14 12 In the overthrow of Sodom Lot is taken prisoner. 16 Abram delivereth him. 18 Melchizedek cometh to meet him. 23 Abram would not be enriched by the king of Sodom.

And in the days of Amraphel king of [a]Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of the [b]nations:

These men made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.

All these [c]joined together in the valley of [d]Siddim, which is the [e]salt Sea.

Twelve years were they subject to Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the [f]Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in [g]Shaveh Kiriathaim,

And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto the plain of El Paran, which is by the wilderness.

And they returned and came to En Mishpat, which is Kadesh, and [h]smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites that dwelled in Hazezon Tamar.

Then went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar: and they joined battle with them in the valley of Siddim,

To wit, with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar: four kings against five.

10 Now the [i]valley of Siddim was full of slime pits, and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled and [j]fell there: and the residue fled to the mountain.

11 And they took all the substance of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their vittles and went their way.

12 They [k]took Lot also Abram’s brother’s son and his substance (for he dwelt at Sodom) and departed.

13 ¶ Then came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew, which dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner, which were [l]confederate with Abram.

14 When Abram heard that his brother was taken, he [m]brought forth of them that were born and brought up in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.

15 Then he and his servants divided themselves against them by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left side of [n]Damascus,

16 And he recovered all the substance, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also and the people.

17 ¶ After that he returned from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and of the kings that were with him, came the King of Sodom forth to meet him in the valley of Shaveh, which is the (A)King’s dale.

18 And (B)Melchizedek King of Salem [o]brought forth bread and wine: and he was a Priest of the most high God.

19 Therefore he [p]blessed him, saying, Blessed art thou, Abram, of God most high, Possessor of heaven and earth,

20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thine hand. (C)And Abram gave him tithes of all.

21 Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, Give me the [q]persons, and take the goods to thyself.

22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, [r]I have lifted up mine hand unto the Lord the most high God possessor of heaven and earth,

23 [s]That I will not take of all that is thine, so much as a thread or shoe latchet, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich,

24 [t]Save only that, which the young men have eaten, and the parts of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre: let them take their parts.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 14:1 That is, of Babylon: by kings here, meaning, them that were governors of cities.
  2. Genesis 14:1 Of a people gathered of divers countries.
  3. Genesis 14:3 Ambition is the chief cause of wars among princes.
  4. Genesis 14:3 Or, of the labored fields.
  5. Genesis 14:3 Called also the dead sea, or the lake Asphaltite, near unto Sodom and Gomorrah.
  6. Genesis 14:5 Or, giants.
  7. Genesis 14:5 Or, plain.
  8. Genesis 14:7 Or, destroyed.
  9. Genesis 14:10 And afterward was overwhelmed with water, and so was called the salt sea.
  10. Genesis 14:10 Or, were discomfited.
  11. Genesis 14:12 The godly are plagued many times with the wicked: therefore their company is dangerous.
  12. Genesis 14:13 God moved them to join with Abram, and preserveth him from their idolatry and superstitions.
  13. Genesis 14:14 Or, armed.
  14. Genesis 14:15 Hebrew, Dammesck.
  15. Genesis 14:18 For Abram and his soldiers’ refection, and not to offer sacrifice.
  16. Genesis 14:19 In that Melchizedek fed Abram, he declared himself to represent a king, and in that he blessed him, the high Priest.
  17. Genesis 14:21 Hebrew, souls.
  18. Genesis 14:22 Or, I have sworn.
  19. Genesis 14:23 Hebrew, If I take from thee a thread, etc. Read 1 Sam. 14:45.
  20. Genesis 14:24 He would not that his liberality should be hurtful to others.

Abram Rescues Lot

14 At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar,[a](A) Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer(B) king of Elam(C) and Tidal king of Goyim, these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim,(D) and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).(E) All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim(F) (that is, the Dead Sea Valley(G)). For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer,(H) but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer(I) and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites(J) in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites(K) in Shaveh Kiriathaim and the Horites(L) in the hill country of Seir,(M) as far as El Paran(N) near the desert. Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh),(O) and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites,(P) as well as the Amorites(Q) who were living in Hazezon Tamar.(R)

Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah,(S) the king of Admah, the king of Zeboyim(T) and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar)(U) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim(V) against Kedorlaomer(W) king of Elam,(X) Tidal king of Goyim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim(Y) was full of tar(Z) pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah(AA) fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills.(AB) 11 The four kings seized all the goods(AC) of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot(AD) and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.

13 A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew.(AE) Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre(AF) the Amorite, a brother[b] of Eshkol(AG) and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative(AH) had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained(AI) men born in his household(AJ) and went in pursuit as far as Dan.(AK) 15 During the night Abram divided his men(AL) to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.(AM) 16 He recovered(AN) all the goods(AO) and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.

17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer(AP) and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom(AQ) came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).(AR)

18 Then Melchizedek(AS) king of Salem(AT) brought out bread(AU) and wine.(AV) He was priest of God Most High,(AW) 19 and he blessed Abram,(AX) saying,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,(AY)
    Creator of heaven and earth.(AZ)
20 And praise be to God Most High,(BA)
    who delivered your enemies into your hand.”

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.(BB)

21 The king of Sodom(BC) said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods(BD) for yourself.”

22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom,(BE) “With raised hand(BF) I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High,(BG) Creator of heaven and earth,(BH) 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you,(BI) not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre.(BJ) Let them have their share.”

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 14:1 That is, Babylonia; also in verse 9
  2. Genesis 14:13 Or a relative; or an ally