Genesis Chapter 14

From The Open Bible Project

14:1 It happened in the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar, Arioch, king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of Goiim,

• (a) That is, of Babylon: by kings here, meaning, them that were governors of cities.
• (b) Of a people gathered from various countries.

14:2 that they 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 (the same is Zoar).

14:3 All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (the same is the Salt Sea).

• (c) Ambition is the chief cause of wars among princes.
• (d) Called also the dead sea, or the lake Asphaltite, near Sodom and Gomorrah.

14:4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year, they rebelled.

14:5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer came, and the kings who were with him, and struck the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim,

14:6 and the Horites in their Mount Seir, to Elparan, which is by the wilderness.

14:7 They returned, and came to En Mishpat (the same is Kadesh), and struck all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that lived in Hazazon Tamar.

14:8 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) went out; and they set the battle in array against them in the valley of Siddim;

14:9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five.

14:10 Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell there, and those who remained fled to the hills.

• (e) And afterward was overwhelmed with water, and so was called the salt sea.

14:11 They took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their food, and went their way.

14:12 They took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

• (f) The godly are plagued many times with the wicked: therefore their company is dangerous.

14:13 One who had escaped came and told Abram, the Hebrew. Now he lived by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner; and these were allies of Abram.

• (g) God removed them to join Abram, and preserves him from their idolatry and superstitions.

14:14 When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan.

14:15 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.

14:16 He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative, Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

14:17 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).

14:18 Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High.

• (h) For Abram and his soldiers refreshment, not to offer sacrifice.

14:19 He blessed him, and said, "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth:

• (i) Melchizedek fed Abram, declared himself to represent a king, and he blessed him as the high priest.

14:20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand." Abram gave him a tenth of all.

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

14:22 Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth,

14:23 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.'

14:24 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."

• (k) He did not want his liberality to be hurtful to others.