Genesis 14:11-16

11 So the enemy took ¹all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way.

12 They also took Lot, ²the son of Abram's brother, ³who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.

13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, ⁴who was living by the ⁵oaks^[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, ⁶born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as ⁷Dan.

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 ⁸with his possessions, and the women and the people.

Genesis 14:11-16 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

• 1. ver. 16, 21
• 2. Genesis 12:5
• 3. Genesis 13:12
• 4. Genesis 13:18
• 5. Genesis 12:6
• 6. Genesis 15:3; Genesis 17:12, 13, 23, 27; Ecclesiastes 2:7
• 7. Judges 18:29
• 8. ver. 11, 12

Footnotes

• [a]. Or terebinths