Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Genesis 14
War among the Kings
In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, these kings 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. All these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim, now the Salt Sea.
For twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and his allied kings came and defeated the Rephaim at Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim at Ham, and the Emim at Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites in their hill country of Seir, as far as El-paran at the edge of the wilderness. Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat, that is, Kadesh. They defeated the inhabitants of all the Amalekite territory, and the Amorites living at Hazazon-tamar.
The kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela—that is, Zoar—marched out and drew up for battle in the Valley of Siddim against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar: four kings against five.
The Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled and fell into them, while the survivors fled to the hills. The victors took all the possessions and food of Sodom and Gomorrah and went away.
They also took Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom, and left.
Abram Rescues Lot
An escapee came and told Abram the Hebrew. Abram was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eshcol and Aner. These men were Abram's allies.
When Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he mustered 318 trained men born in his household and pursued the captors as far as Dan. At night he divided his men for an attack. He and his servants defeated the captors and pursued them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the possessions and brought back his relative Lot and Lot's possessions, along with the women and the other people.
Blessing and an Oath
After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh, that is, the King's Valley.
Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was a priest of God Most High.
He blessed Abram, saying,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
maker of heaven and earth.
Blessed be God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, and keep the possessions for yourself.”
Abram answered the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand in an oath to the LORD, God Most High, maker of heaven and earth: I will take nothing that belongs to you—not a thread, not a sandal strap. You will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ I ask nothing for myself, except what the young men have eaten. But let the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre—take their share.”