Genesis 14

Four eastern kings crush a rebellion in the Jordan valley and carry off Abram’s nephew Lot. Abram rescues him with a small band of his own men. On the way home he is blessed by the mysterious priest-king Melchizedek, and he refuses any reward from the king of Sodom, trusting God alone to enrich him.

Genesis 14:1-2

Moses opens with a world-stage conflict. Four kings from the east, led by Chedorlaomer of Elam, march against five small city-kings near the Dead Sea. Sodom and Gomorrah are among them. Abram’s story is set in real history, among real rulers and real wars.

BSA: Sodom (“a city of wickedness”): The name already carries the shadow of the city’s reputation, and Lot has chosen to live there.

See also: Genesis 13:10-13.

Genesis 14:3

The five city-kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim. The writer adds that this valley is now the Salt Sea, the Dead Sea. This hints that the land changed greatly later, and that the fertile plain Lot chose would not last.

See also: Genesis 13:10.

Genesis 14:4

For twelve years the five cities paid tribute to Chedorlaomer. In the thirteenth year they stopped paying. Their rebellion is the spark for the war. Lot’s choice to settle among them has now put him in the path of a punishing army.

BSA: rebelled (“resisted, defied authority”): It was open defiance of a master, which guaranteed a harsh response.

Genesis 14:5-7

In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer swept down the east side of the Jordan, then south and back north. He defeated one people after another, including the Rephaites, Emites and Horites. These were peoples of the region, some remembered for great size. The point is that this army seemed unstoppable.

See also: Deuteronomy 2:10-12.

Genesis 14:8-9

The five kings finally march out to fight in the Valley of Siddim. The numbers look better for them, five against four. But the eastern kings are seasoned conquerors, and the verses prepare us for a defeat.

BSA: arrayed (“set in battle order”): The southern kings formed a proper battle line, yet it did not save them.

Genesis 14:10

The valley was full of pits of tar, a sticky natural asphalt. As the defeated kings ran, some fell into them. Others escaped to the hills. The ground itself became a trap, a picture of how quickly human strength fails.

BSA: tar pits (“slimepits, bitumen pits”): These were sticky pits of natural asphalt that swallowed men as they ran.

Hebrew: בֶּאֱרֹת (be’erot, H875) — “pits, wells.” The Hebrew says the valley was ‘pits, pits of tar’. The repetition shows how thickly the ground was riddled with these traps.

Genesis 14:11-12

The victors stripped the cities of goods and food and left. They also took Lot with his belongings. Lot had pitched his tent toward Sodom and then moved into it. Now he is a prisoner of war, paying for the company he kept.

BSA: nephew (“brother’s son”): The family tie explains why Abram would risk everything to go after him.

See also: Genesis 13:12.

Genesis 14:13

One man escaped and brought the news to Abram, who lived by the oaks of Mamre. Abram is called ’the Hebrew’, the outsider who crossed over into this land. His allies Mamre, Eshcol and Aner were bound to him by treaty, so he did not stand alone.

BSA: treaty (“covenant, agreement”): These Amorite neighbors had sworn friendship with Abram, which is why they could fight beside him.

Hebrew: הָעִבְרִי (ha-ʿIvri, H5680) — “the Hebrew.” This is the first time the word ‘Hebrew’ appears in the Bible. It is probably linked to the idea of crossing over, which fits Abram, the man who crossed over to follow God.

Genesis 14:14

Abram does not hesitate. He calls out 318 trained men born in his own household and chases the kings north. Abram is a wealthy herdsman with a large household, and now he fights for family. The place called Dan is probably named in a later form by the writer.

BSA: trained (“experienced, skilled”): These were not raw servants but men drilled for defense of the camp.

Hebrew: חֲנִיכָיו (ḥanikhav, H2593) — “his trained men.” This rare word is found only here in the Bible. It points to men carefully prepared and practiced, loyal members of his house.

Genesis 14:15

Abram splits his men and strikes at night, catching the tired army by surprise. He drives them far north, beyond Damascus. A small force wins through cunning and speed, and as verse 20 says, because God gave the victory.

See also: Judges 7:19-22.

Genesis 14:16

Nothing is lost. Abram brings back the goods, Lot with his belongings, and the women and other captives. The rescue is complete. Abram does for his nephew what Lot, who once took the best land for himself, could not do for himself.

BSA: retrieved (“brought back, recovered”): Abram did more than win a fight. He restored everything that had been taken.

Genesis 14:17

On his return the king of Sodom comes out to meet Abram in the Valley of Shaveh, the King’s Valley. The king of a ruined city faces the victor. What follows sets two kings side by side, and they offer Abram very different things.

See also: 2 Samuel 18:18.

Genesis 14:18

Out of nowhere comes Melchizedek, king of Salem, which is commonly understood as Jerusalem. He brings bread and wine and is priest of God Most High. His name means ‘king of righteousness’, and Salem means ‘peace’. He appears briefly, yet the Bible returns to him later.

BSA: Melchizedek (“the king of righteousness, my king is Sedek”): His very name joins kingship and righteousness, which is why later Scripture finds him significant. priest (“spiritual leader, mediator”): He stands between God and people, offering blessing in God’s name.

Hebrew: מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק (Malki-tsedeq, H4442) — “my king is righteousness.” The name joins ‘king’ and ‘righteousness’ in one. Later Scripture reads this priest-king as a shadow of something greater.

See also: Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:1-3.

Genesis 14:19-20

Melchizedek blesses Abram in God’s name and praises God for the victory. He calls God Creator of heaven and earth, the God who owns everything. Abram acknowledges this and gives him a tenth of all the spoil. Victory belongs to God, and Abram responds with gratitude.

BSA: Creator (“Possessor, Maker”): God not only made heaven and earth but still owns it, so nothing Abram won was truly his to keep. tenth (“tithe, one out of ten”): Abram gave a tenth of the spoil as a way of honoring God for the victory.

Hebrew: קֹנֵה (qoneh, H7069) — “owner, possessor, maker.” The word carries the idea of acquiring and owning. God is both maker and rightful owner of heaven and earth.

See also: Hebrews 7:4-7; Psalm 24:1.

Genesis 14:21

The king of Sodom offers a bargain. Abram can keep the goods but must hand back the people. It sounds generous, but it is the custom of the time, and it would make Abram owe something to Sodom and tie him to it.

BSA: people (“persons, souls, the essence of a person or animal”): The king cares about his subjects as living persons, yet he treats the loot as a gift that would put Abram in his debt.

Genesis 14:22-23

Abram refuses. He has lifted his hand in a solemn oath to the LORD God Most High, who owns heaven and earth. He will take not even a thread or a sandal strap. He will not let Sodom claim to have made him rich. His wealth comes from God.

BSA: raised (“lifted up, exalted”): Abram lifts his hand as in a formal oath, and the same gesture honors God as the highest. rich (“wealthy, prosperous”): Abram wants it clear that God, not Sodom’s king, is the source of his prosperity.

Hebrew: הֲרִימֹתִי (harimoti, H7311) — “I have lifted up.” Abram uses the same word Melchizedek’s God-title echoes, ‘Most High’. He joins his oath with the name Melchizedek used, but adds the personal name LORD.

See also: Genesis 15:1.

Genesis 14:24

Abram sets a fair limit. His young men may keep what they ate, and his allies Aner, Eshcol and Mamre may take their share. Abram binds himself alone to his vow and does not impose it on others. He is generous with those who helped him and strict with himself.

BSA: share (“portion, inheritance”): The allies receive a rightful portion for their part in the fight, while Abram takes none.