© Charles Chandler

 

It sounds like Chedorlaomer was killed in or after the conflict, but of course it doesn't mention Ham being defeated — it just says that the Mesopotamians were pursued as far as Damascus, and that the captives were released. Ham would go on to extend his domain to Nineveh. Hammurabi was known to ally himself with peers, until the objective was achieved, at which time he would prevail over the allies also. With Amraphel being allied with Chedorlaomer, who was killed in or after the conflict, is consistent with that pattern. Ham's brother Shem could have been installed as lord of Jerusalem after the suppression of the uprising, or later, when Ham dominated Mesopotamia.