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 survivor came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was dwelling by the large trees belonging to Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eschol and the brother of Aner—they were Abram’s allies. 14When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he rallied his trained men, those born in his household, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. Then he divided his servants against them at night, and he defeated them and pursued them as far as Hovah, which is north of Damascus. 16He brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot and his possessions, as well as the women and the other people. 17Now after he returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (this 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 a man who is gracious and lends. He will order his affairs with fairness.
• Isaiah 41:2Who has stirred up one from the east? He calls justice to His feet. He gives nations over to him and subdues kings. He makes them like dust with his sword, as driven stubble with his bow.
• Deuteronomy 15:2This is how you are to cancel debts: every creditor is to release what he has loaned to his neighbor. He must not force his neighbor or his brother to repay, for Adonai’s debt cancellation has been proclaimed.
• 1 Kings 15:18Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasuries of Adonai’s House and the treasuries of the royal palace, and delivered them into the hand of his officials. King Asa sent them to Ben-Hadad son of Tabrimmon, son of Hezion, king of Aram, who resided in Damascus, saying:
• Acts 9:2He requested letters of introduction from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to 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