Genesis 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.”

Genesis 14

Lot Is Captured

1Amraphel was the king of Babylonia, Arioch was the king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer was the king of Elam, and Tidal was the king of Goiim. 2All these kings fought a war against King Bera of Sodom: King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela. (Bela is also called Zoar.)

3All these kings joined their armies in the Valley of Siddim. (The Valley of Siddim is now the Salt Sea.) 4These kings had served Kedorlaomer for twelve years. But in the 13th year, they all rebelled against him. 5So in the 14th year, King Kedorlaomer and the kings with him came to fight against them. Kedorlaomer and the kings with him defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim. They also defeated the Zuzites in Ham. They defeated the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim. 6And they defeated the Horites who lived in the area from the hill country of Seir#14:6 Seir Or “Edom.” to El Paran.#14:6 El Paran Probably the town Elath, at the southern tip of Israel near the Red Sea. (El Paran is near the desert.) 7Then King Kedorlaomer turned back, went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and defeated the Amalekites. He also defeated the Amorites living in Hazezon Tamar.

8At that time the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (Zoar) joined together to fight against their enemies in the Valley of Siddim.#14:8 Valley of Siddim The valley or plain along the eastern or southeastern side of the Dead Sea. 9They fought against King Kedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Babylonia, and King Arioch of Ellasar. So there were four kings fighting against five.

10There were many holes filled with tar in the Valley of Siddim. When the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah and their armies ran away, some of the soldiers fell into these holes, but the others ran away to the mountains.

11So Kedorlaomer and his armies took everything that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah owned. They took all their food and clothing and left. 12Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, was living in Sodom, and they captured him. They also took everything he owned and left. 13One of the men who had escaped went to Abram the Hebrew and told him what happened. Abram was camped near the trees of Mamre the Amorite. Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner#14:13 Mamre … Aner Literally, “Mamre … was a brother of Eshcol and a brother of Aner.” had made an agreement to help each other, and they had also signed an agreement to help Abram.

Abram Rescues Lot

14When Abram learned that Lot was captured, he called all of his family together. There were 318 trained soldiers. He led the men and chased the enemy all the way to the town of Dan. 15That night he and his men made a surprise attack against the enemy. They defeated them and chased them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16Then Abram brought back everything the enemy had stolen, as well as the women and servants, his nephew Lot, and everything Lot owned.

17Then Abram went home after he defeated Kedorlaomer and the kings with him. On his way home, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh. (This is now called King’s Valley.)

Melchizedek

18Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, also went to meet Abram. He brought bread and wine. 19He blessed Abram and said,

“Abram, may you be blessed by God Most High,

the one who made heaven and earth.

20And we praise God Most High,

who helped you defeat your enemies.”

Abram gave Melchizedek one-tenth of everything he had taken during the battle. 21Then the king of Sodom told Abram, “Give me my people who were captured. But you can keep everything else.”

22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I promise to the Lord, the God Most High, the one who made heaven and earth. 23I promise that I will not keep anything that is yours—not even a thread or a sandal strap! I don’t want you to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24The only thing I will accept is the food that my young men have eaten, but you should give the other men their share. Take what we won in battle and give some to Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. These men helped me in the battle.”

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Genesis 14

Genesis 14