Daily Bread

Abram Rescues Lot

14 At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar,^[a](A) Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer^(B) king of Elam^(C) and Tidal king of Goyim, ² these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim,^(D) and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).^{(E) 3} All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim^(F) (that is, the Dead Sea Valley^(G)). ⁴ For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer,^(H) but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

⁵ In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer^(I) and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites^(J) in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites^(K) in Shaveh Kiriathaim ⁶ and the Horites^(L) in the hill country of Seir,^(M) as far as El Paran^(N) near the desert. ⁷ Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh),^(O) and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites,^(P) as well as the Amorites^(Q) who were living in Hazezon Tamar.^(R)

⁸ Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah,^(S) the king of Admah, the king of Zeboyim^(T) and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar)^(U) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim^{(V) 9} against Kedorlaomer^(W) king of Elam,^(X) Tidal king of Goyim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. ¹⁰ Now the Valley of Siddim^(Y) was full of tar^(Z) pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah^(AA) fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills.^{(AB) 11} The four kings seized all the goods^(AC) of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. ¹² They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot^(AD) and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.

¹³ A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew.^(AE) Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre^(AF) the Amorite, a brother^[b] of Eshkol^(AG) and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. ¹⁴ When Abram heard that his relative^(AH) had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained^(AI) men born in his household^(AJ) and went in pursuit as far as Dan.^{(AK) 15} During the night Abram divided his men^(AL) to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.^{(AM) 16} He recovered^(AN) all the goods^(AO) and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.

¹⁷ After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer^(AP) and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom^(AQ) came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).^(AR)

¹⁸ Then Melchizedek^(AS) king of Salem^(AT) brought out bread^(AU) and wine.^(AV) He was priest of God Most High,^{(AW) 19} and he blessed Abram,^(AX) saying,

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.^(BB)

²¹ The king of Sodom^(BC) said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods^(BD) for yourself.”

²² But Abram said to the king of Sodom,^(BE) “With raised hand^(BF) I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High,^(BG) Creator of heaven and earth,^{(BH) 23} that I will accept nothing belonging to you,^(BI) not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ ²⁴ I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre.^(BJ) Let them have their share.”