Genesis 14: Abram rescues Lot, and Melchizedek blesses him
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What happens?
Four kings defeat the king of Sodom and his allies and carry off Lot. Abram chases them with 318 men, rescues Lot, and brings back the goods. On his return Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High, blesses him, and Abram will take nothing for himself from the king of Sodom.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. God does not speak in this chapter, so no verse is in gold. Melchizedek blesses Abram (verses 19 and 20), and at the end the king of Sodom and Abram speak. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1In the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar; Arioch, king of Ellasar; Chedorlaomer, king of Elam; and Tidal, king of Goiim,
In plain English: In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim,
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2they made war with Bera, king of Sodom; Birsha, king of Gomorrah; Shinab, king of Admah; Shemeber, king of Zeboiim; and the king of Bela (also called Zoar).
In plain English: 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 (also called Zoar).
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3All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (also called the Salt Sea).
In plain English: All these joined forces in the valley of Siddim (also called the Salt Sea).
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4They served Chedorlaomer for twelve years, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
In plain English: For twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
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5In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and struck the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
In plain English: In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
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6and the Horites in their Mount Seir, to El Paran, which is by the wilderness.
In plain English: and the Horites in their Mount Seir, as far as El Paran, which is near the wilderness.
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7They returned, and came to En Mishpat (also called Kadesh), and struck all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that lived in Hazazon Tamar.
In plain English: Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat (also called Kadesh), and they defeated the whole country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who lived in Hazazon Tamar.
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8The king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called Zoar) went out; and they set the battle in array against them in the valley of Siddim
In plain English: Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called Zoar) marched out and lined up for battle against them in the valley of Siddim,
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9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five.
In plain English: against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar: four kings against five.
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10Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and some fell there. Those who remained fled to the hills.
In plain English: The valley of Siddim was full of tar pits. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and some of them fell there. The rest fled to the hills.
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11They took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their food, and went their way.
In plain English: The winners took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food, and went on their way.
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12They took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
In plain English: They also took Lot, Abram's nephew, who was living in Sodom, along with his goods, and left.
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13One who had escaped came and told Abram, the Hebrew. At that time, he lived by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner. They were allies of Abram.
In plain English: Someone who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew. Abram was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These men were Abram's allies.
Good to know: This is the first time the word "Hebrew" appears in the Bible. The dictionary links it to Eber, one of Abram's forefathers ().
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14When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive, he led out his three hundred eighteen trained men, born in his house, and pursued as far as Dan.
In plain English: When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his 318 trained men, born in his household, and chased the enemy as far as Dan.
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15He 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.
In plain English: At night he and his servants split up to attack them. He defeated them and chased them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus (the Hebrew says "on the left hand" of Damascus).
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16He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot and his goods, and the women also, and the other people.
In plain English: He brought back all the goods, and he also brought back his relative Lot with his goods, as well as the women and the other people.
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17The 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).
In plain English: After Abram came back from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (the King's Valley).
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18Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High.
In plain English: Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was a priest of God Most High.
Good to know: Melchizedek is the first person the Bible calls a priest. "God Most High" is El Elyon, a name for God used in 4 verses of this chapter (18, 19, 20 and 22). The dictionary gives Salem as an early name of Jerusalem, and puts Salem side by side with Zion.
Church tradition: Many churches read Melchizedek as a picture of Christ. speaks of "a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek", and retells this meeting and explains his name as "king of righteousness" and his title, king of Salem, as "king of peace". Genesis 14 says only that he was king of Salem and priest of God Most High.
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19He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth.
In plain English: He blessed Abram and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, owner (or maker) of heaven and earth.
The Hebrew word: "Possessor" is qoneh, from a word that can mean to get, to buy, or to make.
How it is translated: In its 76 verses this Bible most often says "buy" (32 verses) or "bought" (23). It says a form of "possess", such as "possessor", in 7.
What changes: Read as "maker", Melchizedek speaks of God Most High as the one who made heaven and earth, not only the one who owns them.
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20Blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram gave him a tenth of all.
In plain English: And blessed be God Most High, who has handed your enemies over to you." And Abram gave him a tenth of everything (the Hebrew has no names here, only "he gave him").
Good to know: The Hebrew says only "he gave him a tenth of all", without names. This Bible adds "Abram", which is how reads it: Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth. This is the first time the Bible tells of giving a tenth (a tithe).
Church tradition: Many churches point to this verse when they teach giving a tenth. Genesis 14 tells of one gift, given after a battle, and gives no command.
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21The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, and take the goods for yourself.”
In plain English: The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people, and keep the goods for yourself."
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22Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth,
In plain English: Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand in an oath to Yahweh, God Most High, owner (or maker) of heaven and earth,
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23that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’
In plain English: that I will not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, so that you can never say, 'I made Abram rich.'
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24I 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.”
In plain English: I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their share."
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