Genesis 14
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Abram Rescues Lot
14 In those days Amraphel king of Shinar,(A) Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam,[a](B) and Tidal[b] king of Goiim[c] 2 waged war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim,(C) as well as the king of Bela (that is, Zoar(D)). 3 All of these came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea(E)). 4 They were subject to Chedorlaomer for 12 years, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim(F) in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham,(G) the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites(H) in the mountains of Seir, as far as El-paran(I) by the wilderness. 7 Then they came back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh(J)), and they defeated all the territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.(K)
8 Then 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 lined up for battle in the Valley of Siddim 9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim contained many asphalt pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them,[d] but the rest fled to the mountains.(L) 11 The four kings took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food and went on. 12 They also took Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, for he was living in Sodom,(M) and they went on.
13 One of the survivors came and told Abram the Hebrew,(N) 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[e] Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken prisoner, he assembled[f] his 318 trained men, born in his household,(O) and they went in pursuit as far as Dan.(P) 15 And he and his servants deployed against them by night, attacked 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 Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley(Q)). 18 Then Melchizedek, king of Salem,[g](R) brought out bread and wine; he was a priest to God Most High.(S) 19 He blessed him and said:
Abram is blessed by God Most High,
Creator[h] of heaven and earth,
20 and I give praise to[i] God Most High
who has handed over your enemies to you.
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.(T)
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 Yahweh, 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[j] 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.”
Footnotes
- Genesis 14:1 A region in southwest Iran
- Genesis 14:1 The name Tidal may be related to the Hittite royal name Tudhaliya.
- Genesis 14:1 Or nations
- Genesis 14:10 Sam, LXX; MT reads fell there
- Genesis 14:13 Lit were possessors of a covenant of
- Genesis 14:14 Sam; MT reads poured out
- Genesis 14:18 = Jerusalem
- Genesis 14:19 Or Possessor
- Genesis 14:20 Or and blessed be
- Genesis 14:24 Lit Nothing to me
Genesis 14
English Standard Version
Abram Rescues Lot
14 In the days of Amraphel king of (A)Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of (B)Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, 2 these kings made war with (C)Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of (D)Admah, Shemeber king of (E)Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim ((F)that is, the Salt Sea). 4 Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the (G)Rephaim in (H)Ashteroth-karnaim, the (I)Zuzim in Ham, the (J)Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6 and the (K)Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as (L)El-paran on the border of the wilderness. 7 Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, (M)Kadesh) and defeated all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who were dwelling (N)in Hazazon-tamar.
8 Then 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 they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim 9 with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of (O)bitumen pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled (P)to the hill country. 11 So the enemy took (Q)all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. 12 They also took Lot, (R)the son of Abram's brother, (S)who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.
13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, (T)who was living by the (U)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, (V)born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as (W)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 (X)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 (Y)King's Valley). 18 And (Z)Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was (AA)priest of (AB)God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said,
(AC)“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
(AD)Possessor[b] of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”
And Abram gave him (AE)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, (AF)“I have lifted my hand[c] to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that (AG)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 (AH)Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”
Footnotes
- Genesis 14:13 Or terebinths
- Genesis 14:19 Or Creator; also verse 22
- Genesis 14:22 Or I have taken a solemn oath
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