Genesis 14

Abram Rescues Lot

14About this time war broke out in the region. King Amraphel of Babylonia

, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Kedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of GoiimH3117H569H4428H8152H746H4428H495H3540H4428H5867H8413H4428H14712fought against King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called Zoar).H6213H4421H854H1298H4428H5467H1306H4428H6017H8134H4428H126H8038H4428H6636H4428H1106H1931H68203This second group of kings joined forces in Siddim Valley (that is, the valley of the Dead Sea

).H2266H6010H7708H1931H4417H32204For twelve years they had been subject to King Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled against him.H6240H8147H8141H5647H853H3540H7969H6240H8141H47755One year later Kedorlaomer and his allies arrived and defeated the Rephaites at Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites at Ham, the Emites at Shaveh-kiriathaim,H6240H702H8141H935H3540H4428H5221H7497H6255H2104H1990H368H77416and the Horites at Mount Seir, as far as El-paran at the edge of the wilderness.H2752H2042H8165H364H5921H40577Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (now called Kadesh) and conquered all the territory of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites living in Hazazon-tamar.H7725H935H413H5880H6946H5221H7704H6003H567H3427H26888Then the rebel kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (also called Zoar) prepared for battle in the valley of the Dead Sea

.H3318H4428H5467H4428H6017H4428H126H4428H6636H4428H1106H1931H6820H6186H4421H6010H77089They fought against King Kedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Babylonia, and King Arioch of Ellasar—four kings against five.H3540H4428H5867H8413H4428H1471H569H4428H8152H746H4428H495H702H4428H256810As it happened, the valley of the Dead Sea was filled with tar pits. And as the army of the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into the tar pits, while the rest escaped into the mountains.H6010H7708H875H875H2564H4428H5467H6017H5127H5307H7604H5127H202211The victorious invaders then plundered Sodom and Gomorrah and headed for home, taking with them all the spoils of war and the food supplies.H3947H7399H5467H6017H400H321212They also captured Lot—Abram's nephew who lived in Sodom—and carried off everything he owned.H3947H3876H87H251H1121H3427H5467H7399H321213But 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.H935H6412H5046H87H5680H7931H436H4471H567H251H812H251H6063H1167H1285H8714When 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.H87H8085H251H7617H7324H2593H3211H1004H7969H3967H6240H8083H7291H183515There he divided his men and attacked during the night. Kedorlaomer's army fled, but Abram chased them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.H2505H5650H3915H5221H7291H2327H8040H183416Abram 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.H7725H7399H7725H251H3876H7399H802H5971

Melchizedek Blesses Abram

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).H4428H5467H3318H7125H310H7725H5221H3540H4428H6010H7740H1931H4428H601018And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High

, brought Abram some bread and wine.H4442H4428H8004H3318H3899H3196H3548H5945H41019Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing: "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.H1288H559H1288H87H5945H410H7069H8064H77620And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you." Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.H1288H5945H410H4042H6862H3027H5414H464321The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give back my people who were captured. But you may keep for yourself all the goods you have recovered."H4428H5467H559H87H5414H5315H3947H739922Abram replied to the king of Sodom, "I solemnly swear to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,H87H559H4428H5467H7311H3027H3068H5945H410H7069H8064H77623that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, 'I am the one who made Abram rich.'H518H2339H5275H8288H518H3947H559H6238H87H623824I will accept only what my young warriors have already eaten, and I request that you give a fair share of the goods to my allies—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre."H1107H834H5288H398H2506H582H1980H854H6063H812H4471H1992H3947H2506