1   It was in the time of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goyim. 2   They went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela, that is Zoar. 3   These kings joined forces in the valley of Siddim, which is now the Dead Sea. 4   They had been subject to Kedorlaomer for twelve years, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5   Then in the fourteenth year Kedorlaomer and his confederate kings came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6   and the Horites in the hill-country from Seir ^note as far as El-paran on the edge of the wilderness. 7   On their way back they came to En-mishpat, which is now Kadesh, and laid waste all the country of the Amalekites and also that of the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar. 8   Then the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboyim, and Bela, which is now Zoar, marched out and drew up their forces against them in the valley of Siddim, 9   against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goyim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five. 10   Now the valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits; and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell into them, but the rest escaped to the hill-country. 11   The four kings captured all the flocks and herds of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their provisions, and went away. 12   They also carried off Lot, Abram's nephew, who was living in Sodom, and with him his flocks and herds. 13   But a fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew, who at that time was dwelling by the terebinths of Mamre the Amorite. This Mamre was the brother of Eshcol and Aner, who were allies of Abram. 14   When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken prisoner, he mustered ^note his retainers, men born in his household, three hundred and eighteen of them, and pursued as far as Dan. 15   Abram and his followers surrounded the enemy by night, attacked them and pursued

Abraham and Isaac them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus; 16   he then brought back all the flocks and herds and also his kinsman Lot with his flocks and herds, together with the women and the other captives. ^note 17   On his return from this defeat of Kedorlaomer and his confederate kings, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh, which is now the King's Valley.

18   Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought food and wine. He was priest of God Most High, ^note 19   and he pronounced this blessing on Abram:

  ‘Blessed be Abram
  by God Most High,
  creator ^note of heaven and earth.
   20   And blessed be God Most High,
  who has delivered your enemies into your power.’

Abram gave him a tithe of all the booty.

21   The king of Sodom said to Abram, ‘Give me the people, and you can take the property’; 22   but Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I lift my hand and swear by the Lord, God Most High, creator of heaven and earth: 23   not a thread or a shoe-string will I accept of anything that is yours. 24   You shall never say, “I made Abram rich.” I will accept nothing but what the young men have eaten and the share of the men who went with me. Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre shall have their share.’

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