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

Lot’s Captivity and Rescue

1And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king #Gen. 10:10; 11:2of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of #Is. 11:11; 21:2; Dan. 8:2Elam, and Tidal king of nations, 2that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of #Gen. 10:19; Deut. 29:23Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, #Gen. 13:10; 19:22Zoar). 3All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim #Num. 34:12; Deut. 3:17; Josh. 3:16(that is, the Salt Sea). 4Twelve years #Gen. 9:26they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

5In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him came and attacked #Gen. 15:20the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, #Deut. 2:20the Zuzim in Ham, #Num. 32:37; Deut. 2:10the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim, 6#Gen. 36:20; Deut. 2:12, 22and the Horites in their mountain of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is by the wilderness. 7Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and attacked all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who dwelt #2 Chr. 20:2in Hazezon Tamar.

8And the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and joined together in battle in the Valley of Siddim 9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10Now the Valley of Siddim was full of #Gen. 11:3asphalt pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled; some fell there, and the remainder fled #Gen. 19:17, 30to the mountains. 11Then they took #Gen. 14:16, 21all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. 12They also took Lot, Abram’s #Gen. 11:27; 12:5brother’s son #Gen. 13:12who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

13Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the #Gen. 39:14; 40:15Hebrew, for #Gen. 13:18he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; #Gen. 14:24; 21:27, 32and they were allies with Abram. 14Now #Gen. 19:29when Abram heard that #Gen. 13:8; 14:12his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were #Gen. 12:5; 15:3; 17:27; Eccl. 2:7born in his own house, and went in pursuit #Deut. 34:1; Judg. 18:29; 1 Kin. 15:20as far as Dan. 15He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants #Is. 41:2, 3attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. 16So he #Gen. 31:18; 1 Sam. 30:8, 18, 19brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.

17And the king of Sodom #1 Sam. 18:6went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, #2 Sam. 18:18the King’s Valley), #Heb. 7:1after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.

Abram and Melchizedek

18Then #Ps. 110:4; Heb. 7:1–10Melchizedek king of Salem brought out #Gen. 18:5; Ex. 29:40; Ps. 104:15bread and wine; he was #Ps. 110:4; Heb. 5:6the priest of #Acts 16:17God Most High. 19And he blessed him and said:

#Ruth 3:10“Blessed be Abram of God Most High,

#Gen. 14:22; Matt. 11:25Possessor of heaven and earth;

20And #Gen. 24:27blessed be God Most High,

Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”

And he #Gen. 28:22; Heb. 7:4gave him a tithe of all.

21Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.”

22But Abram #Gen. 14:2, 8, 10said to the king of Sodom, “I #Dan. 12:7have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, #Gen. 14:19the Possessor of heaven and earth, 23that #2 Kin. 5:16; Esth. 9:15, 16I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’— 24except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”

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Genesis 14

Genesis 14