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

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