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

13But one of Lot’s men escaped and reported everything to Abram the Hebrew, who was living near the oak grove belonging to Mamre the Amorite. Mamre and his relatives, Eshcol and Aner, were Abram’s allies. 14When Abram heard that his nephew Lot had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men who had been born into his household. Then he pursued Kedorlaomer’s army until he caught up with them at Dan. There he divided his men and attacked during the night. Kedorlaomer’s army fled, but Abram chased them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16Abram recovered all the goods that had been taken, and he brought back his nephew Lot with his possessions and all the women and other captives. 17After Abram returned from his victory over Kedorlaomer and all his allies, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (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 112:5Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly.
• Isaiah 41:2“Who has stirred up this king from the east, rightly calling him to God’s service? Who gives this man victory over many nations and permits him to trample their kings underfoot? With his sword, he reduces armies to dust. With his bow, he scatters them like chaff before the wind.
• Deuteronomy 15:2This is how it must be done. Everyone must cancel the loans they have made to their fellow Israelites. They must not demand payment from their neighbors or relatives, for the Lord’s time of release has arrived.
• 1 Kings 15:18Asa responded by removing all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Temple of the Lord and the royal palace. He sent it with some of his officials to Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon, son of Hezion, the king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus, along with this message:
• Acts 9:2He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.

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