Genesis 14: Abram Rescues Lot and Meets Melchizedek
Abram defeats raiding kings to rescue Lot, then is blessed by Melchizedek and refuses Sodom's reward.
Genesis 14 (WEB)
1 In the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar, Arioch, king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of Goiim,
2 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 (the same is Zoar).
3 All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (the same is the Salt Sea).
4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year, they rebelled.
5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer came, and the kings who were with him, and struck the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
6 and the Horites in their Mount Seir, to Elparan, which is by the wilderness.
7 They returned, and came to En Mishpat (the same is Kadesh), and struck all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that lived in Hazazon Tamar.
8 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) went out; and they set the battle in array against them in the valley of Siddim;
9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five.
10 Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell there, and those who remained fled to the hills.
11 They took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their food, and went their way.
12 They took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
13 One who had escaped came and told Abram, the Hebrew. Now he lived by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner; and these were allies of Abram.
14 When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan.
15 He divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and struck them, and pursued them to Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
16 He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative, Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
17 The king of Sodom went out to meet him, after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).
18 Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High.
19 He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram gave him a tenth of all.
21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, and take the goods for yourself.”
22 Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth,
23 that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’
24 I will accept nothing from you except that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their portion.”
Genesis 14 (KJV)
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 El–paran, which is by the wilderness.
7 And they returned, and came to En–mishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezon–tamar.
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 victuals, 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.
Genesis 14 (ASV)
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 Goiim,
2 that 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 (the same is Zoar).
3 All these joined together in the vale of Siddim (the same 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 Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim,
6 and the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-paran, which is by the wilderness.
7 And they returned, and came to En-mishpat (the same is Kadesh), and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazazon-tamar.
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 set the battle in array against them in the vale of Siddim;
9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five.
10 Now the vale of Siddim was full of slime pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell there, and they that remained fled to the mountain.
11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, 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: now he dwelt by the oaks 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 led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan.
15 And he divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, 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 back 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 the kings that were with him, at the vale of Shaveh (the same is the King’s Vale).
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High.
19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 and blessed be God Most High, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him a tenth 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 lifted up my hand unto Jehovah, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth,
23 that I will not take a thread nor a shoe-latchet nor aught 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 that went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
Summary
Four eastern kings, led by Chedorlaomer, war against five kings of the cities of the plain, plundering Sodom and Gomorrah and carrying off Lot, who now lives in Sodom. An escapee brings word to Abram, who arms three hundred eighteen trained men of his household and pursues the raiders as far as Dan. Striking by night, he routs them, recovers all the goods, and brings back Lot, the women, and the people. On his return the king of Sodom comes out to meet him, but so does Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High, who brings bread and wine and blesses Abram, declaring that God has delivered his enemies into his hand. Abram gives him a tenth of everything. When the king of Sodom offers him the goods, Abram refuses to take even a thread, lest anyone but God be said to have made him rich.
Main Characters
- Abram — The man who risks himself to rescue his captured nephew and honors God by refusing Sodom's plunder.
- Lot — Abram's nephew, taken captive when Sodom is plundered and rescued by Abram's pursuit.
- Melchizedek — King of Salem and priest of God Most High, who brings bread and wine and blesses Abram.
- The king of Sodom — The defeated ruler who offers Abram the recovered goods, an offer Abram declines for God's honor.
Key Verse
Genesis 14:19 (WEB)
He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth:
Lessons Learned
- Love acts courageously to rescue family and neighbors in trouble.
- Victory belongs to God, who delivers our enemies into our hands.
- Worship and generous giving rightly follow God's deliverance.
- We can refuse worldly reward so that God alone receives the credit for our blessing.
- Love takes risks for those in need. When Abram hears Lot is captured, he leads out his trained men and pursues the raiders, refusing to leave his kin in bondage (Genesis 14:14, WEB).
- God delivers enemies into his servants' hands. Melchizedek blesses God Most High, who has delivered Abram's enemies into his hand, crediting the victory to God (Genesis 14:20, WEB).
- Worship gives thanks to God Most High. Melchizedek, priest of God Most High, brings bread and wine and blesses Abram, pointing the moment of triumph toward worship (Genesis 14:18, WEB).
- Gratitude expresses itself in giving. Abram responds to the blessing by giving Melchizedek a tenth of all he has recovered, honoring God with his goods (Genesis 14:20, WEB).
- Integrity guards God's glory in our provision. Abram swears he will not take even a thread from the king of Sodom, so no one but God could claim to have made him rich (Genesis 14:23, WEB).
- We can be fair to others while refusing for ourselves. Abram declines the goods yet insists his allies receive their rightful portion, balancing personal restraint with justice (Genesis 14:24, WEB).
- What moves Abram to take up arms, and what does his rescue of Lot reveal about him (Genesis 14:14-16)?
- Who is Melchizedek, and what does he do and say when he meets Abram (Genesis 14:18-20)?
- Why does Abram refuse to take anything from the king of Sodom (Genesis 14:22-23)?
- When has acting on behalf of someone in trouble required courage or risk from you?
- Where might you need to refuse an offer or advantage so that God alone gets the glory for your provision?
- Abram acts because his relative Lot has been taken captive; he immediately arms his household and pursues. His swift, costly response shows loyalty, courage, and genuine love for family even after they had parted.
- Melchizedek is king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He brings out bread and wine and blesses Abram, attributing both Abram's blessing and the victory to God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth.
- Abram has vowed to Yahweh, God Most High, not to take even a thread or sandal strap, so the king of Sodom can never claim to have enriched him. He guards God's honor and his own integrity above gain.
- Personal: invite members to share a time they took a risk for someone in need. Affirm such courage and encourage them to be ready to help others, trusting God with the outcome.
- Personal: let members reflect on offers that come with strings or compromise. Encourage them to live so that their provision clearly testifies to God's hand rather than to worldly favor.