“It was in the days of Amrafel” – he was called by three names: Kush, Nimrod, and Amrafel. Kush – because he was literally a Kushite.33Nimrod was the son of Kush (Genesis 10:8). Nimrod – because he brought about a rebellion [mered] in the world. Amrafel – because his statements [imrato] were darkness [afela]. [In addition,] it is because he defied [amrei] and ridiculed [aflei] the world, and because he defied and ridiculed Abraham, because he said [amar] that he should be cast down34Amrafel is interpreted as: he said [amar] and cast him down [hipil]. into the fiery furnace.
“Aryokh king of Elasar” – Rabbi Yosei of Milḥaya said: There35In Babylon. we learned: The isar coin was named for Elasar.36This is because Aryokh instituted this coin. “Kedorlaomer king of Eilam, and Tidal king of Goyim” – Rabbi Levi said: There is a place there in Rome37Some delete the words “in Rome” (Ot Emet). that is called this [Goyim].38Meaning nations. It had this name because people from several different nations settled there.
They took one person and made him king over themselves. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Tidal was his name.39Tidal was the one whom the nations of Goyim crowned as king. Another matter: “It was in the days of Amrafel king of Shinar” – this refers to Babylon; “Aryokh king of Elasar” – this refers to Greece;40In the Vilna edition “Antiochus” was substituted for Greece for reasons of censorship. “Kedorlaomer king of Eilam” – this refers to Media; “and Tidal king of Goyim” – this refers to the kingdom of Edom,41The ancestors of the Romans. which recruits conscripts from all the nations of the world.42Rome is called Goyim because it recruits conscripts from many nations.
Rabbi Elazar bar Avina said: If you see kingdoms clashing with one another, you should anticipate the coming of the Messiah. You may know that it is so, as in the days of Abraham, as a result of the kingdoms clashing with one another, redemption came to Abraham.