Genesis 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

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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