The War of the Kings 1 CPDV Now it happened in that time that Amraphel, king of Shinar, and Arioch, king of Pontus, and Chedorlaomer, king of the Elamites, and Tidal, king of the Nations, BSB BSB: In those days Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim
2 CPDV went to war against Bera, king of Sodom, and against Birsha, king of Gomorrah, and against Shinab, king of Admah, and against Shemeber, king of Zeboiim, and against the king of Bela, that is Zoar. BSB BSB: went 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).
3 CPDV All these came together in the wooded valley, which is now the Sea of Salt. BSB BSB: The latter five came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).
4 CPDV For they had served Chedorlaomer for twelve years, and in the thirteenth year they withdrew from him. BSB BSB: For twelve years they had been subject to Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 CPDV Therefore, in the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer arrived, and the kings who were with him. And they struck the Rephaim at Ashteroth of the two horns, and the Zuzim with them, and the Emim at Shaveh-Kiriathaim. BSB BSB: 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,
6 CPDV and the Chorreans in the mountains of Seir, even to the plains of Paran, which is in the wilderness. BSB BSB: and the Horites in the area of Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is near the desert.
7 CPDV And they returned and arrived at the fountain of Mishpat, which is Kadesh. And they struck the entire region of the Amalekites, and the Amorites who dwelt in Hazazontamar. BSB BSB: Then 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.
8 CPDV And the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and indeed the king of Bela, which is Zoar, went forth. And they directed their point against them in the wooded valley, BSB BSB: Then 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
9 CPDV namely, against Chedorlaomer, king of the Elamites, and Tidal, king of the Nations, and Amraphel, king of Shinar, and Arioch, king of Pontus: four kings against five. BSB BSB: against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.
Abram Rescues Lot 10 CPDV Now the wooded valley had many pits of bitumen. And so the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah turned back and they fell there. And those who remained, fled to the mountain. BSB BSB: Now 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.
11 CPDV Then they took all the substance of the Sodomites and the Gomorrhites, and all that pertained to food, and they went away, BSB BSB: The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food, and they went on their way.
12 CPDV along with both Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who lived in Sodom, and his substance. BSB BSB: They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since Lot was living in Sodom.
13 CPDV And behold, one who had escaped reported it to Abram the Hebrew, who lived in the steep valley of Mamre the Amorite, who was the brother of Eshcol, and the brother of Aner. For these had formed an agreement with Abram. BSB BSB: 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.
15 CPDV And dividing his company, he rushed upon them in the night. And he struck them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. BSB BSB: During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer’s army, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.
16 CPDV And he brought back all the substance, and Lot his brother, with his substance, likewise the women and the people. BSB BSB: He retrieved all the goods, as well as his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the rest of the people.
Melchizedek Blesses Abram (Psalm 110:1–7; Hebrews 7:1–10)
17 CPDV Then the king of Sodom went out to meet him, after he returned from the slaughter at Chedorlaomer, and the kings who were with him at the valley of Shaveh, which is the valley of the king. BSB BSB: After 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).
18 CPDV Then in truth, Melchizedek, the king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine, for he was a priest of the Most High God; BSB BSB: Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High—
19 CPDV he blessed him, and he said: “Blessed be Abram by the Most High God, who created heaven and earth. BSB BSB: and he blessed Abram and said: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,
20 CPDV And blessed be the Most High God, through whose protection the enemies are in your hands.” And he gave him tithes from everything. BSB BSB: and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.
21 CPDV Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me these souls, and take the rest for yourself.” BSB BSB: The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the goods for yourself.”
22 CPDV And he responded to him: “I lift up my hand to the Lord God, the Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, BSB BSB: But Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,
23 CPDV that from one thread within a blanket, even to a single shoelace, I will not take anything from that which is yours, lest you say, ‘I have enriched Abram,’ BSB BSB: 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.’
24 CPDV except that which the young men have eaten, and the shares for the men who came with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. These will take their shares.” BSB BSB: I 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.”