Genesis 14
14
War of the Kings
1And it came about in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of #14:1 Or nationsGoiim, 2that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3All these kings #14:3 Lit joined togethercame as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 4For twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5And in the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and #14:5 Lit struckdefeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in #14:5 Or the plain of KiriathaimShaveh-kiriathaim, 6and the Horites on their Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is by the wilderness. 7Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and #14:7 Lit struckconquered all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, who lived in Hazazon-tamar. 8And the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they lined up for battle against them in the Valley of Siddim, 9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of #14:9 Or nationsGoiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell #14:10 Lit thereinto them. But those who survived fled to the hill country. 11Then they took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply, and departed. 12They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and departed, for he was living in Sodom.
13Then #14:13 Lit thea survivor came and told Abram the Hebrew. Now he was residing by the #14:13 Or terebinthsoaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner, and they were #14:13 Lit possessors of the covenantallies with Abram. 14When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he #14:14 Or musteredled out his trained men, born in his house, numbering 318, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15Then he divided #14:15 Lit himselfhis forces against them by night, he and his servants, and #14:15 Lit struckdefeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is #14:15 Lit on the leftnorth of Damascus. 16He brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the other people.
God’s Promise to Abram
17Then after his return from the #14:17 Lit strikingdefeat 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). 18And Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of #14:18 Heb El ElyonGod Most High. 19And he blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram of #14:19 Heb El ElyonGod Most High,
# 14:19 Or Creator Possessor of heaven and earth;
20And blessed be #14:20 Heb El ElyonGod Most High,
Who has handed over your enemies to you.”
And he gave him a tenth of everything. 21Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give the #14:21 Lit soulpeople to me and take the possessions for yourself.” 22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have #14:22 Lit lifted up my handsworn to the Lord #14:22 Heb El ElyonGod Most High, #14:22 Or CreatorPossessor of heaven and earth, 23that I will not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, so that you do not say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24#14:24 Lit Not to me exceptI will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share.”
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Genesis 14
14
The War of the Kings
1In those days Amraphel king of Shinar,#14:1 That is, Babylonia; also in verse 9 Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim 2went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).
3The latter five came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea #14:3 That is, the Dead Sea). 4For twelve years they had been subject to Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6and the Horites in the area of Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is near the desert. 7Then they turned back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.
8Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and arrayed themselves for battle in the Valley of Siddim #14:8 That is, the Valley of the Dead Sea 9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.
Abram Rescues Lot
10Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some men fell into the pits, but the survivors fled to the hill country.
11The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food, and they went on their way. 12They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since Lot was living in Sodom.
13Then an escapee came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the Oaks #14:13 Or Terebinths or Great Trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were bound by treaty #14:13 Forms of the Hebrew berit are translated in most passages as covenant. to Abram. 14And when Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household, and they set out in pursuit as far as Dan.
15During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer’s army, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16He retrieved all the goods, as well as his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the rest of the people.
Melchizedek Blesses Abram
(Psalms 110:1–7; Hebrews 7:1–10)
17After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).
18Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High #14:18 Hebrew El-Elyon; also in verses 19, 20, and 22; cited in Hebrews 7:1— 19and he blessed Abram and said:
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth,
20and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.
21The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the goods for yourself.”
22But Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share for the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. They may take their portion.”
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