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 kings 7came as allies to 8the Valley of Siddim (that is, 9the Salt Sea). 4For twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5And in the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who 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 on 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, the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they lined up for battle against them in 20the Valley of Siddim, 9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of 21Goiim, 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 possessions 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 survivor came and told Abram the 28Hebrew. Now he was residing by the 2930oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner, and they were 3132allies with Abram. 14When Abram heard that 33his relative had been taken captive, he 34led out his trained men, 35born in his house, numbering 318, and went in pursuit as far as 36Dan. 15Then 37he divided 38his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and 39defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is 40north of 41Damascus. 16He 42brought back all the possessions, and also brought back 43his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the other people.

God’s Promise to Abram

17Then after his return from the 44defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, 45the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, 46the King’s Valley). 18And 47Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out 48bread and wine; now he was a 49priest of 50God Most High. 19And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of 51God Most High, 5253Possessor of heaven and earth;20And blessed be 54God Most High, Who has handed over your enemies to you.” And 55he gave him a tenth of everything. 21Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give the 56people to me and take the possessions for yourself.” 22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have 57sworn to the Lord 5859God Most High, 6061Possessor of heaven and earth, 23that 62I will not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, so that you do not say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 2463I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, 64Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share.”