Genesis 14
Big idea: The chapter that shows Abram's other side. Four eastern kings crush a rebellion of five city-kings, sack Sodom and Gomorrah, and carry off Lot with the plunder. Abram — called "the Hebrew" here for the first time — arms 318 trained men born in his own house, pursues them the length of the country, attacks by night, and brings back everything and everyone. And then the real test comes: two kings meet him on the road home. One, a priest-king of Salem, brings bread and wine and blesses him by God Most High; Abram gives him a tenth. The other, the king of Sodom, offers him the plunder; Abram refuses a thread of it, because he will not have any man say he made Abram rich.
Chapter 14 ends with Abram having turned down a fortune on the strength of a promise. Chapter 15 opens with God's answer to a man who has just given away his security: don't be afraid — I am your shield, and your exceedingly great reward.
14:1–12 — The war of the kings, and Lot taken
Four kings from the east, led by Chedorlaomer of Elam, put down a rebellion by five kings of the plain after twelve years of tribute. Sweeping through the region, they defeat the coalition in the tar-pit valley of Siddim; the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah flee. The victors take all the goods and food — and Lot, who was living in Sodom, with everything he had.
1 In the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar; Arioch, king of Ellasar; Chedorlaomer, king of Elam; and Tidal, king of Goiim, 2 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). 3 All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (also called the Salt Sea). 4 They served Chedorlaomer for twelve years, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 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, 6 and the Horites in their Mount Seir, to El Paran, which is by the wilderness. 7 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. 8 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 9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five. 10 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. 11 They took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their food, and went their way. 12 They took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
14:13–16 — Three hundred eighteen men
A survivor brings the news to Abram the Hebrew, who is allied with three Amorite brothers at Mamre. He leads out 318 trained men born in his own household, pursues as far as Dan, divides his force and attacks by night, chases the enemy north of Damascus, and brings back all the goods, Lot, and the women and people.
13 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. 14 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. 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. 16 He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot and his goods, and the women also, and the other people.
14:17–24 — Melchizedek's bread, Sodom's offer
Two kings come out to meet the returning Abram. Melchizedek of Salem, priest of God Most High, brings bread and wine and blesses him — blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth — and Abram gives him a tenth of everything. The king of Sodom then proposes a deal: give me the people, keep the goods. Abram has already sworn an oath: not a thread, not a sandal strap, lest you say, I have made Abram rich.
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). 18 Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High. 19 He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth. 20 Blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram gave him a tenth of all. 21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, and take the goods for yourself.” 22 Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, 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.’ 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.”
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).