness (13:13). Bera's brief appearance sets up a deliberate contrast between a defeated pagan king's offer and Abram's refusal to be beholden to him.