Genesis 14
14
Abram Rescues Lot
1Now it came about in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim,
2that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (this is Zoar).
3All of these kings joined forces in the Valley of the Siddim (this is the Salt Sea).
4For 12 years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer came with the kings who were with him, and they defeated the Rephaim in Ashterot-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-kiryataim,
6and the Horites in the hill country of Seir as far as El-Paran, which is beside the wilderness.
7Then they came again to En-mishpat (this is Kadesh), and they subdued all the territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who live 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 (this is Zoar) went out and lined themselves up for battle with them in the Valley of the Siddim,
9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar: four kings against five.
10Now the Valley of the Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell into them, and those who remained fled to the hills.
11So they took all of Sodom and Gomorrah’s possessions and their food and left.
12They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions, and they left (as he was living in Sodom).
13Then a survivor came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was dwelling by the large trees belonging to Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eschol and the brother of Aner—they were Abram’s allies.
14When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he rallied his trained men, those born in his household, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
15Then he divided his servants against them at night, and he defeated them and pursued them as far as Hovah, which is north of Damascus.
16He brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot and his possessions, as well as the women and the other people.
Melech-Tzedek , King of Salem
17Now after he returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (this is the King’s Valley).
18Then Melechizedek , king of Salem, brought out bread and wine—he was a priest of El Elyon.
19He blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by El Elyon, Creator of heaven and earth,
20and blessed be El Elyon, Who gave over your enemies Into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
21Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people—the possessions take for yourself.”
22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I raise my hand in oath to Adonai, El Elyon, Creator of heaven and earth.
23Not a thread or even a sandal strap of all that is yours will I take, so you will not say, ‘I’ve made Abram rich!’
24I claim nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me—Aner, Eschol, and Mamre—let them take their share.”
Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
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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