The First Book of Moses: Genesis

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- Chapter 14 -

It came about in the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar, Arioch, king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of Goiim,

that they made war against Bera, king of Sodom, Birsha, king of Gomorrah, Shinab, king of Admah, Shemeber, king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, also called Zoar.

These latter five kings joined together in the Valley of Siddim, also called the Salt Sea.

Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

Then in the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim,

and the Horites in their hill country of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is near the desert.

Then they turned and came to En Mishpat, also called Kadesh, and defeated all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who lived in Hazazon Tamar.

Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, also called Zoar went out and prepared for battle

against Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, Tidal, king of Goiim, Amraphel, king of Shinar, Arioch, king of Ellasar; four kings against the five.

Abram Rescues Lot

Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell in there. Those who were left fled to the mountains.

So the enemy took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their provisions, and went their way.

When they went, they also took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who was living in Sodom, along with all his possessions.

One who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew. He was living by the oaks that belonged to Mamre, the Amorite, who was the brother of Eshcol and Aner, who were all allies of Abram.

Now when Abram heard that enemies had captured his relative, he led out his 318 trained men who had been born in his house, and he pursued them as far as Dan.

He divided his men against them at night and attacked them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.

Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his relative Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the other people.

Melchizedek Blesses Abram

(Psalm 110:1–7; Hebrews 7:1–10)

After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh, also called the King’s Valley.

Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High.

He blessed him saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.

Blessed be God Most High, who has given your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, and take the goods for yourself.”

Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,

that I will not take a thread, a sandal strap, or anything that is yours, so that you can never say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’

I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten and the share of the men that went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their portion.”

In the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar; Arioch, king of Ellasar; Chedorlaomer, king of Elam; and Tidal, king of Goiim,

they made war with Bera, king of Sodom; Birsha, king of Gomorrah; Shinab, king of Admah; Shemeber, king of Zeboiim; and the king of Bela (also called Zoar).

All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (also called the Salt Sea).

They served Chedorlaomer for twelve years, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and struck the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim,

and the Horites in their Mount Seir, to El Paran, which is by the wilderness.

They returned, and came to En Mishpat (also called Kadesh), and struck all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that lived in Hazazon Tamar.

The king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called Zoar) went out; and they set the battle in array against them in the valley of Siddim

against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five.

Abram Rescues Lot

Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and some fell there. Those who remained fled to the hills.

They took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their food, and went their way.

They took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

One who had escaped came and told Abram, the Hebrew. At that time, he lived by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner. They were allies of Abram.

When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive, he led out his three hundred eighteen trained men, born in his house, and pursued as far as Dan.

He divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and struck them, and pursued them to Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.

He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot and his goods, and the women also, and the other people.

Melchizedek Blesses Abram

(Psalm 110:1–7; Hebrews 7:1–10)

The king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).

Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High.

He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth.

Blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram gave him a tenth of all.

The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, and take the goods for yourself.”

Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up my hand to the LORD, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth,

that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’

I will accept nothing from you except that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their portion.”