THE WORD OF ELOHIM

GENESIS

Chapter 14

     Now when King Amraphel of Shinar, King Aryowk of Ellasar, King Kedorlaomer of Eylam, and King Tidal of Goyim made war on King Bera of Sedom, King Birsha of Amorah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Tseboyim, and the king of Bela' which is Tsoar, all the latter joined forces at the Valley of Siddim, now the Dead Sea.  Twelve years they served Kedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.  In the fourteenth year Kedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rapha at Ashteroth-Qarnaim, the Zuzim at Cham, the Eymiym at Shaveh-Qiryathayim, and the Chori in their hill country of Seir as far as El-paran, which is by the wilderness.  On their way back they came to En-mishpat, which is Qadesh, and subdued all the territory of the Amaleqi, and also the Emori who dwelt in Chatsatson-tarmar.  Then the king of Sedom, the king of Amorah, the king of Admah, the king of Tseboyim, and the king of Bela, which is Tsoar, went forth and engaged them in battle in the Valley of Siddim:  King Kedorlaomer of Eylam, King Tidal of Goyim, King Amraphel of Shinar, and King Aryowk of Ellasar−four kings against those five.

     Now the Valley of Siddim was dotted with bitumen pits; and the kings of Sedom and Amorah, in their flight, threw themselves into them, while the rest escaped to the hill country. [The invaders] seized all the wealth of Sedom and Amorah and all their provisions, and went their way.  They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, and his possessions, and departed; for he had settled in Sedom.

     A fugitive brought the news to Abram the Hebrew, who was dwelling at the terebinths of Mamre the Emori, kinsman of Eshkol and Aner, these being Abram’s allies.  When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he mustered his retainers, born into his household, numbering three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.  At night, he and his servants deployed against them and defeated them; and he pursued them as far as Chobah, which is north of Dammeseq.  He brought back all the possessions; he also brought back his kinsman Lot and his possessions, and the women and the rest of the people.

     When he returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings with him, the king of Sedom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh, which is the Valley of the King.  And King Malki-tsedeq of Shalem brought out bread and wine; he was a priest of Elohim Most High.  He blessed him, saying, “Blessed be Abram of Elohim Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.  And blessed be Elohim Most High, who has delivered your foes into your hand.”  And [Abram] gave him a tenth of everything.

     Then the king of Sedom said to Abram, “Give me the persons and take the possessions for yourself.”  But Abram said to the king of Sedom, “I swear to Adonai Yehovah Most High, Creator of heaven and earth:  I will not take so much as a thread or a sandal strap of what is yours; you shall not say, ‘It is I who made Abram rich.’  For me, nothing but what my servants have used up; as for the share of the men who went with me−Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre−let them take their share.”

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