1About this time, King Amraphel of Babylonia,#14.1 Babylonia: See the note at 10.6-20. King Arioch of Ellasar, King Chedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim 2attacked King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, a city also known as Zoar. 3-4King Chedorlaomer and his allies had ruled these last five kings for twelve years, but in the thirteenth year the kings rebelled and joined forces in Siddim Valley, which is now covered by the southern part of the Dead Sea.

5A year later King Chedorlaomer and his allies attacked and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth-Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, and the Emites in Shaveh-Kiriathaim. 6They also defeated the Horites in the hill country of Edom,#14.6 Edom: The Hebrew text has “Seir,” another name for Edom. as far as El-Paran, near the desert.

7They went back to the city of Enmishpat, better known as Kadesh. Then they captured all the land that belonged to the Amalekites, and they defeated the Amorites who were living in Hazazon-Tamar.

8-9At Siddim Valley, the armies of the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela fought the armies of King Chedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Babylonia, and King Arioch of Ellasar. The valley 10was full of tar pits, and when the troops from Sodom and Gomorrah started running away, some of them fell into the pits. Others escaped to the hill country. 11Their enemies took everything of value from Sodom and Gomorrah, including their food supplies. 12They also captured Abram's nephew Lot, who lived in Sodom. They took him and his possessions and then left.

13At this time Abram the Hebrew was living near the oaks that belonged to Mamre the Amorite. Mamre and his brothers Eshcol and Aner were Abram's friends. Someone who had escaped from the battle told Abram 14that his nephew Lot had been taken away. Three hundred and eighteen of Abram's servants were fighting men, so he took them and followed the enemy as far north as the city of Dan.

15That night, Abram divided up his troops, attacked from all sides, and won a great victory. But some of the enemy escaped to the town of Hobah north of Damascus, 16and Abram went after them. He brought back his nephew Lot, together with Lot's possessions and the women and everyone else who had been captured.

Abram Is Blessed by Melchizedek

17Abram returned after he had defeated King Chedorlaomer and the other kings. Then the king of Sodom went to meet Abram in Shaveh Valley, which is also known as King's Valley.

18 # He 7.1-10. King Melchizedek of Salem was a priest of God Most High. He brought out some bread and wine 19and said to Abram:

“I bless you in the name

of God Most High,

Creator of heaven and earth.

20All praise belongs

to God Most High

for helping you defeat

your enemies.”

Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.

21The king of Sodom said to Abram, “All I want are my people. You can keep everything else.”

22Abram answered:

The Lord God Most High made the heavens and the earth. And I have promised him 23that I won't keep anything of yours, not even a sandal strap or a piece of thread. Then you can never say that you are the one who made me rich. 24Let my share be the food that my men have eaten. But Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre went with me, so give them their share of what we brought back.

Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)

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Genesis 14

1And it came to pass in the days of Amrafel king of Shin’ar, Aryokh king of Elasar, K’dorla’omer king of ‘‘Eilam [eternity] (Hidden; Young Man or Always), and Tid’al king of Goyim [nations];

2 [That these] made war with Bera king of S’dom (burning, denotes penal constrictions around the ankles), and with Birsha king of ‘Amora (submersion, Tyrants, bind sheaves, People of Fear), Shin’av king of Admah, and Shem’ever king of Tzvoyim, and the king of Bela (destruction), which is Tzo’ar (little place).

3All these were joined together in the valley of Siddim (Plains, place of plowing a field) [Siddim Valley], which is the salt sea [Dead Sea].

4Twelve years they served K’dorla’omer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

5And in the fourteenth year came K’dorla’omer, and the kings that [were] with him, and struck the Refa’im (giants, old tribe of giants; fearful; dead) in ‘Asht’rot-Karnayim, and the Zuzim in Ham (hot, heat, brown), and the Emim in Shaveh-Kiryatayim,

6And the Hori (cave dwellers; freeborn prince) in their mount Se’ir (hairy, shaggy; The Hairy Guys; riding the storm), unto El-Pa’ran [place of caverns] (place of caves), which [is] by the wilderness.

7And they returned, and came to ‘Ein-Mishpat, which is Kadesh (to be consecrated, consecrated, sanctified), and struck all the country of the ‘‘Amalek [Dweller in a Valley] i, and also the Emorim (The Talkers) that dwelt in Hatzatzon-Tamar [palm-tree] (bitterness, palm tree).

8And there went out the king of S’dom (burning, denotes penal constrictions around the ankles), and the king of ‘Amora (submersion, Tyrants, bind sheaves, People of Fear), and the king of Admah, and the king of Tzvoyim, and the king of Bela (destruction) and they joined battle with them in the valley of Siddim (Plains, place of plowing a field);

9With K’dorla’omer the king of ‘‘Eilam [eternity] (Hidden; Young Man or Always), and with Tid’al king of nations [Goyim], and Amrafel king of Shin’ar, and Aryokh king of Elasar; four kings with five.

10And the valley of Siddim (Plains, place of plowing a field) [was full of] clay pits; and the kings of S’dom (burning, denotes penal constrictions around the ankles) and ‘Amora (submersion, Tyrants, bind sheaves, People of Fear) fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.

11And they took all the goods of S’dom (burning, denotes penal constrictions around the ankles) and ‘Amora (submersion, Tyrants, bind sheaves, People of Fear), and all their victuals (food for humans), and went their way.

12And they took Lot (Covering), Avram’s (Exalted Father; Father Of Elevation) brother’s son, who dwelt in S’dom (burning, denotes penal constrictions around the ankles), and his goods, and departed.

13And there came one that had escaped, and told Avram (Exalted Father; Father Of Elevation) the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre (firmness; fatling (fat cattle) offering) the Emori (The Talkers), brother of Eshkol (bunch, cluster [of grapes, etc.]), and brother of Aner: and these [were] confederate with Avram (Exalted Father; Father Of Elevation).

14And when Avram (Exalted Father; Father Of Elevation) heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained [servants], born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued [them] unto Dan (Judge).

15And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and struck them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which [is] on the left hand of Dammesek (Damascus) [silent is the sackcloth weaver].

16And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot (Covering), and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

17And the king of S’dom (burning, denotes penal constrictions around the ankles) went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of K’dorla’omer, and of the kings that [were] with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which [is] the king’s Valley.

18And Malki-Tzedek king of Shalem brought forth bread and wine: and he [was] the priest of the most high God- El ‘Elyon [The Most High and Powerful Living Word].

19And he Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) him, and said, Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) be Avram (Exalted Father; Father Of Elevation) of the most high God- El ‘Elyon [The Most High and Powerful Living Word], possessor of heaven and earth:

20And Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) be the most high God- El ‘Elyon which has delivered youi enemies into youri hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

21And the king of S’dom (burning, denotes penal constrictions around the ankles) said unto Avram (Exalted Father; Father Of Elevation), Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

22And Avram (Exalted Father; Father Of Elevation) said to the king of S’dom (burning, denotes penal constrictions around the ankles), I have lift up my hand unto the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate), the most high God-El ‘Elyon, the possessor of heaven and earth,

23That I will not [take] from a thread even to a shoe sandal lace, and that I will not take anything that [is] yoursi, lest youi should say, I have made Avram (Exalted Father; Father Of Elevation) rich:

24Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me –‘Aner (answer; song; affliction), Eshkol (bunch, cluster [of grapes, etc.]), and Mamre (firmness; fatling (fat cattle) offering); let them take their portion.

For more information about the NMV, details about why the names of God are notated and translated as they are, or to learn about the special markings and translations used in this text, click below.

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Genesis 14

Genesis 14