The NIV Study Bible

genesis chapter xiv

Abram Rescues Lot

14:1 At this time Amraphel king of Shinar[a], Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim

14:2 went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, that is Zoar.

14:3 All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim, the Salt Sea[b].

14:4 For twelve years they had been subject of Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year, they rebelled.

14:5 In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim

14:6 and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El Paran near the desert.

14:7 Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat, that is Kadesh, and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who were living in Hazazon Tamar.

14:8 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, marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim

14:9 against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar — four kings against five.

14:10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills.

14:11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away.

14:12 They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.

14:13 One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother[c] of Eschol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram.

14:14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan.

14:15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.

14:16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.

14:17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh, that is the King's Valley.

14:18 Them Melchizedek king of Salem[d] brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High,

14:19 and he blessed Abram, saying,

"Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.

14:20 And blessed be God Most High,
who delivered you enemies
into your hand."

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

14:21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself."

14:22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath

14:23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, 'I made Abram rich.'