“It was in the days of Amrafel” – Rabbi Shmuel bar Shilat began: “This too is a grave evil; just as one came, so will he go” (Ecclesiastes 5:15). Rabbi Shmuel bar Shilat said: Just as one comes with seizing, so he goes with seizing.6If someone seizes property unjustly, it will ultimately be seized from him. Rabbi Avon said: Just as he started off with four kingdoms,7Abraham’s travails began with these four kingdoms. so will he conclude with four kingdoms.8The travails of Abraham’s descendants throughout history will end with four kingdoms. [He started off with four kingdoms] – “with Kedorlaomer king of Eilam, Tidal king of Goyim, and Amrafel king of Shinar, and Aryokh king of Elasar” (Genesis 14:9).
So will he conclude with four kingdoms: The kingdom of Babylon, the kingdom of Media, the kingdom of Greece, and the kingdom of Edom.9These are the four kingdoms that would subjugate Israel up to Messianic times, as foretold in Daniel chapter 2. Rabbi Pinḥas in the name of Rabbi Aivu began: “They do not know the thoughts of the Lord, and they do not understand His counsel, that He has gathered them together like sheaves brought to the threshing floor” (Micah 4:12).10The enemies of Israel who band together to attack Israel do not realize that God has brought them together only to destroy them.
Why? “All these joined forces at the valley of Sidim” (Genesis 14:3) – so that they should come and fall into the hand of Abraham. That is what is written: “It was in the days of Amrafel…”