Genesis 14:9-19

9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim and Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar -four kings against five.
10 Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and 1the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell into them. But those who survived fled to the 2hill country.
11 Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply, and departed.
12 They also took Lot, 3Abram's nephew *, and his possessions and departed, 4for he was living in Sodom.
13 Then a fugitive came and told Abram the 5Hebrew. Now he was living by the 6oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner, and these were 7allies * with Abram.
14 When Abram heard that 8his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, 9born in his house, three hundred and eighteen *, and went in pursuit as far as 10Dan.
15 11He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of 12Damascus.
16 He 13brought back all the goods, and also brought back 14his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the people.

God's Promise to Abram

17 Then after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, 15the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, 16the King's Valley ).
18 And 17Melchizedek king of Salem brought out 18bread and wine; now he was a 19priest of God Most High.
19 He blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, 20Possessor of heaven and earth;

Genesis 14:9-19 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 20

  • 1. Gen 14:17, 21, 22
  • 2. Genesis 19:17
  • 3. Genesis 11:27
  • 4. Genesis 13:12
  • 5. Genesis 40:15; Exodus 3:18
  • 6. Genesis 13:18; Genesis 14:24
  • 7. Genesis 21:27, 32
  • 8. Genesis 14:12
  • 9. Genesis 12:5; Genesis 15:3; Genesis 17:27; Ecclesiastes 2:7
  • 10. Deuteronomy 34:1; Judges 18:29; 1 Kings 15:20
  • 11. Judges 7:16
  • 12. Genesis 15:2
  • 13. 1 Sam 30:8, 18, 19
  • 14. Genesis 14:12, 14
  • 15. Genesis 14:10
  • 16. 2 Samuel 18:18
  • 17. Hebrews 7:1-10
  • 18. Psalms 104:15
  • 19. Psalms 110:4; Hebrews 5:6, 10
  • 20. Genesis 14:22

Footnotes 16

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