BSB GEN Chapter 14

The War of the Kings

In those days Amraphel king of Shinar,[fn] Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim 2 went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).

3 

The latter [five] came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea[fn]). 4 For twelve years they had been subject to Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

5 

In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh-kiriathaim 6 and the Horites in [the area of] Mount Seir, as far as vvv El-paran, which [is] near the desert. 7 Then they turned back to invade vvv En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived vvv 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) marched out and arrayed themselves for battle in the Valley of Siddim[fn] 9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar— four kings against five.

10 

Abram Rescues Lot

Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some men fell into [the pits], but the survivors fled to the hill country.

11 

The [four kings] seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food, and they went on their way. 12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since [Lot] was living in Sodom.

13 

Then an escapee came and reported [this] to Abram the Hebrew. Now [Abram] was living near the Oaks[fn] of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol [and] Aner, all of whom were bound by treaty[fn] to Abram. 14 And when Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household, and they set out in pursuit as far as Dan.

15 

During the night, [Abram] divided his forces and routed [Chedorlaomer’s army], pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He retrieved all the goods, as well as his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the rest of the people.

17 

Melchizedek Blesses Abram

(Psalm 110:1–7, Hebrews 7:1–10)

After Abram returned from defeating vvv Chedorlaomer and the kings vvv allied with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).

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vvv Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine — since he was priest of God Most High[fn] —19 and he blessed [Abram] and said:

“ Blessed be Abram by God Most High,

Creator of heaven and earth,

20 

and blessed be God Most High,

who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”

Then Abram gave [Melchizedek] a tenth of everything.

21 

The king of Sodom said to Abram,“Give me the people, but take the goods for yourself.”

22 

But Abram replied to the king of Sodom,“I have raised my hand to the LORD God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say,‘I {have made} Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share for the men who went with me— Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. They may take their portion.”