Genesis 14:13-16

13 Then a fugitive came and told Abram the ¹Hebrew. Now he was living by the ²oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner, and these were ³allies * with Abram.

14 When Abram heard that ⁴his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, ⁵born in his house, three hundred and eighteen *, and went in pursuit as far as ⁶Dan.

15 ⁷He 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 ⁸Damascus.

16 He ⁹brought back all the goods, and also brought back ¹⁰his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the people.

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

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "the"
• [b] Lit "abiding"
• [c] Or "terebinths"
• [d] Lit "possessors of the covenant"
• [e] Lit "brother"
• [f] Or "mustered"
• [g] Lit "himself"
• [h] Lit "smote"
• [i] Lit "on the left"
• [j] Lit "brother"