Genesis 14:15

Genesis 14:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus.
• New King James Version (NKJV)He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.

Context of Genesis 14:15

13Then a soldier who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew what had happened. He was living next to the oak trees belonging to Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner. (These men were Abram’s allies.) 14When Abram heard that his nephew had been captured, he armed his 318 trained men, born in his own household, and pursued the four kings all the way to Dan. He split up his men to attack them at night. He defeated them, pursuing them all the way to Hobah, which is north of Damascus. 16He brought back everything they had, including women and soldiers. He also brought back his relative Lot and his possessions. 17After Abram came back from defeating Chedorlaomer and his allies, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Shaveh Valley (that is, the King’s Valley).

Genesis 14:15 word by word

וַיֵּחָלֵ֨ק עֲלֵיהֶ֧ם׀ לַ֛יְלָה ה֥וּא וַעֲבָדָ֖יו וַיַּכֵּ֑ם וַֽיִּרְדְּפֵם֙ עַד־חוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִשְּׂמֹ֖אל לְדַמָּֽשֶׂק׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he dividedחָלַקchâlaq · to divideH2505
• himself against them, he and his servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• by nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915
• and smoteנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• them, and pursuedרָדַףrâdaph · to pursueH7291
• them unto Hobahחוֹבָהchôbâh · HobahH2327
• on the left handשְׂמֹאלώemô'l ώem'ôl · left: northH8040
• of Damascusדַּמֶּ֫שֶׂקdammeώeq dûmeώeq darmeώeq · DamascusH1834

Cross-references for Genesis 14:15

• Psalms 112:5All goes well for the person who is generous and lends willingly. He earns an honest living.
• Isaiah 41:2“Who has raised up from the east someone to whom the Lord gives victory with every step he takes? Nations are handed over to him. He defeats kings. With his sword he turns them into dust. With his bow he turns them into straw blown by the wind.
• Deuteronomy 15:2This is what you will do: If you’ve made a loan, don’t collect payment on the debt your neighbor still owes you. Don’t demand that your neighbor or relative pay you, because the ⌞time⌟ for suspending payments on debts has been proclaimed in the Lord’s honor.
• 1 Kings 15:18Then Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and the royal palace and turned them over to his officials. King Asa sent them to Damascus to Aram’s King Benhadad, son of Tabrimmon and grandson of Hezion.
• Acts 9:2and asked him to write letters of authorization to the synagogue leaders in the city of Damascus. Saul wanted to arrest any man or woman who followed the way ⌞of Christ⌟ and imprison them in Jerusalem.

Commentaries on Genesis 14:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15And he divided himself against them - It required both considerable courage and address in Abram to lead him to attack the victorious armies of these four kings with so small a number of troops, and on this occasion both his skill and his courage are exercised. His affection for Lot appears to have been his chief motive; he cheerfully risks his life for that nephew who had lately chosen the best part of the land, and left his uncle to live as he might, on…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-24Verses 1-24 - Abram Rescues Lot 1. אמרפל 'amrāpel Amraphel; related: unknown. אלריוך 'aryôk Ariok, “leonine?” related: ארי 'arı̂y “a lion:” a name re-appearing in the time of Daniel Daniel 2:14. אלסר 'elāsār Ellasar (related: unknown) is identified with Larsa or Larancha, the ́ Larissa or ́ Larachōn of the Greeks, now Senkereh, a town of lower Babylonia, between Mugheir (Ur) and Warka (Erek) on the left bank of the Frat. כדרלעמר kedārlā‛omer…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-16Verses 13-16 Abram takes this opportunity to give a real proof of his being truly friendly to Lot. We ought to be ready to succour those in distress, especially relations and friends. And though others may have been wanting in their duty to us, yet we must not neglect our duty to them. Abram rescued the captives. As we have opportunity, we must do good to all.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15Damascus was 64 kilometers (40 miles) north of Dan. Hobah was 97 kilometers (about 60 miles) north of Damascus.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-1615-16. he divided himself ... by night--This war between the petty princes of ancient Canaan is exactly the same as the frays and skirmishes between Arab chiefs in the present day. When a defeated party resolves to pursue the enemy, they wait till they are fast asleep; then, as they have no idea of posting sentinels, they rush upon them from different directions, strike down the tent poles--if there is any fight at all, it is the fray of a tumultuous…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 14:15

• Abraham
• Armies
• Chedorlaomer
• Damascus
• Friendship
• Hobah
• Lot
• Love
• Rulers
• Strategy

In the dictionaries

• Damascus
• Left hand
• Confederate
• Fame
• Hobah
• Lift
• Lot
• Noah
• Northward
• Sodom

Commentaries on Genesis 14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings