War of the Kings

14 And it came about in the days of Amraphel king of (A)Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of (B)Elam, and Tidal king of [a]Goiim, that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of (C)Admah, and Shemeber king of (D)Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, (E)Zoar). All these kings [b]came as allies to (F)the Valley of Siddim (that is, (G)the Salt Sea). For twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. And in the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and [c]defeated the (H)Rephaim in (I)Ashteroth-karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in [d](J)Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the (K)Horites on their Mount Seir, as far as (L)El-paran, which is by the wilderness. Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, (M)Kadesh), and [e]conquered all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, who lived in (N)Hazazon-tamar. And the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they lined up for battle against them in (O)the Valley of Siddim, against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of [f]Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and (P)the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell [g]into them. But those who survived fled to the (Q)hill country. 11 Then they took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply, and departed. 12 They also took Lot, (R)Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and departed, (S)for he was living in Sodom.

13 Then [h]a survivor came and told Abram the (T)Hebrew. Now he was residing by the [i](U)oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner, and they were [j](V)allies with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that (W)his relative had been taken captive, he [k]led out his trained men, (X)born in his house, numbering 318, and went in pursuit as far as (Y)Dan. 15 Then (Z)he divided [l]his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and [m]defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is [n]north of (AA)Damascus. 16 He (AB)brought back all the possessions, and also brought back (AC)his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the other people.

God’s Promise to Abram

17 Then after his return from the [o]defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, (AD)the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, (AE)the King’s Valley). 18 And (AF)Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out (AG)bread and wine; now he was a (AH)priest of [p]God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said,

“Blessed be Abram of [q]God Most High,
[r](AI)Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 And blessed be [s]God Most High,
Who has handed over your enemies to you.”

And (AJ)he gave him a tenth of everything. 21 Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give the [t]people to me and take the possessions for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have [u]sworn to the Lord [v](AK)God Most High, [w](AL)Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that (AM)I will not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, so that you do not say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 [x]I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, (AN)Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share.”

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 14:1 Or nations
  2. Genesis 14:3 Lit joined together
  3. Genesis 14:5 Lit struck
  4. Genesis 14:5 Or the plain of Kiriathaim
  5. Genesis 14:7 Lit struck
  6. Genesis 14:9 Or nations
  7. Genesis 14:10 Lit there
  8. Genesis 14:13 Lit the
  9. Genesis 14:13 Or terebinths
  10. Genesis 14:13 Lit possessors of the covenant
  11. Genesis 14:14 Or mustered
  12. Genesis 14:15 Lit himself
  13. Genesis 14:15 Lit struck
  14. Genesis 14:15 Lit on the left
  15. Genesis 14:17 Lit striking
  16. Genesis 14:18 Heb El Elyon
  17. Genesis 14:19 Heb El Elyon
  18. Genesis 14:19 Or Creator
  19. Genesis 14:20 Heb El Elyon
  20. Genesis 14:21 Lit soul
  21. Genesis 14:22 Lit lifted up my hand
  22. Genesis 14:22 Heb El Elyon
  23. Genesis 14:22 Or Creator
  24. Genesis 14:24 Lit Not to me except

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