Genesis 14:1-24.
Genesis 14:1-24 (GNT)
Introduction
Genesis 14:1-24: This passage introduces a number of kings from the lands
to the east of Canaan. Amid their battles, Lot and his possessions are
captured. Abram takes troops to find and free him. He defeats King
Chedorlaomer, and is honored by King Melchizedek.
Today's Scripture: Genesis 14:19b
"May the Most High God, who made heaven and earth, bless Abram!"
Today's Reading
1Four kings, Amraphel of Babylonia, Arioch of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer of
Elam, and Tidal of Goiim, 2went to war against five other kings: Bera of
Sodom, Birsha of Gomorrah, Shinab of Admah, Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the
king of Bela (or Zoar). 3These five kings had formed an alliance and
joined forces in Siddim Valley, which is now the Dead Sea. 4They had been
under the control of Chedorlaomer for twelve years, but in the thirteenth
year they rebelled against him. 5In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and
his allies came with their armies and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth
Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in the plain of Kiriathaim, 6and the
Horites in the mountains of Edom, pursuing them as far as Elparan on the
edge of the desert. 7Then they turned around and came back to Kadesh (then
known as Enmishpat). They conquered all the land of the Amalekites and
defeated the Amorites who lived in Hazazon Tamar. 8Then the kings of
Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela drew up their armies for battle
in Siddim Valley and fought 9against the kings of Elam, Goiim, Babylonia,
and Ellasar, five kings against four. 10The valley was full of tar pits,
and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah tried to run away from the
battle, they fell into the pits; but the other three kings escaped to the
mountains. 11The four kings took everything in Sodom and Gomorrah,
including the food, and went away. 12Lot, Abram's nephew, was living in
Sodom, so they took him and all his possessions. 13But a man escaped and
reported all this to Abram, the Hebrew, who was living near the sacred
trees belonging to Mamre the Amorite. Mamre and his brothers Eshcol and
Aner were Abram's allies. 14When Abram heard that his nephew had been
captured, he called together all the fighting men in his camp, 318 in all,
and pursued the four kings all the way to Dan. 15There he divided his men
into groups, attacked the enemy by night, and defeated them. He chased
them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus, 16and got back all the loot that
had been taken. He also brought back his nephew Lot and his possessions,
together with the women and the other prisoners. 17When Abram came back
from his victory over Chedorlaomer and the other kings, the king of Sodom
went out to meet him in Shaveh Valley (also called King's Valley). 18And
Melchizedek, who was king of Salem and also a priest of the Most High God,
brought bread and wine to Abram, 19blessed him, and said, May the Most High
God, who made heaven and earth, bless Abram! 20May the Most High God, who
gave you victory over your enemies, be praised! And Abram gave Melchizedek
a tenth of all the loot he had recovered. 21The king of Sodom said to
Abram, Keep the loot, but give me back all my people. 22Abram answered, I
solemnly swear before the Lord, the Most High God, Maker of heaven and
earth, 23that I will not keep anything of yours, not even a thread or a
sandal strap. Then you can never say, I am the one who made Abram rich.
24I will take nothing for myself. I will accept only what my men have
used. But let my allies, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre, take their share.
God bless you.
Introduction
Genesis 14:1-24: This passage introduces a number of kings from the lands
to the east of Canaan. Amid their battles, Lot and his possessions are
captured. Abram takes troops to find and free him. He defeats King
Chedorlaomer, and is honored by King Melchizedek.
Today's Scripture: Genesis 14:19b
"May the Most High God, who made heaven and earth, bless Abram!"
Today's Reading
1Four kings, Amraphel of Babylonia, Arioch of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer of
Elam, and Tidal of Goiim, 2went to war against five other kings: Bera of
Sodom, Birsha of Gomorrah, Shinab of Admah, Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the
king of Bela (or Zoar). 3These five kings had formed an alliance and
joined forces in Siddim Valley, which is now the Dead Sea. 4They had been
under the control of Chedorlaomer for twelve years, but in the thirteenth
year they rebelled against him. 5In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and
his allies came with their armies and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth
Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in the plain of Kiriathaim, 6and the
Horites in the mountains of Edom, pursuing them as far as Elparan on the
edge of the desert. 7Then they turned around and came back to Kadesh (then
known as Enmishpat). They conquered all the land of the Amalekites and
defeated the Amorites who lived in Hazazon Tamar. 8Then the kings of
Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela drew up their armies for battle
in Siddim Valley and fought 9against the kings of Elam, Goiim, Babylonia,
and Ellasar, five kings against four. 10The valley was full of tar pits,
and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah tried to run away from the
battle, they fell into the pits; but the other three kings escaped to the
mountains. 11The four kings took everything in Sodom and Gomorrah,
including the food, and went away. 12Lot, Abram's nephew, was living in
Sodom, so they took him and all his possessions. 13But a man escaped and
reported all this to Abram, the Hebrew, who was living near the sacred
trees belonging to Mamre the Amorite. Mamre and his brothers Eshcol and
Aner were Abram's allies. 14When Abram heard that his nephew had been
captured, he called together all the fighting men in his camp, 318 in all,
and pursued the four kings all the way to Dan. 15There he divided his men
into groups, attacked the enemy by night, and defeated them. He chased
them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus, 16and got back all the loot that
had been taken. He also brought back his nephew Lot and his possessions,
together with the women and the other prisoners. 17When Abram came back
from his victory over Chedorlaomer and the other kings, the king of Sodom
went out to meet him in Shaveh Valley (also called King's Valley). 18And
Melchizedek, who was king of Salem and also a priest of the Most High God,
brought bread and wine to Abram, 19blessed him, and said, May the Most High
God, who made heaven and earth, bless Abram! 20May the Most High God, who
gave you victory over your enemies, be praised! And Abram gave Melchizedek
a tenth of all the loot he had recovered. 21The king of Sodom said to
Abram, Keep the loot, but give me back all my people. 22Abram answered, I
solemnly swear before the Lord, the Most High God, Maker of heaven and
earth, 23that I will not keep anything of yours, not even a thread or a
sandal strap. Then you can never say, I am the one who made Abram rich.
24I will take nothing for myself. I will accept only what my men have
used. But let my allies, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre, take their share.
God bless you.
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