Interesting Facts

• Serak is identified as a judge in the city of Sodom.
• Eliezer, Abraham’s servant, refers to Serak as Shakra.
• Serak is described as upholding the customs and laws of Sodom.
• He supports Hedad’s deceitful claim against the traveler from Elam, stating that Hedad is famed for accurate dream interpretation.
• Serak sides with a man of Sodom who assaulted Eliezer, demanding payment from Eliezer for stopping his bleeding, according to Sodom’s custom.
• Serak himself is struck in the forehead with a stone by Eliezer in response to his unjust judgment.

Genealogy

• The provided sources do not contain any information regarding the genealogy of Serak or Shakra. There is no mention of their ancestry, birth, marital connections, or offspring.

Historical Context

Serak’s actions as a judge are firmly situated within the context of the extreme wickedness and moral corruption of Sodom. The sources depict Sodom as a city where inhospitality towards strangers was rampant, and the poor were exploited and left to die. The judicial system, represented by Serak and other judges, was complicit in this wickedness, upholding unjust customs and failing to deliver fair judgment. Serak’s support of Hedad’s extortion and his demand for payment from Eliezer for being assaulted illustrate the distorted legal and social norms prevalent in Sodom at this time. This environment of systemic injustice likely shaped Serak’s approach to his judicial duties, reflecting the broader moral decay of the city.

Narrative

Serak’s narrative primarily unfolds in two key encounters that reveal his character. In the first instance, a traveler from Elam seeks the return of his cord and mantle from Hedad, who falsely claims to have interpreted a dream and demands payment. When the traveler brings the matter before Serak, the judge astonishingly declares that Hedad speaks the truth and is known for accurate dream interpretations, thereby validating Hedad’s deceit and extortion. This incident highlights Serak’s complicity in the corrupt practices of Sodom and his disregard for justice and truth in favor of upholding the city’s wicked norms. The second encounter involves Eliezer, Abraham’s servant, who intervenes in a dispute between a man of Sodom and a stranger. After being struck by the Sodomite, Eliezer is brought before Serak, who again upholds the local custom by demanding that Eliezer pay his assailant for stopping the bleeding. In response to this blatant injustice, Eliezer retaliates by striking Serak in the forehead with a stone, delivering a measure of immediate retribution. Serak’s role in these narratives underscores the pervasive wickedness of Sodom, where the legal authorities themselves perpetuate injustice and fail to protect the vulnerable, ultimately contributing to the city’s deserved destruction.