Genesis 14

1 In those days [at that time, in the days of old] Amraphel [a king of great power] king of Shinar [Babylonia, a region in ancient Mesopotamia], Arioch [a ruler, a leader] king of Ellasar [an ancient country in Asia], Chedorlaomer [a king with a strong army, a ruler of Elam] king of Elam [a son of Shem], and Tidal [a Canaanite leader, a king of the nations] king of Goiim [Gentiles, non-Hebrews, a large group of people] word study 2 went to war [engaged in battle, made war] against Bera [son of evil] king of Sodom [a city of wickedness], Birsha [with iniquity] king of Gomorrah [a city of corruption], Shinab [splendour of the father] king of Admah [a city of red earth], Shemeber [high father, exalted one] king of Zeboiim [a city of gazelles], and the king of Bela [destruction, a city of ruin] (that is, Zoar [a small or insignificant city]). word study 3 The latter five [as allies, in union] came as allies [together, joined] to the Valley [lowland area, plain] of Siddim [a field, the Dead Sea valley] (that is [also known as], the Salt Sea [a large body of water, the west sea] ). word study 4 For twelve [a dozen, twelve years of bondage] years they had been subject [served, under the rule of] to Chedorlaomer [king of Elam, a powerful ruler], but in the thirteenth [thirteen, a year of rebellion] year they rebelled [resisted, defied authority]. word study 5 In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer [handful of sheaves, an Elamite king] and the kings [rulers, monarchs] allied [united, in league] with him went out and defeated [struck, smote] the Rephaites [giants, Rephaim] in Ashteroth-karnaim [Ashtoreth of the two horns], the Zuzites [an ancient tribe] in Ham [a region, hot or sunburnt], the Emites [a terrifying people, Emim] in Shaveh-kiriathaim [a plain, two cities], word study 6 and the Horites [a people-group descended from Hori] in the area of Mount Seir [a mountain in Idumaea, meaning hairy or shaggy], as far as [till, up to] El-paran [a location near the Red Sea], which [a conjunction connecting ideas] is near [by, adjacent to] the desert [wilderness, a barren or uninhabited area]. word study 7 Then they turned back [to reverse direction, to return] to invade En-mishpat [the spring of judgment, Kadesh] (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered [smote, defeated] the whole territory [all the country, every part] of the Amalekites [descendants of Amalek, a tribe opposed to Israel], as well as [also, in addition to] the Amorites [a Canaanite tribe, the inhabitants of the land] who lived [dwelt, resided] in Hazazon-tamar [a place in the desert of Judah, Engedi]. word study 8 Then the king [ruler, sovereign] of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela [also known as Zoar, a city spared by God] (that is, Zoar) marched out and arrayed [set in battle order, prepared] themselves for battle [war, conflict] in the Valley [lowland area, plain] of Siddim [near the Dead Sea, a place of historical significance] word study 9 against Chedorlaomer [king of the Elamites, ruler of Elam] king of Elam, Tidal [king of nations, leader of Gentiles] king of Goiim, Amraphel [king of Babylonia, ruler of Shinar] king of Shinar, and Arioch [lion-like, powerful] king of Ellasar—four [a small group of] kings against five [a larger group of kings, the five allied kings]. word study 10 Now the Valley [lowland area, plain] of Siddim [a field or plain in Palestine] was full of tar pits [slimepits, bitumen pits], and as the kings [royal rulers] of Sodom [a city near the Dead Sea, known for its wickedness] and Gomorrah [a city in ancient Palestine, known for its wickedness] fled [to quickly leave, escape], some men fell [were overthrown, failed] into the pits [wells, springs], but the survivors [those who remained, were left] fled [to quickly leave, escape] to the hill country [mountain, high ground]. word study 11 The four kings seized [took possession of, captured] all the goods [property, possessions, substance] of Sodom [a city known for its wickedness] and Gomorrah [a city ultimately destroyed by God] and all their food [victuals, provisions, supplies], and they went on their way [walked, journeyed, departed]. word study 12 They also carried off Abram’s [brother’s son] nephew Lot [the son of Haran, Abraham’s nephew] and his possessions [property, goods, riches], since Lot was living [dwelling, residing] in Sodom [a city near the Dead Sea, known for its wickedness]. word study 13 Then an escapee [survivor, one who had gotten away] came and reported [told, declared] this to Abram [the original name of Abraham, a key figure] the Hebrew [a descendant of Eber, an Israelite]. Now Abram was living [dwelling, residing] near the Oaks [terebinth trees] of Mamre [a place of strength, an Amorite] the Amorite [a member of a Canaanite tribe], a brother [close relative, ally] of Eshcol [a valley in Palestine, a cluster] and Aner [a city, a boy], all of whom [they, these men] were bound [united, allied] by treaty [covenant, agreement] to Abram. word study 14 And when Abram [the father of faith] heard that his relative [nephew, brother’s son] had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained [experienced, skilled] men born [home-born sons] in his household, and they set out in pursuit [to chase, follow after] as far as Dan [the city, a boundary]. word study 15 During the [darkness of the] night [period of adversity], Abram [he, the father of a multitude] divided [smoothed, made a way] his forces [army, troops] and routed [smote, struck down] Chedorlaomer’s [a king’s] army, pursuing [chasing, following after] them as far as [till, unto] Hobah [a place of refuge] [located], north [on the left hand] of Damascus [the capital city of Syria]. word study 16 He retrieved [brought back, recovered] all the goods [property, possessions], as well as his relative [brother, close kin] Lot [Abraham’s nephew] and his possessions [property, belongings], together with the women [females, wives] and the rest of the people [nation, community]. word study 17 After Abram returned [from the rear, turning back] from defeating Chedorlaomer [an early king of Elam] and the kings [royal persons, rulers] allied [in close relationship, near] with him, the king [a royal person, monarch] of Sodom [a city near the Dead Sea, known for its wickedness] went out [to come out, depart] to meet him [to encounter, befall] in the Valley [a lowland area, plain] of Shaveh [a place in Palestine, a plain] (that is [namely], the King’s [belonging to a king, royal] Valley [lowland area]). word study 18 Then Melchizedek [the king of righteousness, my king is Sedek] king of Salem [the city of peace, an early name for Jerusalem] brought out bread [food, grain] and wine [fermented drink]—since he was [serving as] priest [spiritual leader, mediator] of God [the Most High, El Elyon, the supreme authority] Most High [exalted, supreme, above all]— word study 19 and he blessed [praised, honored] Abram and said: “Blessed [highly favored, praised] be Abram by God [the Most High, El Elyon] Most High [the supreme authority], Creator [Possessor, Maker] of heaven [the sky, the spiritual realm] and earth [the land, the physical world], word study 20 and blessed be God [the Supreme Being] Most High [exalted above all], who has delivered [rescued, given victory over] your enemies [those who oppose you] into your hand [power, control].” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth [tithe, one out of ten] of everything [all the spoils, the total plunder]. word study 21 The king [ruler, monarch] of Sodom [a city known for its wickedness] said to Abram [the original name of Abraham], “Give me [hand over to me] the people [persons, souls, the essence of a person or animal], but take [receive, get] the goods [property, possessions, riches or livestock] for yourself [to thyself, for thy own benefit].” word study 22 But Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I have raised [lifted up, exalted] my hand to the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] God Most High [possessing supreme power], Creator [possessor, maker] of heaven [the visible universe] and earth [the land, the material world], word study 23 that I will not accept even a thread [or a thong, a measuring tape], or a strap [cord, lace] of a sandal [shoe], or anything [all, everything] that belongs to you, lest [if, in case] you should say [speak, claim], ‘I have made [enriched, prospered] Abram [the original name of Abraham, a key figure] rich [wealthy, prosperous].’ word study 24 I will accept nothing but what my men [young warriors, fighting-men] have eaten [consumed, devoured] and the share [portion, inheritance] for the men who went with me—Aner [an Amorite ally], Eshcol [a valley in Palestine], and Mamre [an Amorite, meaning strength]. They [those specific individuals] may take their portion [allotted part, inheritance].” word study