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¹ And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;
² That these 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, which is Zoar.
³ All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
⁴ Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
⁵ And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
⁶ And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness.
⁷ And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar.
⁸ And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar); and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;
⁹ With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.
¹⁰ And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.
¹¹ And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their vittles, and went their way.
¹² And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
¹³ And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.
¹⁴ And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
¹⁵ And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
¹⁶ And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
¹⁷ And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale.
¹⁸ And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
¹⁹ And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
²⁰ And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
²¹ And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.
²² And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,
²³ That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:
²⁴ Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
🛡️ Victory, Faith, and a Mysterious Priest of the Most High ⚔️
“And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods… and the people.” – Genesis 14:16
Genesis 14 captures one of the most dramatic moments in Abram’s life—a military rescue mission, divine alignment with a mysterious priest, and the king of Sodom’s tempting offer. The chapter’s narrative contrasts earthly power with spiritual authority, showing how a faithful servant of God chooses righteousness over riches.
This account shows Abram not as just a pilgrim of faith, but a warrior of righteousness. He proves that even in battle, God’s man can walk with integrity, guided by heaven and not the enticements of kings. In a chapter full of kings, territories, and shifting powers, the focus returns to one man who honors the Most High.
📜 Structure of Genesis Chapter 14
Verses 1–12: The Battle of the Kings
A coalition of four eastern kings wages war against five Canaanite kings. The battle reaches the Valley of Siddim, near the Dead Sea. Lot, Abram’s nephew, is caught in the conflict and taken captive when Sodom is plundered. This scene sets up the need for Abram’s intervention and highlights the political instability of the region.
Key takeaway: Lot’s proximity to Sodom puts him in harm’s way, showing the consequences of choosing comfort over covenant.
Verses 13–16: Abram’s Courageous Rescue
When Abram hears of Lot’s captivity, he mobilizes 318 trained servants and launches a strategic nighttime attack. He recovers Lot, the people, and all their goods. This shows Abram’s strength, strategic wisdom, and most importantly—his covenantal love.
Reflection: Abram’s swift action teaches that faith does not mean passivity. Sometimes, God calls His people to step into battle to protect the innocent.
Verses 17–20: The Blessing of Melchizedek
Upon returning, Abram is greeted by Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God. Melchizedek blesses Abram and gives him bread and wine—a deeply prophetic foreshadowing of Christ. Abram responds by giving him a tenth of all, marking the first tithe in Scripture.
Insight: Melchizedek, a mysterious figure (see Hebrews 7), represents a heavenly priesthood. His appearance confirms Abram’s divine alignment and points forward to Christ, the eternal priest-king.
Verses 21–24: Abram Rejects the King of Sodom’s Offer
The king of Sodom offers Abram the spoils of war, but Abram refuses, saying he will take nothing so that no man can claim to have made Abram rich. His integrity stands in contrast to worldly ambition, showing loyalty to God as his provider.
Lesson: Abram’s refusal reminds us to reject alliances that compromise our dependence on God.
💡 Key Themes
✨ Faith in Action
Abram’s faith leads to decisive action. He rescues Lot without hesitation, proving that trusting God also means stepping up when others are in need.
✨ Spiritual Authority Over Earthly Power
Melchizedek’s blessing reveals that divine authority supersedes political power. Abram bows to the priest, not the king.
✨ Integrity in Prosperity
By refusing the king of Sodom’s riches, Abram demonstrates that integrity must guide all success. Riches gained without righteousness are no blessing at all.
👤 Key People
- Abram – God’s chosen vessel, who displays boldness in war and humility in worship.
- Lot – A cautionary figure, rescued by grace, whose choices continue to lead him into trouble.
- Melchizedek – The king-priest of Salem, a Christ-like figure, who blesses Abram with heaven’s authority.
- The King of Sodom – A worldly ruler offering wealth without righteousness, rejected by Abram.
🔥 Why This Chapter Matters
Genesis 14 reminds us that God’s people are called to be bold, righteous, and spiritually discerning. Abram’s example teaches that walking with God includes both peace and battle, generosity and refusal, worship and war. He chooses heavenly honor over earthly reward—and is honored by heaven itself.
💭 Let’s Reflect
- Do you respond to crisis with faith-driven action like Abram, or shrink back in fear?
- When given opportunities that seem beneficial, do you examine their source?
- Are you living under God’s blessing like Abram—or compromising for comfort like Lot?
❓Ready to Go Deeper?
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