The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Genesis 14
1 In the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar;
Arioch, king of Ellasar; Chedorlaomer,
king of Elam; and Tidal, king of Goiim,
2 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 (also called
Zoar).
3Allthese joined together in the valley of
Siddim (also called the Salt Sea).
4 They served Chedorlaomer for twelve
years, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer
and the kings who were with him came
and struck the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in
Shaveh Kiriathaim,
6 and the Horites in their Mount Seir, to
El Paran, which is by the wilderness.
7They returned, and came to En Mishpat
(also called Kadesh), and struck all the
country of the Amalekites, and also the
Amorites, that lived in Hazazon Tamar.
8 The king of Sodom, and the king of
Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of
Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called
Zoar) went out; and they set the battle in
array against them in the valley of Siddim
9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam,
Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings
against the five.
10Now the valley of Siddimwas full oftar
pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and some fell there. Those who
remained fled to the hills.
11 They took all the goods of Sodom and
Gomorrah, and all their food, and went
their way.
12 They took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son,
who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and
departed.
13 One who had escaped came and told
Abram, the Hebrew. At that time, he
lived by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite,
brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner.
They were allies of Abram.
14 When Abram heard that his relative
was taken captive, he led out his three
hundred eighteen trained men, born in his
house, and pursued as far as Dan.
15 He divided himself against them by
night, he and his servants, and struck
them, and pursued them to Hobah, which
is on the left hand of Damascus.
16 He brought back all the goods, and
also brought back his relative Lot and his
goods, and the women also, and the other
people.
17 The king of Sodom went out to meet
him after his return from the slaughter
of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were
with him, at the valley of Shaveh (that is,
the King’s Valley).
18 Melchizedek king of Salem brought
out bread and wine. He was priest of God
Most High.
19 He blessed him, and said, “Blessed
be Abram of God Most High, possessor of
heaven and earth.
20 Blessed be God Most High, who has
delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Abram gave him a tenth of all.
21 The king of Sodom said to Abram,
“Give me the people, and take the goods for
yourself.”
22 Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I
have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God
Most High, possessor of heaven and earth,
23 that I will not take a thread nor a
sandal strapnor anything thatis yours, lest
you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’
24 I will accept nothing from you except
that which the young men have eaten, and
the portion of the men who went with me:
Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take
their portion.”