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Genesis 14:8-18

Listen to Genesis 14:8-18
8 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) went out, and they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim
9 with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five.
10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of 1bitumen pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled 2to the hill country.
11 So the enemy took 3all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way.
12 They also took Lot, 4the son of Abram’s brother, 5who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.
13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, 6who was living by the 7oaks[a] of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram.
14 When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, 8born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as 9Dan.
15 And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus.
16 Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot 10with his possessions, and the women and the people.

Abram Blessed by Melchizedek

17 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the 11King’s Valley).
18 And 12Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was 13priest of 14God Most High. )

Genesis 14:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 14

This chapter gives an account of a war that was waged, and a battle fought between four kings on one side, and five on the other, and of the occasion and issue of it, who were the first kings, and this the first battle the Scriptures speak of, Ge 14:1-11; Lot and his goods being taken and carried off, with those of Sodom, by the conquerors, Abram hearing of it armed his men, and pursued after them, and overtook and overcame them, and rescued Lot and his goods, with others, and returned, Ge 14:12-16; when he was met by the kings of Sodom and Salem, who congratulated him on his victory, Ge 14:17-19; and what passed between him, and those great personages, is related, Ge 14:20-24.

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Cross References 14

  • 1. 14:10 ch. 11:3; Ex. 2:3
  • 2. 14:10 ch. 19:17, 30
  • 3. 14:11 ver. 16, 21
  • 4. 14:12 ch. 12:5
  • 5. 14:12 ch. 13:12
  • 6. 14:13 ch. 13:18
  • 7. 14:13 ch. 12:6
  • 8. 14:14 ch. 15:3; 17:12, 13, 23, 27; Eccles. 2:7
  • 9. 14:14 Judg. 18:29
  • 10. 14:16 ver. 11, 12
  • 11. 14:17 2 Sam. 18:18
  • 12. 14:18 Heb. 7:1
  • 13. 14:18 Ps. 110:4; Heb. 5:6, 10; 7:1, 11, 17
  • 14. 14:18 Ps. 57:2; Acts 16:17

Footnotes 1

  • [a] 14:13 Or 'terebinths'
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025

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