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14 And it came to pass in the yamim of Amraphel Melech Shinar (i.e., Babylon), Aryoch Melech Ellasar, Kedorlaomer Melech Elam, and Tidal Melech Goyim;

That these made milchamah with Bera Melech Sodom, and with Birsha Melech Amora (Gomorrah), Shinav Melech Admah, and Shemever Melech Tzevoyim, and the Melech Bela, which is Tzoar.

All these were joined together in the Valley of Siddim which is the Yam HaMelach (i.e., Dead Sea).

Twelve shanah they served Kedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

And in the fourteenth year came Kedorlaomer, and the melachim that were with him, and they defeated the Rephaim in Ashterot Karnayim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-Kiryatayim,

And the Chori in their Mt Seir, as far as Eil-Paran, which is near the midbar.

And they turned, and came to En Mishpat, which is Kadesh, and conquered all the country of the Amaleki, and also the Emori, that dwelt in Chazezon-Tamar.

And there went out the Melech Sodom, and the Melech Amora (Gomorrah), and the Melech Admah, and the Melech Tzevoyim, and the Melech Bela (the same is Tzoar); and they joined in milchamah with them in the Valley of Siddim;

With Kedorlaomer Melech Elam, and with Tidal Melech Goyim, and Amraphel Melech Shinar, and Aryoch Melech Ellasar; four melachim against five.

10 And the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the Melech Sodom and Amora (Gomorrah) they fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.

11 And they took all the possessions of Sodom and Amora (Gomorrah), and all their ochel, and went their way.

12 And they took Lot, Avram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his possessions, and departed.

13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Avram HaIvri; for he dwelt in Elonei Mamre the Emori, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner; and these were Ba’alei Brit Avram.

14 And when Avram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained men, born in his own bais, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them as far as Dan.

15 And he divided himself against them, he and his avadim, by lailah, and routed them, and pursued them as far as Chovah, which is on the left hand (north) of Damascus.

16 And he recovered all the possessions, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his possessions, and the nashim also, and the people.

17 And the Melech Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the defeat of Kedorlaomer, and of the. melachim that were with him, at the Valley of Shaveh, which is the Valley of the King.

18 And Malki-Tzedek Melech Shalem brought forth lechem and yayin and he was the kohen of El Elyon.

19 And he blessed him, and said, Baruch Avram by El Elyon, Creator of Shomayim v’Aretz;

20 And baruch El Elyon, Who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him ma’aser (tithe) of all.

21 And the Melech Sodom said unto Avram, Give me the nefesh and keep the possessions for thyself.

22 And Avram said to the Melech Sodom, I have lifted up mine hand unto Hashem, El Elyon Creator of Shomayim v’Aretz,

23 That I will not take from a thread even to the thong of a sandal, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Avram rich;

24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the chelek of the anashim which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their chelek.

Lot’s Captivity and Rescue

14 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king (A)of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of (B)Elam, and Tidal king of [a]nations, that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of (C)Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, (D)Zoar). All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim (E)(that is, the Salt Sea). Twelve years (F)they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him came and attacked (G)the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, (H)the Zuzim in Ham, (I)the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim, (J)and the Horites in their mountain of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is by the wilderness. Then 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 (K)in Hazezon Tamar.

And 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 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of [b]nations, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of (L)asphalt pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled; some fell there, and the remainder fled (M)to the mountains. 11 Then they took (N)all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. 12 They also took Lot, Abram’s (O)brother’s son (P)who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the (Q)Hebrew, for (R)he dwelt by [c]the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; (S)and they were allies with Abram. 14 Now (T)when Abram heard that (U)his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were (V)born in his own house, and went in pursuit (W)as far as Dan. 15 He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants (X)attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is [d]north of Damascus. 16 So he (Y)brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.

17 And the king of Sodom (Z)went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the (AA)King’s Valley), (AB)after his return from the [e]defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.

Abram and Melchizedek(AC)

18 Then (AD)Melchizedek king of Salem brought out (AE)bread and wine; he was (AF)the priest of (AG)God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said:

(AH)“Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
(AI)Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 And (AJ)blessed be God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”

And he (AK)gave him [f]a tithe of all.

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

22 But Abram (AL)said to the king of Sodom, “I (AM)have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, (AN)the Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that (AO)I 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’— 24 except 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.”

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 14:1 Heb. goyim
  2. Genesis 14:9 Heb. goyim
  3. Genesis 14:13 Heb. Alon Mamre
  4. Genesis 14:15 Lit. on the left hand of
  5. Genesis 14:17 Lit. striking
  6. Genesis 14:20 one-tenth
  7. Genesis 14:21 Lit. souls

Lot Is Captured

14 Now Amraphel was king of ·Babylonia [L Shinar], Arioch was king of Ellasar [C possibly in Mesopotamia], Kedorlaomer was king of Elam [C located on the Iranian plateau], and Tidal was king of Goiim [C possibly a people otherwise known as the Umman-manda]. All these kings went to war against several other kings: Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela. (Bela is also called Zoar.) [C Sodom and Gomorrah were located in the vicinity of the Dead Sea, and the other named cities are thought to have been nearby.]

These kings who were attacked united their armies in the Valley of Siddim (·now [L that is] the ·Dead [L Salt] Sea). They had served Kedorlaomer for twelve years, but in the thirteenth year, they all ·turned [rebelled] against him. Then in the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings with him came and ·defeated [subdued] the ·Rephaites [or Rephaim; C an especially warlike tribe in Canaan] in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, and the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim [C the Zuzites and Emites were likely related to the Rephaites; Deut. 2:10–11]. They also defeated the Horites in the mountains of ·Edom [L Seir; C a region outside of Palestine on the southeastern coast of the Dead Sea] to El Paran (near the ·desert [wilderness]). Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh). They ·defeated [subdued] all the Amalekites [C a fearsome tribe in pre-Israelite Canaan], as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon Tamar.

At that time the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela went out to fight in the Valley of Siddim. (Bela is called Zoar.) They fought against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of ·Babylonia [L Shinar], and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings fighting against five. 10 There were many ·tar [bitumen] pits in the Valley of Siddim. When the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah and their armies ·ran away [fled], some of the soldiers fell into the tar pits, but the others ·ran away [fled] to the mountains.

11 Now Kedorlaomer and his armies took everything the people of Sodom and Gomorrah owned, including their food, and left. 12 They took Lot, Abram’s ·nephew [L son of his brother] who was living in Sodom, and ·everything he owned [L his possessions/goods]. Then they left. 13 One of the men who was not captured went to Abram, the Hebrew, and told him what had happened. At that time Abram was camped near the ·great trees [L oaks; or terebinths] of Mamre the Amorite. Mamre was a brother of Eshcol and Aner, and they had all made an ·agreement to help [covenant/treaty with] Abram.

Abram Rescues Lot

14 When Abram learned that ·Lot [L his relative/brother] had been captured, he called out his 318 trained men who had been born in his camp. He led the men and ·chased the enemy [went in pursuit] all the way to the town of Dan [C in the far north of Palestine]. 15 That night he divided his men into groups, and ·they made a surprise attack against the enemy [L he subdued/defeated/struck them]. They chased them all the way to Hobah, north of Damascus [C a major city in Syria]. 16 Then Abram brought back ·everything the enemy had stolen [L all their possessions/goods], the women and the other people, and Lot, and ·everything Lot owned [L his goods/possessions].

17 After defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, Abram ·went home [L returned]. As he was returning, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (now called King’s Valley [C somewhere in the vicinity of Jerusalem]).

18 Melchizedek king of ·Salem [C probably an old name of Jerusalem] brought out bread and wine. He was a priest for God Most High [Ps. 110; Heb. 5:6–10; 6:20—7:28] 19 and blessed Abram, saying,

“Abram, may you be blessed by God Most High,
    the ·God [L one] who made heaven and earth.
20 And ·we praise [L blessed be] God Most High,
    who has ·helped you to defeat your enemies [L delivered your enemies into your hand].”

Then Abram gave Melchizedek a ·tenth [tithe] of everything he had brought back from the battle.

21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “You may keep ·all these things [the goods/possessions] for yourself. Just give me my people who were captured.”

22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I ·make a promise [L lifted my hand; C a gesture of swearing] to the Lord, the God Most High, who made heaven and earth. 23 I promise that I will not keep anything that is yours. I will not keep even a thread or a sandal strap [C that is, not the smallest thing] so that you cannot say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will keep nothing but the food my young men have eaten. But give Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre their share of what we won, because they went with me into battle.”

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