Genesis 14

War of the Kings

1And it came about in the days of Amraphel king of 1Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of 2Elam, and Tidal king of 3Goiim, 2that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of 4Admah, and Shemeber king of 5Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, 6Zoar). 3All these 7came as allies to 8the valley of Siddim (that is, 9the Salt Sea). 4Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, came and 10defeated the 11Rephaim in 12Ashteroth-karnaim and the Zuzim in Ham and the Emim in 1314Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6and the 15Horites in their Mount Seir, as far as 16El-paran, which is by the wilderness. 7Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, 17Kadesh), and 18conquered all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, who lived in 19Hazazon-tamar. 8And the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah and the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they arrayed for battle against them in 20the valley of Siddim, 9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of 21Goiim and Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar--four kings against five. 10Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and 22the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell 23into them. But those who survived fled to the 24hill country. 11Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply, and departed. 12They also took Lot, 25Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and departed, 26for he was living in Sodom.

13Then 27a fugitive came and told Abram the 28Hebrew. Now he was 29living by the 3031oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner, and these were 3233allies with Abram. 14When Abram heard that 34his 35relative had been taken captive, he 36led out his trained men, 37born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as 38Dan. 1539He divided 40his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and 41defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is 42north of 43Damascus. 16He 44brought back all the goods, and also brought back 45his 46relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the people.

God’s Promise to Abram

17Then after his return from the 47defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, 48the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, 49the King’s Valley). 18And 50Melchizedek king of Salem brought out 51bread and wine; now he was a 52priest of 53God Most High. 19He blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of 54God Most High, 5556Possessor of heaven and earth;20And blessed be 57God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” 58He gave him a tenth of all. 21The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give the 59people to me and take the goods for yourself.” 22Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have 60sworn to the Lord 6162God Most High, 6364possessor of heaven and earth, 23that 65I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 2466I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, 67Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share.”