14 1-4 Now there were many kings living in that land, at that time. They fought against each other. One fight was when Kedorlaomer had ruled over the other kings for 12 years. And in the next year, five kings made one group like that and fought against him. Kedorlaomer joined with three other kings. So it was four kings against five other kings.
The four kings were Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim. Those kings fought a war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela. (Bela is another name for the town of Zoar.) They fought in the Valley of Siddim. (That is the Salt Sea.) 5 In the 14th year, Kedorlaomer and the kings with him won against the Rephaites. This was in Ashteroth Karnaim. They won against the Zuzites in Ham. They won against the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim. 6 And they won against the Horites in the country of Seir. This was as far as El Paran near the desert. 7 They then went back. They went to En Mishpat. (That is Kadesh.) They took the whole land of the Amalekites. They also took the land of the Amorites who were living in Hazezon Tamar.
8 Then, the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is Zoar) went to fight. That was in the Valley of Siddim. 9 They fought against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar. There were four kings fighting against five kings. 10 The Valley of Siddim had many holes in the ground. The holes were filled with tar. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah ran away. Some of their men fell into the deep tar. The other men ran away to the hills. 11 The four kings took everything in Sodom and Gomorrah, including all the food. Then they went away. 12 Abram's nephew, Lot, was living in Sodom at that time. So they took him away from there, and everything that belonged to him.
13 At that time, Abram, the Hebrew man, was living near the special oak trees of Mamre. Mamre was an Amorite. He was the brother of Eshcol and Aner. These men had agreed to be Abram's friends.
A man ran away from Sodom. He told Abram everything that had happened. 14 Abram understood that the kings had caught his nephew. So he called 318 men to come together. These men had been born in Abram's camp and they knew how to fight. Abram took his men with him. They went to attack the men who had caught Lot. They went as far as Dan.
15 During the night, Abram separated his men into two groups. Then they attacked Kedorlaomer and his men who had taken Lot. Those men ran away and Abram followed them as far as Hobah. Hobah is north of Damascus. 16 Abram took back everything that those men had taken from Sodom. He also brought back his nephew Lot, together with the women and the other people.
17 In that way, Abram won against Kedorlaomer and the kings with him. As Abram was returning home, the king of Sodom came out to meet him. They met in the Valley of Shaveh, which people call the King's Valley.
18 Melchizedek was the king of Salem, and he was a priest of the Most High God. He brought out bread and wine for Abram. 19 He blessed Abram. He said, ‘I pray that the Most High God who made heaven and earth will bless Abram. 20 Praise the Most High God! He has given you power over your enemies.’
After that, Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth part of everything. [ a ]
21 Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, ‘Give back to me all my people. Take everything else for yourself.’ 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I have made a strong promise to the Lord , the Most High God who made heaven and earth. 23 I promised that I would not take anything that belonged to you. I will not take the smallest thing, not even a piece of string, or part of a shoe. Then you will never be able to say, “I made Abram become rich.” 24 I myself will accept only the food that my young men have eaten. But Aner, Eshcol and Mamre went with me to help me to fight. They should take their part of the things that we brought back with us.’ [ b ]
14 Amraphel was the king of Babylonia, Arioch was the king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer was the king of Elam, and Tidal was the king of Goiim. 2 All these kings fought a war against King Bera of Sodom: King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela. (Bela is also called Zoar.)
3 All these kings joined their armies in the Valley of Siddim. (The Valley of Siddim is now the Salt Sea.) 4 These kings had served Kedorlaomer for twelve years. But in the 13th year, they all rebelled against him. 5 So in the 14th year, King Kedorlaomer and the kings with him came to fight against them. Kedorlaomer and the kings with him defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim. They also defeated the Zuzites in Ham. They defeated the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim. 6 And they defeated the Horites who lived in the area from the hill country of Seir [ a ] to El Paran. [ b ] (El Paran is near the desert.) 7 Then King Kedorlaomer turned back, went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and defeated the Amalekites. He also defeated the Amorites living in Hazezon Tamar.
8 At that time the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (Zoar) joined together to fight against their enemies in the Valley of Siddim. [ c ] 9 They fought against King Kedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Babylonia, and King Arioch of Ellasar. So there were four kings fighting against five.
10 There were many holes filled with tar in the Valley of Siddim. When the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah and their armies ran away, some of the soldiers fell into these holes, but the others ran away to the mountains.
11 So Kedorlaomer and his armies took everything that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah owned. They took all their food and clothing and left. 12 Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, was living in Sodom, and they captured him. They also took everything he owned and left. 13 One of the men who had escaped went to Abram the Hebrew and told him what happened. Abram was camped near the trees of Mamre the Amorite. Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner [ d ] had made an agreement to help each other, and they had also signed an agreement to help Abram.
14 When Abram learned that Lot was captured, he called all of his family together. There were 318 trained soldiers. He led the men and chased the enemy all the way to the town of Dan. 15 That night he and his men made a surprise attack against the enemy. They defeated them and chased them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Then Abram brought back everything the enemy had stolen, as well as the women and servants, his nephew Lot, and everything Lot owned.
17 Then Abram went home after he defeated Kedorlaomer and the kings with him. On his way home, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh. (This is now called King’s Valley.)
18 Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, also went to meet Abram. He brought bread and wine. 19 He blessed Abram and said,
“Abram, may you be blessed by God Most High,
the one who made heaven and earth.
20 And we praise God Most High,
who helped you defeat your enemies.”
Abram gave Melchizedek one-tenth of everything he had taken during the battle. 21 Then the king of Sodom told Abram, “Give me my people who were captured. But you can keep everything else.”
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I promise to the Lord , the God Most High, the one who made heaven and earth. 23 I promise that I will not keep anything that is yours—not even a thread or a sandal strap! I don’t want you to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 The only thing I will accept is the food that my young men have eaten, but you should give the other men their share. Take what we won in battle and give some to Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. These men helped me in the battle.”
14 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;
2 That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.
3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emins in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
6 And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness.
7 And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar.
8 And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;
9 With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.
10 And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.
11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.
12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.
14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
15 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.
16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.
22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord , the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,
23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:
24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
14 And it came about in the days of Amraphel king of ( A ) Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of ( B ) Elam, and Tidal king of [ a ] Goiim, 2 that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of ( C ) Admah, and Shemeber king of ( D ) Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, ( E ) Zoar). 3 All these kings [ b ] came as allies to ( F ) the Valley of Siddim (that is, ( G ) the Salt Sea). 4 For twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 And in the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and [ c ] defeated the ( H ) Rephaim in ( I ) Ashteroth-karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in [ d ] ( J ) Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6 and the ( K ) Horites on their Mount Seir, as far as ( L ) El-paran, which is by the wilderness. 7 Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, ( M ) Kadesh), and [ e ] conquered all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, who lived in ( N ) Hazazon-tamar. 8 And 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 ( O ) the Valley of Siddim, 9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of [ f ] Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and ( P ) the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell [ g ] into them. But those who survived fled to the ( Q ) hill country. 11 Then they took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply, and departed. 12 They also took Lot, ( R ) Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and departed, ( S ) for he was living in Sodom.
13 Then [ h ] a survivor came and told Abram the ( T ) Hebrew. Now he was residing by the [ i ] ( U ) oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner, and they were [ j ] ( V ) allies with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that ( W ) his relative had been taken captive, he [ k ] led out his trained men, ( X ) born in his house, numbering 318, and went in pursuit as far as ( Y ) Dan. 15 Then ( Z ) he divided [ l ] his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and [ m ] defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is [ n ] north of ( AA ) Damascus. 16 He ( AB ) brought back all the possessions, and also brought back ( AC ) his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the other people.
17 Then after his return from the [ o ] defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, ( AD ) the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, ( AE ) the King’s Valley). 18 And ( AF ) Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out ( AG ) bread and wine; now he was a ( AH ) priest of [ p ] God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram of [ q ] God Most High,
[ r ] ( AI ) Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 And blessed be [ s ] God Most High,
Who has handed over your enemies to you.”
And ( AJ ) he gave him a tenth of everything. 21 Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give the [ t ] people to me and take the possessions for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have [ u ] sworn to the Lord [ v ] ( AK ) God Most High, [ w ] ( AL ) Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that ( AM ) I 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.’ 24 [ x ] I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, ( AN ) Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share.”
14 At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar, [ a ] ( A ) Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer ( B ) king of Elam ( C ) and Tidal king of Goyim, 2 these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, ( D ) and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). ( E ) 3 All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim ( F ) (that is, the Dead Sea Valley ( G ) ). 4 For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, ( H ) but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer ( I ) and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites ( J ) in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites ( K ) in Shaveh Kiriathaim 6 and the Horites ( L ) in the hill country of Seir, ( M ) as far as El Paran ( N ) near the desert. 7 Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), ( O ) and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, ( P ) as well as the Amorites ( Q ) who were living in Hazezon Tamar. ( R )
8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, ( S ) the king of Admah, the king of Zeboyim ( T ) and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) ( U ) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim ( V ) 9 against Kedorlaomer ( W ) king of Elam, ( X ) Tidal king of Goyim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim ( Y ) was full of tar ( Z ) pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah ( AA ) fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills. ( AB ) 11 The four kings seized all the goods ( AC ) of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot ( AD ) and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.
13 A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. ( AE ) Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre ( AF ) the Amorite, a brother [ b ] of Eshkol ( AG ) and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative ( AH ) had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained ( AI ) men born in his household ( AJ ) and went in pursuit as far as Dan. ( AK ) 15 During the night Abram divided his men ( AL ) to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. ( AM ) 16 He recovered ( AN ) all the goods ( AO ) and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer ( AP ) and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom ( AQ ) came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). ( AR )
18 Then Melchizedek ( AS ) king of Salem ( AT ) brought out bread ( AU ) and wine. ( AV ) He was priest of God Most High, ( AW ) 19 and he blessed Abram, ( AX ) saying,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, ( AY )
Creator of heaven and earth. ( AZ )
20 And praise be to God Most High, ( BA )
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. ( BB )
21 The king of Sodom ( BC ) said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods ( BD ) for yourself.”
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, ( BE ) “With raised hand ( BF ) I have sworn an oath to the Lord , God Most High, ( BG ) Creator of heaven and earth, ( BH ) 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, ( BI ) not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre. ( BJ ) Let them have their share.”
