Kings of the Valley Take Lot

1And it happened in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of [†]Goiim, 2that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3All these [†]came as allies to the valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 4Now for twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5So in the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, came and struck the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim and the Zuzim in Ham and the Emim in [†]Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6and the Horites in their Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is by the wilderness. 7Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh). And they struck all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, who were living in Hazazon-tamar. 8And the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah and the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they arranged themselves for battle against them in the valley of Siddim, 9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of [†]Goiim and Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five— 10now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits—and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell [†]into them; but those who remained behind fled to the hill country. 11Then they took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply and departed. 12They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and departed; now he was living in Sodom.

13Then [†]a fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew. Now he was dwelling by the [†]oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner, and these were [†]in a covenant with Abram. 14So Abram heard that his [†]relative had been taken captive, and he [†]led out his trained men, born in his house, 318 in number, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15And he divided [†]his men against them by night, he and his servants, and struck them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is [†]north of Damascus. 16And he brought back all the possessions, and he also brought back his [†]relative Lot with his possessions and also the women and the people.

Melchizedek Blesses Abram

17Then after he came back from striking down 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 King’s Valley). 18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of [†]God Most High. 19Then he blessed him and said,

“Blessed be Abram of [†]God Most High,

[†]Possessor of heaven and earth;

20And blessed be [†]God Most High,

Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then he gave him a tenth of all. 21And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give the [†]people to me, but take the possessions for yourself.” 22Then Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have [†]raised my hand to Yahweh [†]God Most High, [†]possessor of heaven and earth, 23that I will not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, so that you would not say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24[†]I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share.”