1 It happened in the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar, Arioch, king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of Goiim, 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). 3 All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (the same is the Salt Sea). 4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year, they rebelled. 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, 6 and the Horites in their Mount Seir, to Elparan, which is by the wilderness. 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. 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; 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 people. 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: and 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 and 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 to 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."
The war of four confederate kings against the five kings of Canaan, Genesis 14:1-3. The confederate kings overrun and pillage the whole country, Genesis 14:4-7. Battle between them and the kings of Canaan, Genesis 14:5, Genesis 14:9. The latter are defeated, and the principal part of the armies of the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah slain, Genesis 14:10; on which these two cities are plundered, Genesis 14:11. Lot, his goods, and his family, are also taken and carried away, Genesis 14:12. Abram, being informed of the disaster of his nephew, Genesis 14:13, arms three hundred and eighteen of his servants, and pursues them, Genesis 14:14; overtakes and routs them, and recovers Lot and his family, and their goods, Genesis 14:15, Genesis 14:16; is met on his return by the king of Sodom, and by Melchizedek, king of Salem, with refreshments for himself and men, Genesis 14:17, Genesis 14:18. Melchizedek blesses Abram, and receives from him, as priest of the most high God, the tenth of all the spoils, Genesis 14:19, Genesis 14:20. The king of Sodom offers to Abram all the goods he has taken from the enemy, Genesis 14:21; which Abram positively refuses, having vowed to God to receive no recompense for a victory of which he knew God to be the sole author, Genesis 14:22, Genesis 14:23; but desires that a proportion of the spoils be given to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre, who had accompanied him on this expedition, Genesis 14:24.
INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 14
This chapter gives an account of a war that was waged, and a battle fought between four kings on one side, and five on the other, and of the occasion and issue of it, who were the first kings, and this the first battle the Scriptures speak of, Genesis 14:1; Lot and his goods being taken and carried off, with those of Sodom, by the conquerors, Abram hearing of it armed his men, and pursued after them, and overtook and overcame them, and rescued Lot and his goods, with others, and returned, Genesis 14:12; when he was met by the kings of Sodom and Salem, who congratulated him on his victory, Genesis 14:17; and what passed between him, and those great personages, is related, Genesis 14:20.
(Genesis 14:1-12) The battle of the kings, Lot is taken prisoner.
(Genesis 14:13-16) Abram rescues Lot.
(Genesis 14:17-20) Melchizedek blesses Abram.
(Genesis 14:21-24) Abram restores the spoil.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.