# Twelve years they had served

The events in verses 4-7 happened before verse 3. Your language may have a way of showing this.

# they had served Kedorlaomer

They probably had to pay him taxes and serve in his army. Alternate translation: "they had been under the control of Kedorlaomer" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names]])

# they rebelled

"they refused to serve him" or "they stopped serving him"