Genesis 14:12-15:6

English Standard Version

¹² They also took Lot, ^(A)the son of Abram's brother, ^(B)who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.

¹³ Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, ^(C)who was living by the ^(D)oaks^[a] of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram. ¹⁴ When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, ^(E)born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as ^(F)Dan. ¹⁵ And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. ¹⁶ Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot ^(G)with his possessions, and the women and the people.

Abram Blessed by Melchizedek

¹⁷ After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the ^(H)King's Valley). ¹⁸ And ^(I)Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was ^(J)priest of ^(K)God Most High.) ¹⁹ And he blessed him and said,

And Abram gave him ^(N)a tenth of everything. ²¹ And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” ²² But Abram said to the king of Sodom, ^(O)“I have lifted my hand^[c] to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, ²³ that ^(P)I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ ²⁴ I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let ^(Q)Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”

God's Covenant with Abram

15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: ^(R)“Fear not, Abram, I am ^(S)your shield; your reward shall be very great.” ² But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue^[d] childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” ³ And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and ^(T)a member of my household will be my heir.” ⁴ And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; ^(U)your very own son^[e] shall be your heir.” ⁵ And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and ^(V)number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, ^(W)“So shall your offspring be.” ⁶ And ^(X)he believed the Lord, and ^(Y)he counted it to him as righteousness.