Genesis 14

War of the Kings

1In the days of the [Eastern] kings Amraphel of Shinar, Arioch of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer of Elam, and Tidal of Goiim, 2they [invaded the Jordan Valley near the Dead Sea, and] made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela #One of the many facts supporting the antiquity of Genesis is that many of the original names of places mentioned were so old that Moses had to add an explanation in order to identify these ancient names, so that the Israelites returning from Egypt could recognize them. Chapter 14 alone contains six such explanatory notes (Gen 14:2, 3, 7, 8, 15, 17).(that is, Zoar). 3All of these [kings] joined together [as allies] in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Sea of Salt). 4Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer [the most powerful king in the invading confederacy], but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the [three] kings who were with him attacked and subdued the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6and the Horites in their mountainous country of Seir, as far as El-paran, which is on the border of the wilderness. 7Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and subdued all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar. 8Then the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they joined together for battle with the invading kings in the Valley of Siddim, 9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim and Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar (bitumen) pits; and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell into them. But the remainder [of the kings] who survived fled to the hill country. 11Then the victors took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply and provisions and left. 12And they also took [captive] Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and left, for he was living in Sodom.

13Then a survivor who had escaped [from the invading forces on the other side of the Jordan] came and told Abram the #This ethnic designation means “descended from Eber” or, more probably, “one who crosses (a border).”Hebrew. Now he was living by the terebinths (oaks) of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner—they were allies of Abram. 14When Abram heard that his nephew [Lot] had been captured, he armed and led out his trained men, born in his own house, [numbering] three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far [north] as Dan. 15He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and attacked and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. 16And he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his nephew Lot and his possessions, and also the women, and the people.

Abram and Melchizedek

17Then after Abram’s return from the defeat (slaughter) of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18#Heb king of righteousness.Melchizedek king of Salem (ancient Jerusalem) brought out bread and wine [for them]; he was the priest of #Heb El Elyon and so throughout the chapter. The supreme Ruler of all the universe; His dominion is all encompassing and everlasting.God Most High. 19And Melchizedek blessed Abram and said,

“Blessed (joyful, favored) be Abram by God Most High,

Creator and Possessor of heaven and earth;

20And blessed, praised, and glorified be God Most High,

Who has given your enemies into your hand.”

And Abram gave him a tenth of all [the treasure he had taken in battle]. 21The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods (spoils of battle) for yourself.” 22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand and sworn an oath to the Lord God Most High, the Creator and Possessor of heaven and earth, 23that I would not take anything that is yours, from a thread to a sandal strap, so you could not say, ‘I [the King of Sodom] have made Abram rich.’ 24I will take nothing except what my young men have eaten, and the share of the spoils belonging to the men [my allies] who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share of the spoils.”

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Genesis 14

Abram Rescues Lot

1And it came to pass in the days of Am´raphel king of Shinar, Ar´i-och king of Ella´sar, Chedorla-o´mer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; 2that these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomor´rah, Shinab king of Admah, and Sheme´ber king of Zeboi´im, and the king of Bela, which is Zo´ar. 3All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea. 4Twelve years they served Chedorla-o´mer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5And in the fourteenth year came Chedorla-o´mer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Reph´a-im in Ash´teroth–karna´im, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh Kiri-atha´im, 6and the Horites in their mount Se´ir, unto El–pa´ran, which is by the wilderness. 7And they returned, and came to En–mish´pat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amal´ekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Haz´azon–ta´mar. 8And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomor´rah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboi´im, and the king of Bela, (the same is Zo´ar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim; 9with Chedorla-o´mer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Am´raphel king of Shinar, and Ar´i-och king of Ella´sar; four kings with five. 10And the vale of Siddim was full of slime pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomor´rah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain. 11And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomor´rah, and all their victuals, and went their way. 12And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

13And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. 14And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. 15And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

Melchizedek Blesses Abram

17And the king of Sodom went out to meet him, after his return from the slaughter of Chedorla-o´mer and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale. 18#Heb 7.1-10. And Melchiz´edek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19And he blessed him, and said,

Blessed be Abram of the most high God,

possessor of heaven and earth:

20and blessed be the most high God,

which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.

And he gave him tithes of all. 21And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. 22And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23that I will not take from a thread even to a shoe-latchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: 24save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.

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