The War of the Kings
1In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goyim, 2these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3All these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 4For twelve years they had been subject to Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him came and defeated the Rephaim at Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim at Ham, the Emim at Shaveh Kiriathaim, 6and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El-paran, near the wilderness. 7Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites living in Hazezon-tamar. 8Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and lined up for battle against them in the Valley of Siddim — 9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goyim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar — four kings against five. 10Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the hills. 11The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their food, and went on their way. 12They also seized Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom, and they went on their way. 13A man who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and Aner. These men were allies of Abram. 14When Abram heard that his nephew had been taken captive, he called out his three hundred and eighteen trained men, born in his own household, and pursued the enemy as far as Dan. 15During the night he divided his forces against them, he and his men, and defeated them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16He recovered all the goods, and he also brought back his nephew Lot and his possessions, along with the women and the other people.
Melchizedek Blesses Abram
17After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was a priest of God Most High, 19and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, and keep the goods for yourself.” 22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and I swear 23that I will not take so much as a thread or a sandal strap, or anything that is yours, so that you can never say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten, and the share belonging to the men who went with me — Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them have their share.”
