Genesis 14

Abram Rescues Lot

1 Back in the day, a gang of kings rolled up, King Amraphel of Shinar, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Kedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim.

2 They went to war against five other kings: the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboyim, and Bela (aka Zoar).

3 The five kings teamed up and camped in the Valley of Siddim, which is now the Dead Sea.

4 They had been paying taxes to Kedorlaomer for 12 years but decided to rebel in the 13th year.

5 In the 14th year, Kedorlaomer and his crew rolled in, smashing everyone in their path, the Rephaites, Zuzites, Emites, and Horites in the hill country of Seir.

6 They even took out the Amalekites and Amorites near Kadesh.

7 Then they headed back to the Valley of Siddim to handle business with the rebellious kings.

8 The kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboyim, and Bela squared up and went to battle against Kedorlaomer’s squad.

9 It was four kings versus five, and things were about to get messy.

10 The Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah ran, some fell into the pits while the rest took off into the hills.

11 Kedorlaomer’s crew raided Sodom and Gomorrah, taking everything, goods, food, the whole nine yards.

12 They even snatched up Lot, Abram’s nephew, and all his stuff since he was living near Sodom.

Abram to the Rescue

13 One guy escaped and told Abram the Hebrew what went down. Abram was chilling near the great trees of Mamre, where his allies Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre lived.

14 When Abram heard Lot was taken, he rallied 318 trained men from his crew and went after the kings as far as Dan.

15 He launched a surprise attack at night, split his forces, and defeated the kings. Then he chased them all the way to Hobah, north of Damascus.

16 Abram brought back all the goods, Lot, his family, and everything that was stolen.

Melchizedek Blesses Abram

17 After Abram handled the kings, the King of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (aka the King’s Valley).

18 Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought out bread and wine.

19 He blessed Abram and said, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.’

20 ‘And praise to God Most High, who gave your enemies into your hands.’ Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything he had.

Abram Refuses the King of Sodom’s Offer

21 The King of Sodom said to Abram, ‘Listen, just give me my people back, and you can keep all the stuff.’

22 But Abram said, ‘I raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and made a promise.’

23 I will not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything from you so you cannot say, I made Abram rich.

24 The only thing I will accept is what my men have already eaten. Let Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre take their share since they rolled with me.