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Goiim

Old TestamentFemaleKing

Tidal, king of Goiim (nations), was one of the kings who fought against Chedorlaomer in Genesis 14.

Goiim illustration
Goiim

Biography

Goiim, meaning "nations" or "gentiles" in Hebrew, appears in Genesis 14:1, 9 as the kingdom ruled by Tidal, one of four powerful kings who formed a coalition against the five kings of the plain near the Dead Sea region. Tidal, king of Goiim, joined forces with Chedorlaomer of Elam, Amraphel of Shinar, and Arioch of Ellasar in a campaign that swept through Transjordan before engaging and defeating the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, and their allies. The victory resulted in the capture of Lot, Abraham's nephew, prompting Abraham's bold rescue mission. The term "Goiim" may refer to a confederation of non-Semitic tribal peoples rather than a geographically fixed nation, reflecting the fluid political landscape of the ancient Near East during the patriarchal era.

Significance

Goiim's appearance in Genesis 14 is pivotal because the conflict it generates sets the stage for one of the most theologically rich episodes in Abraham's life: his rescue of Lot and his encounter with Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High (Genesis 14:18–20). The campaign of the four kings against the five demonstrates the volatile geopolitical world in which God's covenant promises to Abraham were being worked out. Goiim's role as a conquering power that inadvertently draws Abraham into military action underscores the providential character of biblical history, even foreign coalitions serve to advance God's purposes for his chosen servant and, through him, for all nations.

Verse Appearances (3)

References

  1. Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
  2. Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
  3. Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
  4. Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources