1While Amraphel was king of Shinar, Ellasar’s King Arioch, Elam’s King Chedorlaomer, and Goiim’s King Tidal 2declared war on Sodom’s King Bera, Gomorrah’s King Birsha, Admah’s King Shinab, Zeboiim’s King Shemeber, and the king of Bela, that is, Zoar. 3These latter kings formed an alliance in the Siddim Valley (that is, the Dead Sea#14.3 Or Salt Sea). 4For twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they revolted. 5In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings of his alliance came and attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6and the Horites in the mountains of Seir as far as El-paran near the desert. 7Then they turned back, came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and attacked the territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.

8Then the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bera (that is, Zoar) took up battle positions in the Siddim Valley 9against King Chedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Shinar, and King Arioch of Ellasar, four kings against five.

10Now the Siddim Valley was filled with tar pits. When the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah retreated, they fell into them; and the rest fled to the mountains. 11They took everything from Sodom and Gomorrah, including its food supplies, and left. 12They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew who lived in Sodom, and everything he owned, and took off. 13When a survivor arrived, he told Abram the Hebrew, who lived near the oaks of the Amorite Mamre, who was the brother of Eshcol and Aner, Abram’s treaty partners.

14When Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he took all of the loyal men born in his household, three hundred eighteen, and went after them as far as Dan. 15During the night, he and his servants divided themselves up against them, attacked, and chased them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16He brought back all of the looted property, together with his relative Lot and Lot’s property, wives, and people.

Abram blessed by Melchizedek

17After Abram returned from his attack on Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom came out to the Shaveh Valley (that is, the King’s Valley) to meet him. 18Now Melchizedek the king of Salem and the priest of El Elyon#14.18 Or God Most High had brought bread and wine, 19and he blessed him,

“Bless Abram by El Elyon,

creator of heaven and earth;

20bless El Elyon,

who gave you the victory over your enemies.”

Abram gave Melchizedek one-tenth of everything. 21Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and take the property for yourself.”

22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I promised the LORD, El Elyon, creator of heaven and earth, 23that I wouldn’t take even a thread or a sandal strap from anything that was yours so that you couldn’t say, ‘I’m the one who made Abram rich.’ 24The only exception is that the young men may keep whatever they have taken to eat, and the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre—may keep their share.”

Learn More

Genesis 14

1 Now it happened in that time that Amraphel, king of Shinar, and Arioch, king of Pontus, and Chedorlaomer, king of the Elamites, and Tidal, king of the Nations,

2 went to war against Bera, king of Sodom, and against Birsha, king of Gomorrah, and against Shinab, king of Admah, and against Shemeber, king of Zeboiim, and against the king of Bela, that is Zoar.

3 All these came together in the wooded valley, which is now the Sea of Salt.

4 For they had served Chedorlaomer for twelve years, and in the thirteenth year they withdrew from him.

5 Therefore, in the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer arrived, and the kings who were with him. And they struck the Rephaim at Ashteroth of the two horns, and the Zuzim with them, and the Emim at Shaveh-Kiriathaim.

6 and the Chorreans in the mountains of Seir, even to the plains of Paran, which is in wilderness.

7 And they returned and arrived at the fountain of Mishpat, which is Kadesh. And they struck the entire region of the Amalekites, and the Amorites who dwelt in Hazazontamar.

8 And the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and indeed the king of Bela, which is Zoar, went forth. And they directed their point against them in the wooded valley,

9 namely, against Chedorlaomer, king of the Elamites, and Tidal, king of the Nations, and Amraphel, king of Shinar, and Arioch, king of Pontus: four kings against five.

10 Now the wooded valley had many pits of bitumen. And so the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah turned back and they fell there. And those who remained, fled to the mountain.

11 Then they took all the substance of the Sodomites and the Gomorrahites, and all that pertained to food, and they went away,

12 along with both Lot, the son of Abram's brother, who lived in Sodom, and his substance.

13 And behold, one who had escaped reported it to Abram the Hebrew, who lived in the steep valley of Mamre the Amorite, who was the brother of Eshcol, and the brother of Aner. For these had formed an agreement with Abram.

14 When Abram had heard this, namely, that his brother Lot had been taken captive, he numbered three hundred and eighteen of his own armed men and he went in pursuit all the way to Dan.

15 And dividing his company, he rushed upon them in the night. And he struck them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.

16 And he brought back all the substance, and Lot his brother, with his substance, likewise the women and the people.

17 Then the king of Sodom went out to meet him, after he returned from the slaughter at Chedorlaomer, and the kings who were with him at the valley of Shaveh, which is the valley of the king.

18 Then in truth, Melchizedek, the king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine, for he was a priest of the Most High God;

19 he blessed him, and he said: "Blessed be Abram by the Most High God, who created heaven and earth.

20 And blessed be the Most High God, through whose protection the enemies are in your hands." And he gave him tithes from everything.

21 Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me these souls, and take the rest for yourself."

22 And he responded to him: "I lift up my hand to the Lord God, the Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth,

23 that from one thread within a blanket, even to a single shoelace, I will not take anything from that which is yours, lest you say, 'I have enriched Abram,'

24 except that which the young men have eaten, and the shares for the men who came with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. These will take their shares."

null

Learn More

Choose your language

Genesis 14

Genesis 14