亚伯兰与罗得分道扬镳

13 亚伯兰带着妻子、侄儿罗得和所有的一切离开埃及去南地。 这时候亚伯兰已经拥有很多牲畜和金银。 3-4 他从南地渐渐迁移到伯特利,到了他从前在伯特利和艾中间搭帐篷和筑坛的地方。他又在那里求告耶和华。 和亚伯兰同行的罗得也有牛群、羊群和帐篷。 他们的牲畜很多,那地方容纳不下,他们无法住在一起。 亚伯兰的牧人和罗得的牧人彼此争执。那时,迦南人和比利洗人也住在那里。

亚伯兰对罗得说:“我们不该彼此争执,我们的牧人也不该互相争执,因为我们是骨肉至亲。 整片土地不就在你面前吗?我们分开吧。如果你往左边去,我就往右边走;如果你往右边去,我就往左边走。” 10 罗得举目眺望,看见整个约旦河平原,远至琐珥,水源充足。在耶和华还没有毁灭所多玛和蛾摩拉之前,那地方就好像耶和华的伊甸园,又像埃及。 11 于是,罗得选了整个约旦河平原,向东迁移,他们便分开了。 12 亚伯兰住在迦南,罗得则住在平原的城邑里,并渐渐把帐篷迁移到所多玛附近。 13 所多玛人极其邪恶,在耶和华眼中罪恶滔天。

14 罗得离开后,耶和华对亚伯兰说:“从你站的地方向东西南北眺望, 15 你所能看见的地方,我都要赐给你和你的后代,直到永远。 16 我要使你的后代多如地上的尘土,人若能数算地上的尘土,才能数算你的后代。 17 你起来走遍这片土地,因为我要把这片土地赐给你。” 18 亚伯兰就把帐篷迁移到希伯仑 幔利的橡树那里居住,在那里为耶和华筑了一座祭坛。

亚伯兰救回罗得

14 1-2 那时,示拿王暗拉非、以拉撒王亚略、以拦王基大老玛和戈印王提达联合攻打以下五王:所多玛王比拉、蛾摩拉王比沙、押玛王示纳、洗扁王善以别和比拉王,即琐珥王。 五王会师西订谷,即盐海。 他们受基大老玛王统治十二年,在第十三年叛变了。 第十四年,基大老玛联合其他王在亚特律·加宁打败利乏音人,在哈麦打败苏西人,在沙微·基列亭打败以米人, 在西珥山打败住在那里的何利人,直杀到靠近旷野的伊勒·巴兰。 然后,他们返回安·密巴,即加低斯,征服了亚玛力全境以及住在哈洗逊·他玛的亚摩利人。 那时,所多玛王、蛾摩拉王、押玛王、洗扁王和比拉王,即琐珥王,在西订谷摆开阵势, 抵抗以拦王基大老玛、戈印王提达、示拿王暗拉非和以拉撒王亚略:四王跟五王交战。 10 西订谷有许多柏油坑,所多玛王和蛾摩拉王败走的时候,有些人掉进坑里,其他人都往山上逃命。 11 四王把所多玛和蛾摩拉所有的财物和粮食洗劫一空, 12 并劫走亚伯兰的侄儿罗得和他的财物,那时罗得正住在所多玛。

13 有一个逃出来的人把这件事情告诉了希伯来人亚伯兰。那时,亚伯兰住在亚摩利人幔利的橡树那里。幔利是以实各和亚乃的兄弟,三人都是亚伯兰的盟友。 14 亚伯兰听见侄儿被掳的消息,便率领家中三百一十八名训练有素的壮丁去追赶他们,一直追到但。 15 夜里,亚伯兰和他的随从分头出击,大败敌人,一直追杀到大马士革北面的何巴, 16 夺回所有被劫的财物,并救出他侄儿罗得和他的财物、妇女及其他人。

麦基洗德祝福亚伯兰

17 亚伯兰大败基大老玛及其盟军后凯旋归来,所多玛王到沙微谷来迎接他们。沙微谷即王谷。 18 撒冷王麦基洗德也带着饼和酒出来相迎,他是至高上帝的祭司。 19 他祝福亚伯兰说:

“愿创造天地的主、至高的上帝赐福给亚伯兰!
20 将敌人交在你手中的至高上帝当受称颂!”

于是,亚伯兰把所得的十分之一给麦基洗德。 21 所多玛王对亚伯兰说:“请把我的人民交还给我,你可以把财物拿去。” 22 亚伯兰对他说:“我向创造天地的主、至高的上帝耶和华起誓, 23 凡是你的东西,就是一根线、一条鞋带,我都不会拿,免得你说,‘我使亚伯兰发了财!’ 24 除了我的随从已经吃用的以外,我什么也不要。至于我的盟友亚乃、以实各和幔利所应得的战利品,请分给他们。”

Abram and Lot Separate

13 So Abram went up from Egypt(A) to the Negev,(B) with his wife and everything he had, and Lot(C) went with him. Abram had become very wealthy(D) in livestock(E) and in silver and gold.

From the Negev(F) he went from place to place until he came to Bethel,(G) to the place between Bethel and Ai(H) where his tent had been earlier and where he had first built an altar.(I) There Abram called on the name of the Lord.(J)

Now Lot,(K) who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together.(L) And quarreling(M) arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites(N) and Perizzites(O) were also living in the land(P) at that time.

So Abram said to Lot,(Q) “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me,(R) or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives.(S) Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”(T)

10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain(U) of the Jordan toward Zoar(V) was well watered, like the garden of the Lord,(W) like the land of Egypt.(X) (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom(Y) and Gomorrah.)(Z) 11 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan,(AA) while Lot(AB) lived among the cities of the plain(AC) and pitched his tents near Sodom.(AD) 13 Now the people of Sodom(AE) were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.(AF)

14 The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west.(AG) 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring[a] forever.(AH) 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.(AI) 17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land,(AJ) for I am giving it to you.”(AK)

18 So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre(AL) at Hebron,(AM) where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord.(AN)

Abram Rescues Lot

14 At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar,[b](AO) Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer(AP) king of Elam(AQ) and Tidal king of Goyim, these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim,(AR) and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).(AS) All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim(AT) (that is, the Dead Sea Valley(AU)). For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer,(AV) but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer(AW) and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites(AX) in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites(AY) in Shaveh Kiriathaim and the Horites(AZ) in the hill country of Seir,(BA) as far as El Paran(BB) near the desert. Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh),(BC) and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites,(BD) as well as the Amorites(BE) who were living in Hazezon Tamar.(BF)

Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah,(BG) the king of Admah, the king of Zeboyim(BH) and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar)(BI) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim(BJ) against Kedorlaomer(BK) king of Elam,(BL) Tidal king of Goyim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim(BM) was full of tar(BN) pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah(BO) fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills.(BP) 11 The four kings seized all the goods(BQ) of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot(BR) and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.

13 A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew.(BS) Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre(BT) the Amorite, a brother[c] of Eshkol(BU) and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative(BV) had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained(BW) men born in his household(BX) and went in pursuit as far as Dan.(BY) 15 During the night Abram divided his men(BZ) to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.(CA) 16 He recovered(CB) all the goods(CC) and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.

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

18 Then Melchizedek(CG) king of Salem(CH) brought out bread(CI) and wine.(CJ) He was priest of God Most High,(CK) 19 and he blessed Abram,(CL) saying,

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

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

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

22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom,(CS) “With raised hand(CT) I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High,(CU) Creator of heaven and earth,(CV) 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you,(CW) 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.(CX) Let them have their share.”

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 13:15 Or seed; also in verse 16
  2. Genesis 14:1 That is, Babylonia; also in verse 9
  3. Genesis 14:13 Or a relative; or an ally

13 And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.

And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;

Unto the place of the altar, which he had make there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.

And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.

And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.

14 And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:

15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.

14 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;

That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.

All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.

Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emins in Shaveh Kiriathaim,

And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness.

And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar.

And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;

With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.

10 And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.

11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.

12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.

14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.

15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.

16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

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.