8 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) went out and lined up for battle in the Siddim Valley 9 against King Chedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Shinar, and King Arioch of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Siddim Valley contained many asphalt pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them,F but the rest fled to the mountains.u 11 The four kings took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food and went on. 12 They also took Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, for he was living in Sodom,v and they went on.

13 One of the survivors came and told Abram the Hebrew,w who lived near the oaks belonging to Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eshcol and the brother of Aner. They were bound by a treaty with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken prisoner, he assembledH his 318 trained men, born in his household,x and they went in pursuit as far as Dan.y 15 And he and his servants deployed against them by night, defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah to the north of Damascus. 16 He brought back all the goods and also his relative Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the other people.

MELCHIZEDEK’S BLESSING

17 After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Shaveh Valley (that is, the King’s Valleyz). 18 Melchizedek, king of Salem,I,aa brought out bread and wine; he was a priest to God Most High.ab 19 He blessed him and said:

Abram is blessed by God Most High,

CreatorJ of heaven and earth,

20 and blessed be God Most High

who has handed over your enemies to you.

And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.ac