War of the Kings
Study note
Four powerful eastern kings, led by Chedorlaomer of Elam, go to war against five local kings in the Jordan Valley, including the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. The local kings had served Chedorlaomer for twelve years and then rebelled. In the battle at the Valley of Siddim near the Dead Sea, the local kings are defeated. The invaders plunder Sodom and Gomorrah and carry away Lot and all his possessions.
1 At that time, Amraphel was king of Shinar. Arioch was king of Ellasar. Chedorlaomer was king of Elam. Tidal was king of Goiim. 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 These four kings fought five other kings. They fought Bera king of Sodom. They fought Birsha king of Gomorrah. They fought Shinab king of Admah. They fought Shemeber king of Zeboiim. They fought the king of Bela (also called Zoar). 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 The five kings joined forces and gathered their armies in the Valley of Siddim, which is now covered by the Dead Sea. All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
4 These five kings had been under Chedorlaomer's power for twelve years. But in the thirteenth year they chose to fight back. Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and his allies attacked. They crushed the Rephaites at Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites at Ham, and the Emites at Shaveh Kiriathaim. 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 Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
6 They also beat the Horites all through the hill country of Seir. They pushed them back as far as El Paran, on the edge of the desert. And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-paran, which is by the wilderness.
7 Then they turned around and marched to En Mishpat (also called Kadesh). They took over the entire territory of the Amalekites and also defeated the Amorites living in Hazezon Tamar. And they returned, and came to En-mishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezon-tamar.
8 Then the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (Zoar) led their armies out. They fought in the Valley of Siddim. 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 They faced Chedorlaomer of Elam, Tidal of Goiim, Amraphel of Shinar, and Arioch of Ellasar. It was four kings against five. 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 The Valley of Siddim was dotted with tar pits. When the armies of Sodom and Gomorrah tried to run away, some soldiers fell into those pits. The survivors escaped to the hills. 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 The four winning kings grabbed all the valuables and food supplies from Sodom and Gomorrah and took off. And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.
12 They also captured Abram's nephew Lot and took all his things, since Lot had been living there in Sodom. And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
Abram Rescues Lot
Study note
A survivor escapes and tells Abram what happened. Abram immediately gathers 318 trained men from his own household and pursues the enemy all the way to Dan in the far north. He divides his forces and attacks at night, chasing the enemy beyond Damascus. Abram recovers everything — all the goods, the captives, and his nephew Lot. This shows Abram as not just a man of faith but also a capable military leader.
13 One person managed to get away and brought the news to Abram the Hebrew. At that time, Abram was camping by the oak trees owned by Mamre the Amorite. Mamre had two brothers — Eshkol and Aner — and all three of them were Abram's allies. 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 The moment Abram heard that his nephew had been captured, he rounded up 318 trained fighters who had been born right in his own household. They chased the enemy armies all the way up to Dan. 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 That night, Abram split his men into groups, launched a surprise attack, and beat them badly. He chased them all the way to Hobah, which is north of Damascus. 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 He got back everything that had been stolen. He also rescued his nephew Lot, along with all of Lot's belongings, plus the women and other people. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
Abram Meets Melchizedek
Study note
After the victory, two kings come to meet Abram. Melchizedek, king of Salem (likely ancient Jerusalem) and priest of God Most High, brings bread and wine and blesses Abram. Abram gives Melchizedek a tenth of everything he recovered. Melchizedek is a mysterious figure who appears only briefly but becomes very important in later Scripture as a picture of a priest-king. The king of Sodom asks for his people back and offers Abram the goods, but Abram refuses to take anything, not wanting anyone to say the king of Sodom made him rich.
17 Abram came home after beating Chedorlaomer and the other kings. The king of Sodom met him in the Valley of Shaveh. People also called it the King's Valley. 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 Then Melchizedek, who was king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. He was a priest who served God Most High. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
19 He spoke a blessing over Abram: "May God Most High, the Maker of heaven and earth, pour out his blessing on Abram." And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 "And all praise belongs to God Most High, who handed your enemies right over to you!" After that, Abram gave Melchizedek one-tenth of everything he had recovered. And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
21 The king of Sodom told Abram, "Give me back my people. You can keep all the goods for yourself." And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.
22 But Abram told the king of Sodom. "I raised my hand. I made a firm promise to the Lord, God Most High. He is the Maker of heaven and earth." 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 "I refuse to take a single thing that belongs to you — not even a thread or a sandal strap. I will not let you go around saying, 'I'm the one who made Abram rich.'" 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 "I don't want anything for myself beyond what my men have already eaten. But let my allies — Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre — take their fair share." 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.