Genesis 14

Lot's Captivity and Rescue

1In the days of Am'raphel king of Shinar, Ar'ioch king of Ella'sar, Ched-or-lao'mer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goi'im, 2these kings made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomor'rah, Shinab king of Admah, Sheme'ber king of Zeboi'im, and the king of Bela (that is, Zo'ar). 3And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 4Twelve years they had served Ched-or-lao'mer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5In the fourteenth year Ched-or-lao'mer and the kings who were with him came and subdued the Reph'aim in Ash'teroth-karna'im, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Sha'veh-kiriatha'im, 6and the Horites in their Mount Se'ir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness; 7then they turned back and came to En-mish'pat (that is, Kadesh), and subdued all the country of the Amal'ekites, and also the Amorites who dwelt in Haz'azon-ta'mar. 8Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomor'rah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboi'im, and the king of Bela (that is, Zo'ar) went out, and they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim 9with Ched-or-lao'mer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goi'im, Am'raphel king of Shinar, and Ar'ioch king of Ella'sar, four kings against five. 10Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits; and as the kings of Sodom and Gomor'rah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the mountain. 11So the enemy took all the goods of Sodom and Gomor'rah, and all their provisions, and went their way; 12they also took Lot, the son of Abram's brother, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

13Then one who had escaped came, and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaksa of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner; these were allies of Abram. 14When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and routed them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16Then he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his goods, and the women and the people.

Abram Blessed by Melchizedek

17After his return from the defeat of Ched-or-lao'mer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). 18And Melchiz'edek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. 19And he blessed him and said,

"Blessed be Abram by God Most High,

maker of heaven and earth;

20and blessed be God Most High,

who has delivered your enemies into your hand!"

And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21And the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself." 22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have sworn to the Lord God Most High, maker of heaven and earth, 23that I would not take a thread or a sandal-thong or anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich.' 24I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me; let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share."