Genesis 14:13-23

13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, 1who was living by the 2oaks[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, 3born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as 4Dan.
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 5with 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 6King's Valley).
18 And 7Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was 8priest of 9God Most High.)
19 And he blessed him and said, 10"Blessed be Abram by God Most High, 11Possessor[b] of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!"And Abram gave him 12a tenth of everything.
21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself."
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, 13"I have lifted my hand[c] to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth,
23 that 14I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich.'

Genesis 14:13-23 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.

Cross References 14

  • 1. Genesis 13:18
  • 2. Genesis 12:6
  • 3. Genesis 15:3; Genesis 17:12, 13, 23, 27; Ecclesiastes 2:7
  • 4. Judges 18:29
  • 5. ver. 11, 12
  • 6. 2 Samuel 18:18
  • 7. Hebrews 7:1
  • 8. Psalms 110:4; Hebrews 5:6, 10; Hebrews 7:1, 11, 17
  • 9. Psalms 57:2; Acts 16:17
  • 10. Hebrews 7:6, 7
  • 11. Matthew 11:25
  • 12. Hebrews 7:4; [Genesis 28:22]
  • 13. Exodus 6:8; Numbers 14:30; Deuteronomy 32:40; Ezek. 20:5, 6, 15, 23, 28; Daniel 12:7; Revelation 10:5, 6
  • 14. [Esther 9:15, 16]

Footnotes 3

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.