Genesis 15:1 T 15
Abram Rescues Lot
14
At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar, a Arioch king of Ellasar,
Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goyim, 2 these kings went
to war a
gainst Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of
Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All
these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea
Valley). 4 For t welve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the
thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went
out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the
Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim 6 and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far
as El Paran near the desert. 7 Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat
(that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites,
as well as the Amorites who were living in Hazezon Tamar.
8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the
king of Zeboyim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) m
arched out and drew up
their battle l ines in the Valley of Siddim 9 against Kedorlaomer king of Elam,
Tidal king of Goyim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar —
four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and
when the k
ings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them
and the rest fled to the hills. 11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom
and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off
Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.
13 A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew.
Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a broth
er b of Eshkol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 14 When Abram
heard that his relative had been taken captive, he c alled out the 318 t rained
men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 During the
night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing
them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and
brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women
and the other people.
17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied
with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh
(that is, the King’s Valley).
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem b
rought out b
read and wine. He was
priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And praise be to God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the
goods for yourself.”
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With r aised hand I have s worn
an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and e
arth, 23 that I will
accept nothing belonging to you, not even a t hread 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. Let them have their share.”
The L ord ’s Covenant With Abram
15
After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:
“Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield, c
your very great reward. d ”
a 1
That is, Babylonia; also in verse 9 b 13 Or a relative; or an ally c 1 Or sovereign
shield; / your reward will be very great
d 1 Or