The War of the Kings 1 RV 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 Goiim, BSB BSB: In those days Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim
2 RV that they 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 (the same 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 RV All these joined together in the vale of Siddim (the same is the Salt Sea). BSB BSB: The latter five came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).
4 RV Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. BSB BSB: For twelve years they had been subject to Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 RV And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim 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 RV and the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-paran, which is by the wilderness. BSB BSB: and the Horites in the area of Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is near the desert.
7 RV And they returned, and came to En-mishpat (the same is Kadesh), and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazazon-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 RV 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 set the battle in array against them in the vale of Siddim; 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 RV against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the 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 RV Now the vale of Siddim was full of slime pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell there, and they that 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 RV And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. BSB BSB: The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food, and they went on their way.
12 RV And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. BSB BSB: They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since Lot was living in Sodom.
13 RV And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew: now he dwelt by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner; and these were confederate 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 RV And he divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and smote them, and pursued them unto 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 RV And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, 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 RV And the king of Sodom went out to meet him, after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, at the vale of Shaveh (the same is the King’s Vale). 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 RV And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High. BSB BSB: Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High—
19 RV And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth: BSB BSB: and he blessed Abram and said: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,
20 RV and blessed be God Most High, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him a tenth of all. 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 RV And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. BSB BSB: The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the goods for yourself.”
22 RV And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, God Most High, 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 RV that I will not take a thread nor a shoelatchet nor aught that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram 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 RV 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. 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.”