The Book of Genesis 24 Verses

Genesis 14

The War of the Kings

Chapter 14 Overview · 24 Verses

1In those days Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim 2went 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).

3The latter five came as allies to 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 went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6and the Horites in the area of Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is near the desert. 7Then they turned back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.

Genesis 14:1–7 Commentary

Mesopotamian Empires Strike Trans-Jordan Giant Clans:

Genesis 14 drops us into the ancient Near East’s first recorded geopolitical world war. For twelve years, five local city-state kings in the Jordan Valley — including the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah — served Chedorlaomer of Elam as tribute vassals before rebelling in the thirteenth year (Genesis 14:4)⁠. In verses 5–7 (Genesis 14:5–7)⁠, Chedorlaomer and his three Mesopotamian allies launch a massive punitive expedition. But before confronting the five rebel kings in the plain — a clash still to come in verses 8–10 (Genesis 14:8–10) that will sweep up Abram’s nephew Lot (Genesis 14:12)⁠—the invaders sweep down the King’s Highway east of the Jordan. They strike the Rephaim, Zuzim, and Emim — formidable giant clans that Moses over six centuries later describes in Deuteronomy 2:10–11 as a people great and tall as the Anakim, and the prophet Amos over a millennium later depicts as having a height “like that of the cedars” (Amos 2:9)⁠. Chedorlaomer was securing his flanks by crushing a buffer zone of rebel giants.

Ashteroth-karnaim — King Og’s Ancient Giant Fortress:

Verse 5 (Genesis 14:5) notes that Chedorlaomer struck down the Rephaim at Ashteroth-karnaim, a fortress town in the Bashan highlands. As the biblical conquest narrative will record over six centuries later in Joshua 12:4 and Deuteronomy 1:4⁠, this is the exact territory where King Og — the giant king of Bashan — would rule from Ashtaroth and Edrei. These are the identical Rephaim occupying the Hermon-and-Bashan region that Moses confronts during the trans-Jordan campaign (Deuteronomy 3:11–13)⁠. By recording this ancient campaign centuries before Israel entered Canaan, Genesis reveals that the imperial superpowers were already battling the entrenched giant clans on the very borders where Abram’s covenant descendants would one day fight.

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 arrayed themselves for battle in the Valley of Siddim 9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.

Abram Rescues Lot

10Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some men fell into the pits, but the survivors fled to the hill country.

11The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food, and they went on their way. 12They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions (since Lot was living in Sodom).

13Then an escapee came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the Oaks of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were bound by treaty to Abram.

Genesis 14:8–13 Commentary

Lot’s Compromise Costs Him — and “Hebrew” Debuts:

The five-king alliance marches out to battle and gets decisively wrecked. The victorious four kings crush the rebellion, seize all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and take captives — including Lot, who had pitched his tent as far as Sodom in our previous chapter (Genesis 13:12)⁠. That real estate compromise just cost him his freedom. Verse 13 (Genesis 14:13) also contains the first occurrence of the word “Hebrew” (Ivri) anywhere in Scripture, applied here to Abram directly — linking him back to his ancestor Eber in the Table of Nations (Genesis 10:21) and marking him as “one who crossed over” from beyond the River.

14And when Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household, and they set out in pursuit as far as Dan.

15During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer’s army, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16He retrieved all the goods, as well as his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the rest of the people.

Genesis 14:14–16 Commentary

Abram’s Private Army of 318 Household Men:

Abram musters three hundred and eighteen trained men, born in his own household — an extended family and servant community ready to march into battle on his word alone. He pursues the victorious four-king coalition, defeats them, and recovers everything: the goods, the women, the people, and Lot along with them.

Ditch the Myth — Abram Was a Formidable Patriarch:

Nine chapters ahead in Genesis 23:6⁠, the local Hittites will openly address Abraham as “God’s chosen one among us” (Hebrew nesi Elohim, traditionally rendered “a prince of God” or “a mighty prince”) — recognizing him as a formidable regional power. Here in Genesis 14, Abram mobilizes 318 trained fighting men born in his own household to rout an imperial coalition — proving he was no solitary nomad wandering the desert with a shepherd’s crook. This established stature explains why Pharaoh fast-tracked Sarai into elite society two chapters earlier in Genesis 12:15⁠, and why down the corridor of patriarchal history Joseph would instruct his family to claim they were merely shepherds in Genesis 46:31–34 to keep them culturally distinct from Egypt. Abram was a wealthy, formidable patriarch commanding serious household military strength.

Abram Pursues the Kings to Mount Hermon’s Foot:

Verse 14 (Genesis 14:14) says Abram pursued the kings as far as Dan, and the Dan in this verse is generally identified with Laish, the city the tribe of Dan conquered and renamed centuries later during the period of the Judges (Judges 18:29)⁠, at the foot of Mount Hermon, where the Jordan’s springs rise. So the 318 men of Abram’s household strike the retreating kings at Hermon’s doorstep, then chase them north of Damascus to Hobah (Genesis 14:15)⁠. Hold on to this location. The mountain keeps showing up wherever the old rebellion does.

Melchizedek Blesses Abram (Psalm 110:1–7)

17After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom went 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—since He was priest of God Most High— 19and He blessed Abram and said:

“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 Melchizedek a tenth of everything.

Genesis 14:18–20 Commentary

Melchizedek — Both King and Priest at Once:

A mystery king walks out of nowhere, uniting two offices no man under Israel’s Law would ever be permitted to combine: king and priest. Melchizedek, in Hebrew Malki-Tzedek, means King of Righteousness, and He rules over Salem, ancient Jerusalem, meaning King of Peace. Two millennia down the timeline of Scripture, the apostolic author of Hebrews unpacks His identity (Hebrews 7:1–2)⁠: “first, his name means ‘king of righteousness’; then also, ‘king of Salem,’ meaning ‘king of peace’”

Bread and Wine Prefigure Yeshua’s Passover Table:

Melchizedek’s offering of bread and wine directly prefigures the Passover elements Yeshua the Messiah institutes two millennia later in the Gospels with His disciples: “Yeshua took bread, gave thanks and broke it... and He took a cup... saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood’” (Matthew 26:26–28⁠; Luke 22:20⁠). Melchizedek is not offering a Levitical animal sacrifice; He brings the royal emblems of life, covenant, and fellowship.

Tithing Predates Sinai — God’s Law Before Moses:

Abram gives Melchizedek a tenth of everything — recognized and honored over six centuries before the Law was codified at Mount Sinai. This vaporizes the modern myth that biblical commandments began with Moses. Twelve chapters ahead, Genesis 26:5 confirms that Abraham kept God’s statutes centuries before Sinai. Tithing was universal in antiquity because it wasn’t a pagan invention — it was a baseline financial statute.

Melchizedek — Patriarch Shem, or a Christophany:

Commentators divide on the identity of this mystery king-priest. Ancient Jewish and Hebraic tradition identifies Melchizedek as Noah’s righteous son Shem, who according to biblical chronology was still alive in Abram’s day, serving as the surviving patriarch of the post-Flood world. However, the author of Hebrews points to a far deeper reality. Millennia later in the apostolic writings, Hebrews 7:3 describes Melchizedek as “without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest continually.” While acknowledging that ancient Shem tradition, Scripture itself points to something far greater: Melchizedek is a Christophany — the pre-incarnate Word Himself stepping onto the stage of history as the royal Priest of God Most High.

The Pre-Incarnate Word Serves El Elyon the Father:

Melchizedek is priest of “God Most High,” in Hebrew El Elyon, and He blesses Abram in that name (Genesis 14:19–20)⁠. Scripture reveals that both the Father and the Son are YAHWEH — a divine Godhead sharing one eternal name and divine essence. The title El Elyon specifically identifies the Father as the supreme Sovereign who divided the nations and set their boundaries, as Moses would record over six centuries later in Deuteronomy 32:8⁠. Abram unites both titles in verse 22 (Genesis 14:22) when he swears by “YAHWEH God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.” In Melchizedek, we see the pre-incarnate Word ministering as High Priest before El Elyon the Father — an eternal priesthood that supersedes and predates the temporary Levitical order by centuries.

21The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the goods for yourself.”

22But Abram replied to the king of Sodom: “I have raised my hand to YAHWEH God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share for the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. They may take their portion.”

Genesis 14:21–24 Commentary

Abram Refuses Sodom’s Loot — Zero Entanglement with Wickedness:

The king of Sodom offers Abram a deal: keep the recovered plunder, just return the captured people. Abram refuses every single thread. As established just one chapter earlier back in Genesis 13:13⁠, the men of Sodom were already notorious as “wicked, sinning greatly against YAHWEH.” Abram had already taken an oath to YAHWEH God Most High before the king ever approached him: he would not accept so much as a sandal strap, lest this wicked ruler ever boast, “I have made Abram rich” (Genesis 14:23)⁠. Abram accepted bread and blessing from Melchizedek the priest of God Most High, but he wanted zero financial entanglement or patronage with the corrupt court of Sodom. His provision came from God’s hand alone.

Genesis 14 Footnotes

Genesis 14 · Footnote 391 (Genesis 14:4): Genesis 14:4 — For twelve years they had been subject to Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 392 (Genesis 14:12): Genesis 14:12 — They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions (since Lot was living in Sodom).

Genesis 14 · Footnote 393 (Deuteronomy 2:10–11): Deuteronomy 2:10–11 — 10(The Emites used to live there, a people great and many, as tall as the Anakites. 11 Like the Anakites, they were also regarded as Rephaim, though the Moabites called them Emites.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 394 (Amos 2:9): Amos 2:9 — Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, though his height was like that of the cedars, and he was as strong as the oaks. Yet I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 395 (Joshua 12:4): Joshua 12:4 — And Og king of Bashan, one of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived in Ashtaroth and Edrei.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 396 (Deuteronomy 1:4): Deuteronomy 1:4 — This was after he had defeated Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and then at Edrei had defeated Og king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 397 (Deuteronomy 3:11–13): Deuteronomy 3:11–13 — 11(For only Og king of Bashan had remained of the remnant of the Rephaim. His bed of iron, nine cubits long and four cubits wide, is still in Rabbah of the Ammonites.) 12 So at that time we took possession of this land. To the Reubenites and Gadites I gave the land beyond Aroer along the Arnon Valley, and half the hill country of Gilead, along with its cities. 13 To the half-tribe of Manasseh I gave the rest of Gilead and all of Bashan, the kingdom of Og. (The entire region of Argob, the whole territory of Bashan, used to be called the land of the Rephaim.)

Genesis 14 · Footnote 398 (Genesis 13:12): Genesis 13:12 — Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot settled in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 399 (Genesis 10:21): Genesis 10:21 — And sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth; Shem was the forefather of all the sons of Eber.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 400 (Genesis 23:6): Genesis 23:6 — “Listen to us, sir. You are God’s chosen one among us. Bury your dead in the finest of our tombs. None of us will withhold his tomb for burying your dead.”

Genesis 14 · Footnote 401 (Genesis 12:15): Genesis 12:15 — When Pharaoh’s officials saw Sarai, they commended her to him, and she was taken into the palace of Pharaoh.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 402 (Genesis 46:31–34): Genesis 46:31–34 — 31Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and inform Pharaoh: ‘My brothers and my father’s household from the land of Canaan have come to me. 32The men are shepherds; they raise livestock, and they have brought their flocks and herds and all that they own.’ 33When Pharaoh summons you and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34you are to say, ‘Your servants have raised livestock ever since our youth—both we and our fathers.’ Then all of you will be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen, since all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.”

Genesis 14 · Footnote 403 (Judges 18:29): Judges 18:29 — They named it Dan, after their forefather Dan, who was born to Israel—though the city was formerly named Laish.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 404 (Psalm 110:1–7): Psalm 110:1–7 — 1A Psalm of David. YAHWEH said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” 2 YAHWEH extends Your mighty scepter from Zion: “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.” 3 Your people shall be willing on Your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, to You belongs the dew of Your youth. 4 YAHWEH has sworn and will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” 5 The Lord is at Your right hand; He will crush kings in the day of His wrath. 6 He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead; He will crush the leaders far and wide. 7 He will drink from the brook by the road; therefore He will lift up His head.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 405 (Hebrews 7:1–2): Hebrews 7:1–2 — 1This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”

Genesis 14 · Footnote 406 (Matthew 26:26–28): Matthew 26:26–28 — 26While they were eating, Yeshua took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.” 27 Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is My blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 407 (Luke 22:20): Luke 22:20 — In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 408 (Genesis 26:5): Genesis 26:5 — because Abraham listened to My voice and kept My charge: My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”

Genesis 14 · Footnote 409 (Hebrews 7:3): Hebrews 7:3 — Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 410 (Genesis 14:19–20): Genesis 14:19–20 — 19and He blessed Abram and said:“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 Melchizedek a tenth of everything.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 411 (Deuteronomy 32:8): Deuteronomy 32:8 — When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He divided the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 412 (Genesis 13:13): Genesis 13:13 — But the men of Sodom were wicked, sinning greatly against YAHWEH.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 413 (Genesis 14:23): Genesis 14:23 — that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’

Genesis 14 · Footnote 1135 (Genesis 14:15): Genesis 14:15 — During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer’s army, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 1212 (Genesis 14:5–7): Genesis 14:5–7 — 5In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6and the Horites in the area of Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is near the desert. 7Then they turned back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 1213 (Genesis 14:8–10): Genesis 14:8–10 — 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 arrayed themselves for battle in the Valley of Siddim 9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, 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 men fell into the pits, but the survivors fled to the hill country.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 1214 (Genesis 14:5): Genesis 14:5 — In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh-kiriathaim,

Genesis 14 · Footnote 1215 (Genesis 14:13): Genesis 14:13 — Then an escapee came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the Oaks of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were bound by treaty to Abram.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 1216 (Genesis 14:14): Genesis 14:14 — And when Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household, and they set out in pursuit as far as Dan.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 1217 (Genesis 14:22): Genesis 14:22 — But Abram replied to the king of Sodom: “I have raised my hand to YAHWEH God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,

Genesis 14 · Footnote 1347 (Genesis 14:1–7): Genesis 14:1–7 — 1In those days Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim 2went 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). 3The latter five came as allies to 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 went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6and the Horites in the area of Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is near the desert. 7Then they turned back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 1348 (Genesis 14:8–13): Genesis 14:8–13 — 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 arrayed themselves for battle in the Valley of Siddim 9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, 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 men fell into the pits, but the survivors fled to the hill country. 11The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food, and they went on their way. 12They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions (since Lot was living in Sodom). 13Then an escapee came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the Oaks of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were bound by treaty to Abram.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 1349 (Genesis 14:14–16): Genesis 14:14–16 — 14And when Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household, and they set out in pursuit as far as Dan. 15During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer’s army, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16He retrieved all the goods, as well as his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the rest of the people.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 1350 (Genesis 14:18–20): Genesis 14:18–20 — 18Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since He was priest of God Most High— 19and He blessed Abram and said:“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 Melchizedek a tenth of everything.

Genesis 14 · Footnote 1351 (Genesis 14:21–24): Genesis 14:21–24 — 21The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the goods for yourself.” 22But Abram replied to the king of Sodom: “I have raised my hand to YAHWEH God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share for the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. They may take their portion.”