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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Bereshis 14
14
1And it came to pass in the yamim of Amraphel Melech Shinar,#14:1 i.e., Babylon Aryoch Melech Ellasar, Kedorlaomer Melech Eilam, and Tidal Melech Goyim;
2That these made milchamah with Bera Melech Sodom, and with Birsha Melech Amora (Gomorrah), Shinav Melech Admah, and Shemever Melech Tzevoyim, and the Melech Bela, which is Tzoar.
3All these were joined together in the Valley of Siddim which is the Yam HaMelach.#14:3 i.e., Dead Sea
4Twelve shanah they served Kedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5And in the fourteenth year came Kedorlaomer, and the melachim that were with him, and they defeated the Repha'im in Ashterot Karnayim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-Kiryatayim,
6And the Chori in their Mt Se'ir, as far as Eil-Paran, which is near the midbar.
7And they turned, and came to En Mishpat, which is Kadesh, and conquered all the country of the Amaleki, and also the Emori, that dwelt in Chatzetzon-Tamar.
8And there went out the Melech Sodom, and the Melech Amora (Gomorrah), and the Melech Admah, and the Melech Tzevoyim, and the Melech Bela;#14:8 the same is Tzoar and they joined in milchamah with them in the Valley of Siddim;
9With Kedorlaomer Melech Eilam, and with Tidal Melech Goyim, and Amraphel Melech Shinar, and Aryoch Melech Ellasar; four melachim against five.
10And the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the Melech Sodom and Amora (Gomorrah) they fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.
11And they took all the possessions of Sodom and Amora (Gomorrah), and all their ochel, and went their way.
12And they took Lot, Avramʼs brotherʼs son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his possessions, and departed.
13And there came one that had escaped, and told Avram HaIvri; for he dwelt in Elonei Mamre the Emori, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner; and these were Ba'alei Brit Avram.
14And when Avram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained men, born in his own bais, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them as far as Dan.
15And he divided himself against them, he and his avadim, by lailah, and routed them, and pursued them as far as Chovah, which is on the left hand (north) of Damascus.
16And he recovered all the possessions, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his possessions, and the nashim also, and the people.
17And the Melech Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the defeat of Kedorlaomer, and of the melachim that were with him, at the Valley of Shaveh, which is the Valley of the King.
18And Malki-Tzedek Melech Shalem brought forth lechem and yayin and he was the kohen of El Elyon.#14:18 Ps 110:4
19And he blessed him, and said, Baruch Avram by El Elyon, Possessor of Shomayim va'Aretz;
20And baruch El Elyon, Who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him ma'aser (tithe) of all.
21And the Melech Sodom said unto Avram, Give me the nefesh and keep the possessions for thyself.
22And Avram said to the Melech Sodom, I have lifted up mine hand unto Hashem, El Elyon Possessor of Shomayim va'Aretz,
23That I will not take from a thread even to the thong of a sandal, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Avram rich;
24Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the chelek of the anashim which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their chelek.
THE ORTHODOX JEWISH BIBLE
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