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Melchizedek Blesses Abram

17 After Abram returned from his victory over Kedorlaomer and all his allies, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).

18 And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High,[a] brought Abram some bread and wine. 19 Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing:

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
    Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And blessed be God Most High,
    who has defeated your enemies for you.”

Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.

21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give back my people who were captured. But you may keep for yourself all the goods you have recovered.”

22 Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I solemnly swear to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, ‘I am the one who made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept only what my young warriors have already eaten, and I request that you give a fair share of the goods to my allies—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre.”

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Footnotes

  1. 14:18 Hebrew El-Elyon; also in 14:19, 20, 22.

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

18 Then Melchizedek(D) king of Salem(E) brought out bread(F) and wine.(G) He was priest of God Most High,(H) 19 and he blessed Abram,(I) saying,

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

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

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

22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom,(P) “With raised hand(Q) I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High,(R) Creator of heaven and earth,(S) 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you,(T) 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.(U) Let them have their share.”

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17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.

18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

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

23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

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

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