Genesis 14:4

Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer. Chedorlaomer was leader of the coalition of kings. It is shown that Elam was a great Mesopotamian power at the time of Abram. In alliance with other Asiatic rulers, Elam may have undertaken this western campaign in order to reopen its caravan route to the Red Sea. Inasmuch as western Palestine was under Egyptian influence, it was only natural for Asiatic powers to seek control of its trade routes. That more nations had been tributary to Chedorlaomer than the five city-states of Siddim is apparent from the following verses. Taxation may have been heavy, and when the various peoples had somewhat recovered from the previous campaign, they rebelled and ceased sending tribute annually to Mesopotamia.