The War of the Kings 1 UDB There were four kings who were allies. They were King Amraphel of Shinar, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Kedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goyim. BSB BSB: In those days Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim
2 UDB They prepared to attack a group of five kings: King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela, the city that is now called 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 UDB Those five kings and their armies gathered together in the Valley of Siddim, which is also called the Valley of the Dead Sea, to fight against the four kings and their armies. BSB BSB: The latter five came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).
4 UDB For twelve years King Kedorlaomer had ruled them. But in the thirteenth year they rebelled against King Kedorlaomer and refused to give him any more tribute money. BSB BSB: For twelve years they had been subject to Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 UDB The next year, King Kedorlaomer and the other kings that were with him gathered their armies and started coming toward the area of the five kings. They defeated the Rephaite people in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzite people in Ham, and the Emite people in 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 UDB They also defeated the Horite people in their hill area of Seir as far as El Paran near the desert. BSB BSB: and the Horites in the area of Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is near the desert.
7 UDB Then they turned around and went to En Mishpat, which is now called Kadesh. They conquered all the land belonging to the Amalekite people and the Amorite people who were living in Hazezon Tamar. 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 UDB Then the armies of the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboyim and Bela marched out to fight the armies of the four kings in Siddim 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 UDB They fought against the armies of Kedorlaomer the king of Elam, Tidal the king of Goyim, Amraphel the king of Shinar, and Arioch the king of Ellasar. The armies of four kings were fighting against the armies of five kings. 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 UDB The Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits. So when the armies of the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah tried to run away, many of the men fell into these pits. The others escaped and ran away to the hills. 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 UDB As they fled, their enemies seized all of the valuable things in Sodom and Gomorrah, including all the food. BSB BSB: The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food, and they went on their way.
12 UDB They also captured Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom at that time. BSB BSB: They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since Lot was living in Sodom.
13 UDB At that time, Abram was living near the big trees that belonged to Mamre, who belonged to the Amor clan. Abram had made an agreement with Mamre and his two brothers, Eshcol and Aner, that they would help each other if there was a war. One of the men who escaped from the battle told Abram the Hebrew what had happened and that the enemy had captured his nephew, Lot, and taken him away. So Abram summoned 318 men who were his servants, men who had been with Abram since they were born and who knew how to fight as warriors. They all went together and pursued their enemies as far as the city of Dan. 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 UDB During the night, Abram divided the men into several groups, and they attacked their enemies from various directions and defeated them. They pursued them as far as Hobah, which was north of the city 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 UDB Abram's men recovered all of the goods that had been taken. They also rescued Lot and all his possessions and also the women and others who their enemies had taken. 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 UDB As Abram was returning home after he and his men had defeated the armies of King Kedorlaomer and the other kings who had fought alongside him, the King of Sodom went north to meet him in Shaveh Valley, which people also call the King's Valley. 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 UDB Melchizedek, the king of the city of Salem, was also a priest of the supreme God. He brought some bread and wine to Abram. BSB BSB: Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High—
19 UDB Then he blessed Abram and said, "I ask the supreme God, the one who created heaven and earth, to bless you. BSB BSB: and he blessed Abram and said: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,
20 UDB I praise the supreme God because he has enabled you to defeat your enemies." Then Abram gave to Melchizedek a tenth part of all the things he had captured. 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 UDB The King of Sodom said to Abram, "You can keep all the goods you recovered. Just let me take back the people from my city whom you captured." BSB BSB: The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the goods for yourself.”
22 UDB But Abram said to the King of Sodom, "I have solemnly promised Yahweh, the supreme God, the one who created 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 UDB that I will not take even one thread or a thong of a sandal from anything that belongs to you. As a result, you will never be able to say, 'I caused Abram to become rich.' 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 UDB The only thing I will accept is the food that my men have eaten. But Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre went with me and fought alongside me, so let them have a share of the goods we brought back." 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.”