Abram Battles Kings for Lot

1At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar, Arioch was king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer was king of Elam, and Tidal was king of the Goiim, 2they engaged in war against King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, along with the king of Bela (which was also known as Zoar). 3All of this latter group of kingsa allied together in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Seab ). 4They were subject to Chedorlaomer for twelve years, but they rebelled in the thirteenth year.

5In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, near El-paran by the desert. 7Next they turned back and came to En-mishpat (which was also known as Kadesh) and conquered all the territory of the Amalekites, along with the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.

8Then the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (which was also known as Zoar) prepared for battle in the Valley of Siddim 9against King Chedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Shinar, and King Arioch of Ellasar—four kings against five.

10Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, so when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of their peoplec fell into them, while the rest fled to the hill country. 11The conquerorsd captured all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, including their entire food supply, and then left. 12They also took Abram’s nephew Lot captive, and confiscatede his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.

13Someone escaped, arrived, and reported what had happenedf to Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks belonging to Mamre the Amorite, whose brothers Eshcol and Aner were allied with Abram. 14When Abram heard that his nephewg had been taken prisoner, he gathered together 318 of his trained men, who had been born in his household, and they went out in pursuit as far as Dan. 15During the night, Abramh and his servants divided his forces,i conquered his enemies,j and pursued them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16He recovered all the goods and brought back his nephew Lot, together with his possessions, the women, and the otherk people.

The Blessing of Melchizedek

17After Abram’s returnl from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with them, the king of Sodom went out to meet with him in the Shaveh Valley (that is, the King’s Valley). 18King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine, since he was serving asm the priest of God Most High. 19Melchizedekn blessed Abramo and said,

“Abram is blessed by God Most High,

Creator of heaven and earth,

20and blessed be God Most High,

who has delivered your enemies

into your control.”

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Conversation with the King of Sodom

21The king of Sodom told Abram, “Return the people to me, and you take the possessions for yourself.”

22But Abram answered the king of Sodom, “I have made an oath to the LORD God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23that I will not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that belongs to you, so you won’t be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24I will take nothing except what my warriors have eaten. But as for what belongs to the men who were alliedp with me, including Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre, let them take their share.”