1Amraphel was the king of Babylon. Arioch was the king of Ellasar. Kedorlaomer was the king of Elam. And Tidal was the king of Goyim.2They went to war against five other kings. They were Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela. Bela was also called Zoar.3These five kings all gathered their armies together in the Valley of Siddim. It was also called the valley of the Dead Sea.4For 12 years Kedorlaomer had ruled over them. But in the 13th year they opposed him.5So in the 14th year, Kedorlaomer and the kings who helped him went to war. They won the battle against the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim. They also won the battle against the Zuzites in Ham and the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim.6They did the same thing to the Horites in the hill country of Seir. They marched all the way to El Paran near the desert.7Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat. En Mishpat was also called Kadesh. They took over the whole territory of the Amalekites. They also won the battle against the Amorites who were living in Hazezon Tamar.8Then the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboyim and Bela marched out. Bela was also called Zoar. They lined up their armies for battle in the Valley of Siddim.9They got ready to fight against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goyim, Amraphel king of Babylonia, and Arioch king of Ellasar. There were four kings against five.10The Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah ran away from the battle. Some of their men fell into the pits, but the rest escaped to the hills.11The four kings took all the things that belonged to Sodom and Gomorrah. They also took all their food and then left.12They carried away Abram’s nephew Lot and the things he owned. Lot was living in Sodom at that time.13A man escaped and came to report everything to Abram. Abram was a Hebrew. He was living near the large trees of Mamre the Amorite. Mamre was a brother of Eshkol and Aner. All of them helped Abram.14Abram heard that Lot had been captured. So he called out his 318 trained men. All of them were sons of his servants. Abram and his men chased their enemies as far as Dan.15During the night Abram separated his men into groups. They attacked their enemies and drove them away. They chased them north of Damascus as far as Hobah.16Abram took back everything the kings had taken. He brought back his nephew Lot and the things Lot owned. He also brought back the women and the other people.17After Abram won the battle over Kedorlaomer and the kings who helped him, he returned home. The king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh. It was also called the King’s Valley.18Melchizedek was the king of Jerusalem. He brought out bread and wine. He was the priest of the Most High God.19He gave a blessing to Abram. He said, ‘May the Most High God bless Abram. May the Creator of heaven and earth bless him.20Give praise to the Most High God. He gave your enemies into your hand.’ Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.21The king of Sodom said to Abram, ‘Give me the people. Keep everything else for yourself.’22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I have raised my hand to make a promise to the LORD. He is the Most High God. He is the Creator of heaven and earth.23I’ve said I will not accept anything that belongs to you. I will not take even a thread or the strap of a sandal. You will never be able to say, “I made Abram rich.”24I’ll accept only what my men have eaten and what belongs to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre. These three men went with me. Let them have their share.’
Genesis 14
English Standard Version
Abram Rescues Lot
1In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, (Ge 10:10; Ge 10:22; Ge 11:2; Isa 11:11; Ac 2:9)2these kings made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). (Ge 13:10; Ge 14:8; Ge 19:22; De 29:23)3And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). (Nu 34:12; De 3:17; Jos 3:16)4Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.5In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, (Ge 15:20; De 1:4; De 2:10; De 2:11; De 2:20; De 3:11)6and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness. (Ge 21:21; Nu 12:16; Nu 13:3; De 2:12; De 2:22)7Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh) and defeated all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who were dwelling in Hazazon-tamar. (Ge 16:14; Ge 20:1; Nu 13:26; 2Ch 20:2)8Then 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 Siddim9with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five.10Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the hill country. (Ge 11:3; Ge 19:17; Ge 19:30; Ex 2:3)11So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. (Ge 14:16; Ge 14:21)12They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way. (Ge 12:5; Ge 13:12)13Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks[1] of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram. (Ge 12:6; Ge 13:18)14When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. (Ge 15:3; Ge 17:12; Ge 17:23; Ge 17:27; Jud 18:29; Ec 2:7)15And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus.16Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people. (Ge 14:11)
Abram Blessed by Melchizedek
17After 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 King’s Valley). (2Sa 18:18)18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) (Ps 57:2; Ps 110:4; Ac 16:17; Heb 5:6; Heb 5:10; Heb 7:1; Heb 7:11; Heb 7:17)19And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor[2] of heaven and earth; (Mt 11:25; Heb 7:6)20and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. (Ge 28:22; Heb 7:4)21And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.”22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand[3] to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, (Ex 6:8; Nu 14:30; De 32:40; Eze 20:5; Eze 20:15; Eze 20:23; Eze 20:28; Da 12:7; Re 10:5)23that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ (Es 9:15)24I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.” (Ge 14:13)