1At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar,[1] Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goyim,2these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).3All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea Valley).4For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.5In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim6and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El Paran near the desert.7Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who were living in Hazezon Tamar.8Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboyim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim9against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goyim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar – four kings against five.10Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills.11The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away.12They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.13A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother[2] of Eshkol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram.14When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan.15During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.16He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.17After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).18Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High,19and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.20And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.’ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.21The king of Sodom said to Abram, ‘Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.’22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,23that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, “I made Abram rich.”24I 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. 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)