The War of the Kings
In those days Amraphel king of Shinar, 1 Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim Gen 10:10Gen 10:22Gen 11:2Isa 37:12Isa 11:11Dan 1:2Ezk 32:24Isa 21:2 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). Gen 13:10Deu 29:23Gen 10:19Hos 11:8Isa 1:9-101Sa 13:18Deu 34:3Gen 19:20-30
The latter five came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea 2). Deu 3:17Jos 3:16Num 34:12Gen 19:24Psa 107:34 For twelve years they had been subject to Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. Ezk 17:15Gen 9:25-26
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, Deu 1:4Deu 2:10-11Deu 3:11Gen 15:20Deu 3:221Ch 11:151Ch 14:91Ch 4:40 and the Horites in the area of Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is near the desert. Deu 2:22Deu 2:12Gen 21:21Num 12:16Num 13:31Ch 1:38-42Gen 16:7Gen 36:20-30 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. 2Ch 20:2Gen 16:14Gen 20:11Sa 15:1-351Sa 27:1-121Sa 30:1-31Deu 1:19Deu 1:46
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 3 Gen 13:10Gen 19:20Gen 19:22Gen 14:10Gen 14:2-3 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.
Abram Rescues Lot
Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some men fell into the pits, but the survivors fled to the hill country. Gen 19:17Gen 11:3Gen 19:30Isa 24:18Jer 48:44Jos 8:24Psa 83:10
The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food, and they went on their way. Gen 14:16Gen 14:21Deu 28:31Deu 28:35Deu 28:51Gen 12:5 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since Lot was living in Sodom. Gen 12:5Gen 11:27Rev 3:191Ti 6:9-11Gen 13:12-13Jer 2:17-19Job 9:23Num 16:26
Then an escapee came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the Oaks 4of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were bound by treaty 5to Abram. Gen 13:18Gen 14:24Gen 40:151Sa 4:122Co 11:22Exo 2:11Exo 2:6Gen 10:16 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. Jdg 18:29Gen 15:3Deu 34:1Ecc 2:7Gen 17:12Gen 17:27Pro 24:11-12Gen 12:5
During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer’s army, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. Act 9:21Ki 15:18Deu 15:2Isa 41:2-3Psa 112:5 He retrieved all the goods, as well as his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the rest of the people. 1Sa 30:18-191Sa 30:8Gen 12:2Gen 14:11-12Isa 41:2
Melchizedek Blesses Abram
(Psalms 110:1–7; Hebrews 7:1–10)
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). 2Sa 18:18Heb 7:1Pro 19:41Sa 18:6Jdg 11:34Pro 14:20
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High 6— Psa 110:4Heb 6:20Heb 5:6Heb 5:10Psa 76:2Act 16:17Psa 57:2Heb 7:10-22 and he blessed Abram and said: Gen 14:22Heb 7:6-7Rut 3:10Num 6:23-27Psa 24:1Act 16:17Eph 1:3Mat 11:25
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and blessed be God Most High, Gen 28:22Heb 7:4-9Neh 13:12Deu 14:28Mal 3:10Deu 12:17Deu 14:23Gen 24:27
who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.
The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the goods for yourself.”
But Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, Dan 12:7Dan 4:34Deu 32:40Exo 6:8Jdg 11:35Psa 24:1Psa 83:18Rev 10:5-6 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.’ 2Ki 5:162Co 11:9-12Est 9:15-16Heb 13:51Ki 13:82Co 12:142Ki 5:20 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.” Gen 14:13Mat 7:12Pro 3:271Co 9:14-151Ti 5:18Rom 13:7-8