13 One of the survivors came and told Abram the Hebrew,(A) who lived near the oaks belonging to Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eshcol and the brother of Aner. They were bound by a treaty with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken prisoner, he assembled[a] his 318 trained men, born in his household,(B) and they went in pursuit as far as Dan.(C) 15 And he and his servants deployed against them by night, defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah to the north of Damascus. 16 He brought back all the goods and also his relative Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the other people.

Melchizedek’s Blessing

17 After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Shaveh Valley (that is, the King’s Valley(D)). 18 Melchizedek, king of Salem,[b](E) brought out bread and wine; he was a priest to God Most High.(F) 19 He blessed him and said:

Abram is blessed by God Most High,
Creator[c] of heaven and earth,
20 and blessed be God Most High
who has handed over your enemies to you.

And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.(G)

21 Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the possessions for yourself.”

22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand in an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take a thread or sandal strap or anything that belongs to you, so you can never say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing except what the servants have eaten. But as for the share of the men who came with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre—they can take their share.”

The Abrahamic Covenant

15 After these events, the word of the Lord came(H) to Abram in a vision:

Do not be afraid,(I) Abram.
I am your shield;(J)

your reward will be very great.

But Abram said, “Lord God, what can you give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” [d] Abram continued, “Look, you have given me no offspring, so a slave born in[e] my house will be my heir.”

Now the word of the Lord came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body[f] will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.”(K)

Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.(L)

Footnotes

  1. 14:14 Sam; MT reads poured out
  2. 14:18 = Jerusalem
  3. 14:19 Or Possessor
  4. 15:2 Hb obscure
  5. 15:3 Lit a son of
  6. 15:4 Lit loins

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