Genesis 14

Abram Rescues Lot

1At that time ⌞four kings⌟—King Amraphel of Shinar, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Chedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim— 2went to war against ⌞five kings⌟—King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3The five kings joined forces and met in the valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea). 4For 12 years they had been subject to Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and his allies came and defeated the Rephaim at Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim at Ham, the Emim at Shaveh Kiriathaim, 6and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, going as far as El Paran on the edge of the desert. 7On their way back, they came to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites and also the Amorites who were living at Hazazon Tamar.

8Then the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and prepared for battle in the valley of Siddim. 9They fought against King Chedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Shinar, and King Arioch of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10The valley of Siddim was full of tar pits. As the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell because of the tar pits, but the other kings fled to the hills. 11So the four kings took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, as well as all their food, and left. 12They also took Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions since he was living in Sodom.

13Then a soldier who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew what had happened. He was living next to the oak trees belonging to Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner. (These men were Abram’s allies.)

14When Abram heard that his nephew had been captured, he armed his 318 trained men, born in his own household, and pursued the four kings all the way to Dan. 15He split up his men to attack them at night. He defeated them, pursuing them all the way to Hobah, which is north of Damascus. 16He brought back everything they had, including women and soldiers. He also brought back his relative Lot and his possessions.

Melchizedek Blesses Abram

17After Abram came back from defeating Chedorlaomer and his allies, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Shaveh Valley (that is, the King’s Valley). 18Then King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was a priest of God Most High. 19He blessed Abram, and said,

“Blessed is Abram by God Most High,

maker #14:19 Or “Possessor.” of heaven and earth.

20Blessed is God Most High,

who has handed your enemies over to you.”

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

21The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, and keep everything else for yourself.”

22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I now raise my hand and solemnly swear to the Lord God Most High, maker of heaven and earth, 23that I won’t take a thread or a sandal strap. I won’t take anything that is yours so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24I won’t take one single thing except what my men have eaten. But let my allies Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre 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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