Interesting Facts

• Arioch was a king of Elasar.
• He formed a covenant with Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goyim, and they were obedient to Chedorlaomer’s commands.
• Arioch allied with Chedorlaomer and Tidal to wage war against the rebellious cities of the plain, including Sodom and Gomorrah.
• Arioch participated in the plundering of Sodom and Gomorrah and the capture of Lot.
• Arioch was pursued and defeated by Abram along with Chedorlaomer and the other allied kings.

Genealogy

• The sources do not provide information about Arioch’s ancestry, birth, marital connections, or offspring.

Historical Context

Arioch’s existence is placed within a period characterized by warfare and the formation of alliances among different rulers. The texts describe a time when Nimrod of Shinar initially held significant power, and Chedorlaomer of Elam was one of his princes. Following the dispersion after the Tower of Babel, various kings, including Chedorlaomer and presumably Arioch, established their own domains. The rebellion of the five cities of the plain against Chedorlaomer after twelve years of servitude highlights a dynamic of shifting regional control and the assertion of independence by smaller city-states. Arioch’s alliance with Chedorlaomer and Tidal suggests a political landscape where mutual support and shared interests led to military coalitions aimed at maintaining dominance and suppressing dissent. This era precedes the formal covenant between God and Abram, occurring within a context of competing kingdoms and their struggles for power.

Narrative

Arioch features in the narrative primarily as an ally of Chedorlaomer, the king of Elam. He is identified as the king of Elasar and enters the story when Chedorlaomer, having subdued several regions and established dominance over the five cities of the plain for twelve years, faced a rebellion. To quell this uprising, Chedorlaomer formed a covenant with Arioch and Tidal king of Goyim, solidifying their military alliance. Together, these four kings, including Chedorlaomer as the leading figure, launched a campaign against the rebellious cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboyim, and Bela (Zoar). Their forces were victorious in the vale of Siddim, where they defeated the kings of these five cities, plundered their goods, and took many captives, including Lot, Abram’s nephew who resided in Sodom. Arioch’s role in this campaign appears to be one of loyal support to Chedorlaomer, adhering to their covenant and participating in the military actions and the subsequent taking of spoils and captives. However, the narrative takes a turn when Abram, upon hearing of Lot’s capture, gathers his men and allies, pursuing and ultimately defeating Chedorlaomer and his coalition, including Arioch, and recovering the captives and the plundered goods. This event marks Arioch’s significant, though ultimately unsuccessful, involvement in the power struggles of the region and his direct confrontation with Abram. The narrative does not provide further details about Arioch’s reign or his fate after this encounter.