4 Jul 2025 – jeffersonvann

Genesis 14

Genesis 14:1 During the reigns of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim,

Genesis 14:2 these kings 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 known as Zoar).

Genesis 14:3 And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).

Genesis 14:4 Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

Genesis 14:5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-Kiriathaim,

Genesis 14:6 and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El-Paran on the border of the open country.[1]

Genesis 14:7 Then they turned back and came to En-Mishpat (that is, Kadesh) and defeated all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who were dwelling in Hazazon -Tamar.

Genesis 14:8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also known as Zoar) went out, and they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim

Genesis 14:9 with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five.

Genesis 14:10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of asphalt pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into the pits, and the rest escaped to the hill country.

Genesis 14:11 So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and left.

Genesis 14:12 They also abducted Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, when they left.

Genesis 14:13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. They were partners of Abram.

Genesis 14:14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led forth his army, born in his household, 318 of them, and went to find them as far as Dan.

Genesis 14:15 And he strategically arranged his forces against them by night, he and his slaves, and defeated them and chased them to Hobah, north of Damascus.

Genesis 14:16 Then he brought back all the property, and also brought back his relative Lot with his property, and the women and the other people.

Genesis 14:17 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (also known as the King’s Valley).

Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.)

Genesis 14:19 And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, owner of sky and land;

Genesis 14:20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Genesis 14:21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the throats, but take the property for yourself.”

Genesis 14:22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to Yahveh, God Most High, owner of sky and land,

Genesis 14:23 promising that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, so that you should not say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’

Genesis 14:24 I will take nothing but what the young men have already eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”

[1]מִדְבָּר = open country. Genesis 14:6; 16:7; 21:14, 20-21; 36:24; 37:22.

Genesis 14 quotes:

“Who was this first king of Jerusalem? Who was Melchizedek, through whom God stated His thoughts of election and redemption for Israel? He steps directly out of eternity into time. His name, his words and his actions, as well as the man he approaches and gives bread and wine, provide us with clues about the purpose of his appearance.”

Malgo, Wim. There Shall Be Signs in Heaven and on Earth 1948-1982. Midnight Call, 1980. p. 16.

“In Genesis 14, we are introduced to the first war ever recorded in Scripture. It is a stirring account, vividly contrasting the noisy, vaunted armies of earth against the quiet but invincible power of faith.”

Stedman, Ray C. Friend of God: The Legacy of Abraham, Man of Faith. Discovery House, 2010. p. 50.

“While the Bible does not profess to give us an ancient history complete in all details, nor even a broad outline of such, Scripture is historically accurate when it does touch on contemporary events. In Genesis 14, for instance, we encounter the names of nearly forty people, places, and nationalities—all testify to the veracity of the account.”

Flint, V. Paul. Strangers & Pilgrims : A Study of Genesis. 1st ed., Loizeaux Bros, 1988. p. 114.