The big picture
A regional war reaches Abram, a wealthy clan leader living in Canaan, the land where he has settled as a migrant. His nephew Lot lives in Sodom, a city in the Jordan plain, the lowland along the Jordan River. Five local kings there have served Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, a kingdom east of Canaan, for twelve years. They rebel. Chedorlaomer returns with three allied rulers and an army. Their campaign reaches the Jordan plain. Sodom is defeated, and Lot is taken with the other captives.
In this chapter
- Four Kings Defeat Five Kings Genesis 14:1-12
Chedorlaomer leads four kings against five rulers who had served him and then rebelled.
- Abram Pursues the Captors Genesis 14:13-16
One man escapes the battle and reaches Abram.
- Abram Refuses Sodom's Reward Genesis 14:17-24
After the rescue, the king of Sodom comes to meet Abram.
Central truth
Lot is captured in a regional war, but Abram rescues him and refuses to let Sodom's king claim credit for his wealth.
Scripture beside the summary
Genesis · King James Version · 24Genesis 14:1-12
Four Kings Defeat Five Kings
Chedorlaomer leads four kings against five rulers who had served him and then rebelled. His army first defeats several peoples along the route. The two sides then meet in the vale of Siddim, the basin by the Salt Sea, a large inland salt lake. The five local kings lose the battle. The area has many bitumen pits, and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, two cities in the plain, flee. Survivors escape toward the hills. The winning army takes goods and food from both cities. It also takes people captive. Lot, who lives in Sodom, is carried away with his property. A war between rulers has now become Abram's family crisis.
In everyday life
A tenant opens his apartment door after armed men take over a building during a feud with the owner. They empty rooms, seize property and force residents away, including people who had no part in the quarrel. Ancient kings used armies and captives, not legal eviction rules.
Notice
Genesis 14:4 The five kings rebel after twelve years of service. Their war grows out of long control by Chedorlaomer, not a sudden fight between equal rulers.
Genesis 14:1-12
King James Version1And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;
2That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.
3All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
4Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
6And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-paran, which is by the wilderness.
7And they returned, and came to En-mishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezon-tamar.
8And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;
9With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.
10And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.
11And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.
12And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
Genesis 14:13-16
Abram Pursues the Captors
One man escapes the battle and reaches Abram. He tells him that Lot has been taken. Genesis calls Abram the Hebrew. Abram is living near Mamre, a man from the Amorite people of Canaan, who is allied with him. Mamre's brothers Eshcol and Aner are allies too. Abram arms 318 trained men who were born in his household. He chases the captors as far as Dan, a place to the north. At night he divides his men, attacks, and drives the enemy farther north. Abram recovers the stolen goods. He also brings back Lot, the women and the other captives. His household is large and organized enough to mount a rescue.
In everyday life
A security chief learns that his brother has been taken during a violent raid on a remote work camp. He gathers trained guards, follows the attackers and helps recover both people and stolen goods. Family loyalty starts the rescue, but it takes planning and manpower. Abram has no police force or court system to call on, so the ancient response is far more direct.
Notice
Genesis 14:14 Abram takes 318 trained men born in his own household. That number shows a large household with people prepared for organized defense.
Genesis 14:13-16
King James Version13And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.
14And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
15And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
16And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
Genesis 14:17-24
Abram Refuses Sodom's Reward
After the rescue, the king of Sodom comes to meet Abram. Melchizedek, king of Salem, a city in the region, comes too. He is also a priest of the most high God. Melchizedek brings bread and wine, blesses Abram, and gives God credit for the victory. Abram gives him a tenth of what was recovered. The king of Sodom then tells Abram to return the people and keep the goods. Abram refuses the goods for himself. He does not want the king to say that he made Abram rich. Abram still allows his allies to receive their fair shares and counts the food his men already ate.
In everyday life
A project manager helps recover stolen tools from a job site. The property owner offers him an expensive reward that would later let the owner boast about making him successful. The manager refuses the reward but still makes sure his crew gets the pay due to them. Abram's refusal follows a battle and a vow to God, not a normal business dispute.
Notice
Genesis 14:20 Melchizedek credits the victory to the most high God before Abram gives him a tenth. The gift follows the blessing and the credit given to God.
Genesis 14:17-24
King James Version17And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale.
18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
19And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
21And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.
22And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,
23That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:
24Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Genesis 14:1 begins with “And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;”
Where the chapter turns
Genesis 14:1 forms a natural hinge: “And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;”
The final note
Genesis 14:24 leaves the reader with “Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words king, Sodom, Abram, Chedorlaomer, goods, brother help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- slimepits
- Pits of natural bitumen, a sticky tar-like material found in the ground.
- victuals
- Food and other supplies kept for use.
- confederate
- Joined by agreement as an ally.
- tithes
- Tenth parts given as an offering or share.
- shoelatchet
- A strap or fastening used on a sandal or shoe.
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
