The War of the Kings

1In those days Amraphel (sayer of darkness) king of Shinar (Babylonia),a Arioch (lion-like) king of Ellasar (God is chastener), Chedorlaomer (handful of sheaves) king of Elam (eternity), and Tidal (great son) king of Goiim (nations) 2went to war against Bera (son of evil) king of Sodom (burning), Birsha (with iniquity) king of Gomorrah (submersion), Shinab (splendor of the father) king of Admah (red earth), Shemeber (lofty flight) king of Zeboiim (gazelles), and the king of Bela (destruction) (that is, Zoar (insignificance)).

3The latter five came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (field / plain) (that is, the Salt Sea (the Dead Sea)b). 4For twelve years they had been subject to Chedorlaomer (handful of sheaves), but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

5In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer (handful of sheaves) and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim (Ashtoreth of the two horns), the Zuzites (roving creatures) in Ham (hot / sunburnt), the Emites (terrors) in Shaveh-kiriathaim (plain of the two cities), 6and the Horites (cave dweller) in the area of Mount Seir (shaggy), as far as El-paran (palm of Paran), which is near the desert. 7Then they turned back to invade En-mishpat (spring of judgment) (that is, Kadesh(holy)), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites (dwellers in a valley), as well as the Amorites (a sayer) who lived in Hazazon-tamar (dividing the date-palm).

8Then the king of Sodom (burning), the king of Gomorrah (submersion), the king of Admah (red earth), the king of Zeboiim (gazelles), and the king of Bela (destruction) (that is, Zoar (insignificance)) marched out and arrayed themselves for battle in the Valley of Siddim (the Valley of the Dead Sea)c 9against Chedorlaomer (handful of sheaves) king of Elam (eternity), Tidal (great son) king of Goiim (nations), Amraphel (sayer of darkness) king of Shinar, and Arioch (lion-like) king of Ellasar (God is chastener)—four kings against five.

Abram Rescues Lot

10Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom (burning) and Gomorrah (submersion) fled, some men fell into the pits, but the survivors fled to the hill country.

11The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom (burning) and Gomorrah (submersion) and all their food, and they went on their way. 12They also carried off Abram’s (exalted father) nephew Lot (covering) and his possessions, since Lot was living in Sodom (burning).

13Then an escapee came and reported this to Abram (exalted father) the Hebrew (one from beyond). Now Abram was living near the Oaks (Terebinths)d of Mamre (strength / fatness) the Amorite (a sayer), a brother of Eshcol (cluster) and Aner (boy), all of whom were bound by treaty (covenant)e to Abram. 14And when Abram (exalted father) 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 (He has judged).

15During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer’s army, pursuing them as far as Hobah (hiding place), north of Damascus (well-watered land). 16He retrieved all the goods, as well as his relative Lot (covering) and his possessions, together with the women and the rest of the people.

Melchizedek Blesses Abram
(Psalm 110:1–7; Hebrews 7:1–10)

17After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer (handful of sheaves) and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom (burning) went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (level plain) (that is, the King’s Valley).

18Then Melchizedek (my king is righteousness) king of Salem (peace) brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High {El-Elyon}f — 19and he blessed Abram and said:

“Blessed be Abram (exalted father) by God Most High,

Creator of heaven and earth,

20and blessed be God Most High,

who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”

Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.

21The king of Sodom (burning) said to Abram (exalted father), “Give me the people, but take the goods for yourself.”

22But Abram (exalted father) replied to the king of Sodom (burning), “I have raised my hand to the LORD {YHWH} God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23that 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 (exalted father) rich.’ 24I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share for the men who went with me—Aner (boy), Eshcol (cluster), and Mamre (strength / fatness). They may take their portion.”