Tidal
PeopleWhat is the meaning of Tidal in the Bible?
Tidal is identified in Genesis 14:1 and 9 as a king who allied with Chedorlaomer and other rulers in a military campaign against the Canaanite city-states. Scholarly analysis often equates the name Tidal with Tudhaliya, a title or name used by Hittite rulers, suggesting a connection to the Hittite Empire during the Middle Bronze Age.
SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing Tidal as a historical Hittite monarch helps readers understand the geopolitical landscape of the ancient Near East, illustrating the extensive reach of northern empires into the southern Levant during the period described in Genesis.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Tidal in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Tidal clarify?
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.