Notes from various Bible dictionaries and lexicons used
to develop this paraphrase of Genesis 14

Evil kings from future Babylon -- representing the hordes of hell:

Amraphel = unknown derivation, “one that speaks of secrets”
Shinar = pride

Arioch = Babylonian, “long, great, tall”
Ellasar = “revolting from God”

Kedorlaomer = Persian, “roundness of a sheaf”
Elam = “a young man; a virgin, a secret”, “blind”

Tidal = Canaanite, “that breaks the yoke; knowledge of elevation”, “fearfulness, dreadful, terrible” 
Goiim = “every nation, Gentiles, herds”
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Sinful kings from Canaan -- representing the human race

Bera = “a well; declaring”
Sodom = burnt/scorched district, “their secret; their cement”

Birsha = “an evil; a son who beholds”, “with wickedness”
Gomorrah = a ruined heap, “rebellious people”

Shinab = “father of changing”, “a father has turned”
Admah = (from Adam), “earthy, red, bloody”

Shemeber = “name of force; name of the strong”, “name of pinions (wings)”
Zeboiim = “deer; goats”, “gazelles”

Bela = “devouring, gulp”
Zoar = “little; small”
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Siddim = the tilled field
Valley of Siddim = the Salt Sea

Rephaites = helpless, discouraged, failures; or, giants (symbolically)
Ashteroth Qarnaim = goddess of the double horns

Zuzim = abundant, wild beast
Ham = “hot, heat, brown”, the cursed son of Noah (“cursed”)

Emites = “fears, terrors, formidable; people” – of Moab
Shaveh = the plain; place of equality
Kiriathaim = flooring; building

Horites = cave-dwellers, hole people
Seir = rough, shaggy, devilish, tempestuous (Idumean)

Paran = ornamental, embellished, self-glory, beauty (Arabian desert)
with El = God’s glory? or ungodly strength and glory?
El Paran = terebinths of Paran

Mishpat = judgment, decision, ordinances
En Mishpat = “spring of judgment”
Kadesh = holiness (or, sacred person, male prostitute dedicated to licentious idolatry)

Amalekites = descendants of Esau; “laborers, toilers”; “a people that licks up”
Amorites = boasters, prominence, challengers

Tamar = palm tree, scarecrow
Hazazon-Tamar = drawing near to bitterness

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Lot = a veil, a covering. Lot is the hinge character in this story between the father and the tumultuous earth. Invaders tried to control the veil/covering. The father took it back. It’s an illustration of the cosmic war for control of divine revelation/redemption.

Mamre = vigorous, lusty, self-promoting, rebellious, bitter
Eshcol = bunch of grapes
Aner = answer; song; affliction

Abram = high father
Abraham = exalted father of a multitude
Melchizedek = king of righteousness

Dan = judgment; he who judges
Hobah = love, friendship, secrecy; hiding place
Damascus = sack full of blood; similitude of burning

Salem = shalom; complete peace, fullness, in every way
Jerusalem = flowing with peace; foundation of peace