Battle of the Vale of Siddim

1913 BC Canaan / Mesopotamia Status: ended Casualties: Unknown — kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled into bitumen pits

After twelve years of tribute, the kings of the plain rebelled against Chedorlaomer. The eastern coalition crushed them and carried off Lot. Abram pursued from Hebron to Dan, struck the kings by night, and recovered the captives. Recorded in Genesis 14 — the first named war in scripture.

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Belligerents

Chedorlaomer of Elam & coalition of four kings
Five kings of the plain (Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, Bela)
Abram and 318 trained servants

Casualties

Unknown — kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled into bitumen pits

Key events

12 years of tribute, 13th year of rebellion
Eastern coalition crushes the plain at the Vale of Siddim
Lot taken captive
Abram pursues to Dan, divides his men by night, smites them to Hobah
Melchizedek of Salem blesses Abram with bread and wine; Abram tithes

Aftermath

First named war in scripture and the first appearance of Melchizedek — read by the New Testament as a type of Christ. Abram refuses any spoil from the king of Sodom: 'lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich.'

Weapons & matériel

Bronze swords & spears
318 trained servants of Abram's house
Night ambush

Technology

Pursuit warfare across 200 km from Hebron to Dan; first recorded special-operation rescue

Sources

Genesis 14

From World at War, an interactive atlas by Jairus Pereira. Figures are approximate, drawn from Wikipedia, UCDP, ACLED and academic sources — a design artefact, not an authoritative register. Contact.