1Four kings, Amraphel of Babylonia, Arioch of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer of Elam, and Tidal of Goiim, 2went to war against five other kings: Bera of Sodom, Birsha of Gomorrah, Shinab of Admah, Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (or Zoar). 3These five kings had formed an alliance and joined forces in the Valley of Siddim, which is now the Dead Sea. 4They had been under the control of Chedorlaomer for twelve years, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled against him. 5In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and his allies came with their armies and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in the plain of Kiriathaim, 6and the Horites in the mountains of Edom, pursuing them as far as Elparan on the edge of the desert. 7Then they turned round and came back to Kadesh (then known as Enmishpat). They conquered all the land of the Amalekites and defeated the Amorites who lived in Hazazon Tamar.

8Then the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela drew up their armies for battle in the Valley of Siddim and fought 9against the kings of Elam, Goiim, Babylonia, and Ellasar, five kings against four. 10The valley was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah tried to run away from the battle, they fell into the pits; but the other three kings escaped to the mountains. 11The four kings took everything in Sodom and Gomorrah, including the food, and went away. 12Lot, Abram's nephew, was living in Sodom, so they took him and all his possessions.

13But a man escaped and reported all this to Abram, the Hebrew, who was living near the sacred trees belonging to Mamre the Amorite. Mamre and his brothers Eshcol and Aner were Abram's allies. 14When Abram heard that his nephew had been captured, he called together all the fighting men in his camp, 318 in all, and pursued the four kings all the way to Dan. 15There he divided his men into groups, attacked the enemy by night, and defeated them. He chased them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus, 16and recovered the loot that had been taken. He also brought back his nephew Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other prisoners.

Melchizedek Blesses Abram

17When Abram came back from his victory over Chedorlaomer and the other kings, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (also called the King's Valley). 18#Heb 7.1–10And Melchizedek, who was king of Salem and also a priest of the Most High God, brought bread and wine to Abram, 19blessed him, and said, “May the Most High God, who made heaven and earth, bless Abram! 20May the Most High God, who gave you victory over your enemies, be praised!” And Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the loot he had recovered.

21The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Keep the loot, but give me back all my people.”

22Abram answered, “I solemnly swear before the LORD, the Most High God, Maker of heaven and earth, 23that I will not keep anything of yours, not even a thread or a sandal strap. Then you can never say, ‘I am the one who made Abram rich.’ 24I will take nothing for myself. I will accept only what my men have used. But let my allies, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre, take their share.”

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Genesis 14

Abram Rescues Lot

1And it came to pass in the days of Am´raphel king of Shinar, Ar´i-och king of Ella´sar, Chedorla-o´mer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; 2that these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomor´rah, Shinab king of Admah, and Sheme´ber king of Zeboi´im, and the king of Bela, which is Zo´ar. 3All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea. 4Twelve years they served Chedorla-o´mer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5And in the fourteenth year came Chedorla-o´mer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Reph´a-im in Ash´teroth–karna´im, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh Kiri-atha´im, 6and the Horites in their mount Se´ir, unto El–pa´ran, which is by the wilderness. 7And they returned, and came to En–mish´pat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amal´ekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Haz´azon–ta´mar. 8And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomor´rah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboi´im, and the king of Bela, (the same is Zo´ar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim; 9with Chedorla-o´mer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Am´raphel king of Shinar, and Ar´i-och king of Ella´sar; four kings with five. 10And the vale of Siddim was full of slime pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomor´rah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain. 11And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomor´rah, and all their victuals, and went their way. 12And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

13And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. 14And when Abram 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. 15And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

Melchizedek Blesses Abram

17And the king of Sodom went out to meet him, after his return from the slaughter of Chedorla-o´mer and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale. 18#Heb 7.1-10. And Melchiz´edek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19And he blessed him, and said,

Blessed be Abram of the most high God,

possessor of heaven and earth:

20and blessed be the most high God,

which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.

And he gave him tithes of all. 21And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. 22And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23that I will not take from a thread even to a shoe-latchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: 24save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.

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Genesis 14

Genesis 14