Bera (king)

Bera (Heb.: ברע) is the king of Sodom (סדם) in Genesis 14. There is no mention of this monarch outside this biblical passage, and no trace of the city of Sodom has ever been found. In the story, Bera joins other Canaanite city kings in rebelling against Chedorlaomer , an Elamite king who rules a vast empire. The huge imperial forces plunder Sodom, taking many people captive and also much plunder. The people and possessions are rescued by Abram . Bera comes---he had escaped the battle by hiding in a hole---and tells Abram he can keep all the material wealth if only he'll give him back his people. Abram generously replies that he will not take as much as a shoelace from Sodom.

Bera ( Bera‘ ) is the king of Sodom in Genesis , chapter 14. There is no mention of this monarch outside this biblical passage, and no trace of the city of Sodom has ever been found. In the story, Bera joins other Canaanite city kings in rebelling against Chedorlaomer , an Elamite king and his allies who rule a vast area. In the Battle of the Vale of Siddim , the combined imperial forces plunder Sodom and nearby cities, taking many people captive and also much plunder. Bera and the king of Gomorrah, Birsha, flee the battle and fall into one of Siddim's many slimepits while other survivors escape into the mountains (v. 10). Abram (Abraham) then mobilizes his 318 retainers and defeats Chedorlaomer and the kings with him, rescuing the captives and plunder of the cities including Sodom. Bera tells Abram he can keep all the material wealth if only he'll give him back his people. Abram refuses, saying he will not take as much as a shoelace from Sodom "lest thou should say, I have made Abram rich" (v. 23).

According to the Bible, Bera ( Beraʿ ) (possibly meaning "gift" ) was the king of the wicked city of Sodom, spoken of in Genesis ,14:2, "… that they made war with Bera king of Sodom." Scholars are divided on Genesis 14. According to Frances Anderson, "Opinions range from identifying Genesis 14 as a piece of late fiction" to scholars who believe there may be "some historical foundation" behind the narrative it relates. In the narrative, Bera joins four other Canaanite city kings in rebelling against Chedorlaomer , an Elamite king and his allies who rule a vast area. In the Battle of the Vale of Siddim , the combined imperial forces plunder Sodom and nearby cities, taking many people captive and also much plunder. Bera and the king of Gomorrah, Birsha, flee the battle and fall into one of Siddim's many tarpits while other survivors escape into the mountains (14:10).

According to the Bible, Bera ( Hebrew : בֶּ֫רַע Beraʿ ; possibly meaning "gift" ) was the king of the wicked city of Sodom , spoken of in Genesis 14:2, "... that they made war with Bera king of Sodom." Scholars are divided on Genesis 14. According to Frances Anderson, "Opinions range from identifying Genesis 14 as a piece of late fiction" to scholars who believe there may be "some historical foundation" behind the narrative it relates. In the narrative, Bera joins four other Canaanite city kings in rebelling against Chedorlaomer , an Elamite king and his allies who rule a vast area. In the Battle of the Vale of Siddim , the combined imperial forces plunder Sodom and nearby cities, taking many people captive and also much plunder. Bera and the king of Gomorrah, Birsha, flee the battle and fall into one of Siddim's many tarpits while other survivors escape into the mountains (14:10). " Bera ", International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915).