The Book of
Genesis 14
24 verses≈ 4 min4 peopleBSB
Images are artistic interpretations.
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In this chapter
Where we are
- 1–11BeginningsCreation, fall, flood, Babel
- 12–24AbrahamThe call and the promiseChapter 14
- 25–36Isaac and JacobThe promise passed on
- 37–50JosephGod meant it for good
The War of the Kings
In those days Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim 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 (that is, Zoar).
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Stylised map · locations approximate
On the map
Kings from the east
Chedorlaomer was “king of Elam,” in the hills east of the Tigris, and Amraphel was “king of Shinar,” that is, Babylonia. Ellasar and Goiim are not known. Their kings marched hundreds of miles west and south to bring the towns by the Dead Sea to heel, “the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).”
The latter five came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). For twelve years they had been subject to Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites in the area of Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is near the desert. Then they turned back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.
Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and arrayed themselves for battle in the Valley of Siddim against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.
Four kings against five
Whiteboard
Four kings from the east, led by Chedorlaomer, had ruled the five towns of the plain for twelve years. When the five rebelled, the four came back. The armies met in the Valley of Siddim, “four kings against five.” And living in Sodom, caught up in a war that was not his, was Abram’s nephew Lot.
Question
Quick question
Genesis tells us why the four kings came back to the Valley of Siddim.
Why did Chedorlaomer and his allies march against the five kings?
Abram Rescues Lot
Then an escapee came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the Oaks of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were bound by treaty to Abram. And when Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household, and they set out in pursuit as far as Dan.
During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer’s army, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.
0:31
Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
He retrieved all the goods, as well as his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the rest of the people.
Stylised map · locations approximate
On the map
The pursuit
Abram was living by “the Oaks of Mamre” near Hebron. With his men and his allies he chased the raiders the whole length of the land, “as far as Dan” in the far north, well over a hundred miles. There he struck at night and drove them on “as far as Hobah, north of Damascus,” beyond the top of this map. Hobah’s site is unknown, and so is Sodom’s.
Reflect
He went after him
Lot had chosen the best land for himself and moved toward Sodom. Abram could have shrugged. Instead, “when Abram heard that his relative had been captured,” he gathered his men and went after him, by night, all the way to Dan. Is there someone whose own choices have landed them in trouble, and who needs rescue more than a lecture? What could you do for them? Write it down.
Melchizedek Blesses Abram
After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).
Melchizedek
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High— and he blessed Abram and said:
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.
Genesis 14:19–20
Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.
The king of Sodom
The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the goods for yourself.”
Abram
But Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share for the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. They may take their portion.”
I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you
Genesis 14:23
Pray
Who gave the victory
Abram came home a winner, and the first words spoken over him gave the credit away: “blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave a tenth of everything, and he would not take “even a thread” from the king of Sodom. Thank God for the good things He has done for you, and ask Him to keep you from taking the credit or chasing the reward. Offer Him the first and best of what you have.
You’ve experienced
Genesis 14
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A verse to carry with you
Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.
Genesis 14:19–20
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