The Blessing of Melchizedek

¹⁷ After Abram’s return^[a] from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with them, the king of Sodom went out to meet with him in the Shaveh Valley (that is, the King’s Valley). ¹⁸ King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine, since he was serving as^[b] the priest of God Most High. ¹⁹ Melchizedek^[c] blessed Abram^[d] and said,

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Conversation with the King of Sodom

²¹ The king of Sodom told Abram, “Return the people to me, and you take the possessions for yourself.”

²² But Abram answered the king of Sodom, “I have made an oath to the Lord God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, ²³ that I will not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that belongs to you, so you won’t be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ ²⁴ I will take nothing except what my warriors have eaten. But as for what belongs to the men who were allied^[e] with me, including Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre, let them take their share.”