Genesis Chapter 14
Showing all 24 verses for Genesis Chapter 14.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"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; "
"This happened during the reign of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal, king of a group of nations."
This chapter opens with kings and politics that seem far removed from Abram's quiet, faithful life. Even when the wider world's conflicts feel distant from your own, stay alert; they can reach into your life, and the lives of people you love, faster than you expect.
"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. "
"These four kings went to war against five others: Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, also called Zoar."
Sodom is drawn into this conflict as one of several cities resisting a stronger power. Where Lot chose to live now shapes what danger reaches him; the environments and alliances we choose can carry consequences far beyond what we anticipated when we chose them.
"All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea. "
"All five of these kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim, which is now the Dead Sea."
Whole regions and their armies gather for a battle far bigger than any one person's control. Some of what affects your life will come from forces entirely outside your influence; faithfulness in those moments looks like trusting God rather than needing to control every circumstance.
"Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. "
"For twelve years the five kings had been under the rule of Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled against him."
Years of forced submission finally end in rebellion, setting off a larger conflict. Long-simmering tension, when it finally breaks, often does so at a scale bigger than anyone expected; be mindful of what you're allowing to build quietly in your own relationships.
"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, "
"In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and his allied kings came and defeated the Rephaim at Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim at Ham, and the Emim at Shaveh Kiriathaim."
The invading kings sweep through several other peoples before ever reaching their main target. Sometimes the trouble that eventually reaches you has already been building and moving for a long while before you ever notice it; stay watchful rather than only reactive.
"And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness. "
"They also defeated the Horites in the hill country of Seir, chasing them as far as El Paran, near the wilderness."
The campaign spreads further still, defeating group after group along the way. Large-scale trouble in the world rarely stays contained to just one place; let that awareness make you more compassionate towards people caught up in conflicts far from your own doorstep.
"And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that in Hazezontamar. "
💡 Highlighted words feature Jacobean 1611 tooltips to clarify shifted 17th-century English terms.
"Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat, also called Kadesh, and conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites living in Hazazon Tamar."
The invading kings turn back through yet more territory, defeating still more people. Persistent, expanding conflict can feel unstoppable from the outside; remember that no earthly power, however sweeping its victories look, operates outside God's ultimate authority.
"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; "
"Then the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim and Bela (Zoar) marched out and lined up for battle in the Valley of Siddim."
The local kings finally muster the courage to meet their invaders in battle. There's a place for standing your ground even against strong opposition; courage doesn't guarantee victory, but conceding without a fight isn't the only faithful option either.
"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. "
"They fought against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar - four kings against five."
Four kings against five sets an uneven, tense scene for a battle whose outcome isn't obvious. Life often puts you in situations where the odds aren't clearly in your favour; trust that God's involvement matters more than the apparent balance of power.
"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. "
"The Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell into them; the rest of their people fled to the hills."
The local kings flee into treacherous terrain, and some are lost in the process. Fleeing from danger isn't always safety; sometimes the very ground we run to for escape holds its own hidden risk. Choose your escape routes as carefully as you choose your battles.
"And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. "
"The victorious kings took all the possessions and food supplies of Sodom and Gomorrah and left."
The victors plunder freely, taking everything of value from the defeated cities. Loss like this can feel total and overwhelming when it happens to you or someone you love; it's worth remembering that God's story rarely ends at the point of greatest loss.
"And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. "
💡 Highlighted words feature Jacobean 1611 tooltips to clarify shifted 17th-century English terms.
"They also captured Lot - Abram's nephew, who was living in Sodom - along with everything he owned, and took him away."
Lot is swept up in this disaster simply because of where he chose to live. The consequences of our choices, and the choices of those close to us, can catch up with us through circumstances entirely outside our control. Stay compassionate rather than purely critical when this happens to someone you love.
"And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. "
💡 Highlighted words feature Jacobean 1611 tooltips to clarify shifted 17th-century English terms.
"Someone who had escaped the battle came and told Abram - here called "the Hebrew" - what had happened. Abram was living near the great trees belonging to Mamre the Amorite, who, along with his brothers Eshcol and Aner, had a treaty alliance with Abram."
News of Lot's capture reaches Abram through someone who escaped and cared enough to tell him. Be the kind of person who carries hard but necessary news to someone who needs to know it, and be grateful for those who do the same for you.
"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. "
"When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called up his own trained fighting men - born and raised in his household - 318 of them, and chased after the invaders as far as Dan."
Abram doesn't hesitate once he hears his nephew is in danger; he mobilises immediately. Let love for the people close to you translate into decisive action when they're in real trouble, rather than staying passive out of caution or convenience.
"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. "
"He split his forces and attacked by night, defeating them and chasing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus."
Abram's outnumbered household force still manages a decisive victory through wisdom and courage. You don't need the biggest resources to make a real difference; wise, courageous action with what you actually have can accomplish more than you'd expect.
"And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. "
"He recovered all the property, brought his relative Lot back along with his possessions, and also freed the women and other people who had been taken."
Abram brings back not just Lot, but everyone and everything that had been taken. When you're in a position to help, look for the chance to restore fully, not just partially, whatever's been lost, even for people beyond your own immediate family.
"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. "
"After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and his allied kings, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh, also called the King's Valley."
The king of Sodom comes out to meet Abram after his victory, setting up a moment of real choice for Abram. Success and recognition often bring a new kind of test right on their heels; be as thoughtful in the moment of victory as you were in the moment of crisis.
"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. "
"Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. He was a priest of God Most High."
Melchizedek appears here, unexplained and significant, bringing bread, wine, and blessing. Sometimes God brings unexpected people into your life at exactly the right moment, offering exactly the encouragement or perspective you need, with little explanation needed.
"And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: "
"Melchizedek blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, owner of heaven and earth.""
Melchizedek blesses Abram in the name of the one true God, recognising who Abram truly serves. Let yourself receive genuine blessing and encouragement from unexpected sources; not every good word has to come from someone in your usual circle.
"And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. "
""And blessed be God Most High, who handed your enemies over to you." Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything."
Abram responds to blessing with generosity, giving a tenth of everything back. Let gratitude for what you've received move you to give generously in return, as your natural first response rather than something you have to be persuaded into.
"And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. "
"The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me back my people - you can keep the goods for yourself.""
The king of Sodom offers Abram a very generous deal, keeping all the recovered wealth for himself. Not every generous-looking offer is one you should accept; sometimes the most important question is not what you'd gain, but what it might cost your integrity or your witness.
"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, "
"But Abram replied, "I have made a solemn vow to the LORD, God Most High, owner of heaven and earth,""
Abram answers by naming, out loud, exactly who he has sworn allegiance to. Know clearly, and be ready to say plainly, whose you are and where your ultimate loyalty lies, especially when tempting offers come your way.
"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: "
""that I will not take so much as a thread or a sandal strap - nothing that is yours - so that you can never say, 'I made Abram rich.'""
Abram refuses even the smallest item, unwilling to let anyone but God get credit for his blessing. Guard carefully who gets credit for the good things in your life; let your gratitude and dependence point clearly towards God rather than towards whatever seemed to provide it.
"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. "
""Except for what my young men have already eaten, and the fair share belonging to the men who went with me - Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them take their portion.""
Even while refusing personal gain, Abram makes sure his allies are fairly compensated for their part. Personal integrity and fairness to others aren't in competition; you can refuse gain for yourself while still making sure the people who helped you are properly honoured.