Amraphel


In the Hebrew Bible, Amraphel was a king of Shinar in Book of Genesis 14, who invaded Canaan along with other kings under the leadership of Chedorlaomer, king of Elam. Chedorlaomer's coalition defeated Sodom and the other Cities of the Plain in the Battle of the Vale of Siddim.

Modern identifications

Beginning with E. Schrader in 1888 this king was usually associated with Hammurabi, who ruled Babylonia from 1792 BC until his death in 1750 BC. However, this view has been largely abandoned in recent years. Other authors identified Amraphel with Aralius, one of the names on the later Babylonian king-lists, attributed first to Ctesias. Recently, David Rohl argued for an identification with Amar-Sin, the third ruler of the Ur III dynasty. John Van Seters, in Abraham in History and Tradition, rejected the historical existence of Amraphel.

In Rabbinic tradition

Rabbinic sources such as Midrash Tanhuma Lekh Lekhah 6, Targum Yonatan to Exodus 14:1, and Eruvin 53a identify Amraphel with Nimrod. This is also asserted in the 11th chapter of the Sefer haYashar, attested from the early 17th century:
Genesis Rabbah 42 says Amraphel was called by three names: Cush, after his father's name, Nimrod, because he established rebellion in the world, and Amraphel, as he declared "I will cast down".