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During that time Amraphel was the king over {the land of} Shinar, Arioch was the king over {the city of} Ellasar, Chedorlaomer was the king over {the land of} Elam, and Tidal was the king over the Goyim {people}. 2 Those {four} kings {joined forces and} went to war against {five other kings, including} Bera {who was} the king over {the city of} Sodom, Birsha {who was} the king over {the city of} Gomorrah, Shinab {who was} the king over {the city of} Admah, Shemeber {who was} the king over {the city of} Zeboyim, and the king over {the town of} Bela, which is {also called} Zoar. 3 Those {five kings} all united their armies {as allies} {and fought against the four kings} in the Siddim Valley, which is now the Salt Sea.4 For twelve years the five kings had paid tribute to {King} Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they started to rebel {against him}. 5 Then in the fourteenth year {King} Chedorlaomer and the {three} kings who were his allies {united their armies and} went {to war} {against all their enemies}. {First} they defeated the Rephaites in {the city of} Ashteroth-Karnaim, then the Zuzites in {the city of} Ham, the Emites in {the city of} Shaveh-Kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites {who lived} in the Seir Mountains {all the way} to {the city of} El Paran, which is near the desert. 7 Next those {four} kings {and their armies} turned around and went to {the city of} En Mishpat, which is {also called} Kadesh. They conquered the entire territory where the Amalekites lived and also the Amorites who were living in {the city of} Hazezon Tamar.
8 Then the king over {the city of} Sodom, the king over {the city of} Gomorrah, the king over {the city of} Admah, the king over {the city of} Zeboyim, and the king over {the town of} Bela, which is {also called} Zoar, marched out {with their armies} into the Siddim Valley and got ready to fight 9 against Chedorlaomer {who was} the king over {the land of} Elam, Tidal {who was} the king over the Goyim, Amraphel {who was} the king over {the land of} Shinar, and Arioch {who was} the king over {the kingdom of} Ellasar. {Then} the four kings attacked the five {kings} {and started defeating them}.
10 Now there were many tar pits in the Siddim Valley. As the kings over {the cities of} Sodom and Gomorrah {and their soldiers} were running away {from the battle}, some {of their soldiers} died there {in the tar pits}. Those who escaped ran away to the mountains {to hide}. 11 Then the four kings seized all the {people's} belongings in {the cities of} Sodom and Gomorrah, including all their food, and carried it away. 12 They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot and his belongings, since he was living in {the city of} Sodom.
13-14 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. 15 There during the night, Abram and his men divided {into groups}, {surprise} attacked the {four} kings {and their soldiers}, and defeated them. Then they chased them as far as {the town of} Hobah, which is north of {the city of} Damascus. 16 As a result, Abram recovered all the {people's} belongings {that the four kings had taken}. He also rescued his nephew Lot and his belongings, as well as the women and {all} the other people {whom the kings had captured}.
17 After Abram defeated {King} Chedorlaomer and the {other} {three} kings who were his allies, he started to return {home}. When he reached the Shaveh Valley, which is {also called} the King's Valley, the king over {the city of} Sodom came there and welcomed him. 18 Melchizedek who was the king over {the city of} Salem {also came there, and he} brought food and wine {for Abram and his men to eat and drink}. King Melchizedek was also a priest who served the greatest God, 19 so he blessed Abram by saying {to him}, "May the greatest God, who owns heaven and earth, bless you. 20 Praise the greatest God, because he enabled you to defeat your enemies!” Then Abram gave {King} Melchizedek ten percent of everything {that he had recovered in the battle}. 21 After that, the king over {the city of} Sodom said to Abram, "{Please} return to me the people {whom you rescued}, but keep for yourself {their} belongings {that you recovered}.” 22 But Abram replied to him, "{I will not keep anything, because} I have raised my hand {and sworn} to Yahweh, {who is} the greatest God {and} the One who owns heaven and earth, 23 that I will not accept anything that is yours {or your people's}, not even a string or the strap from a sandal. That way you can never say that you {were the one who} made me rich. 24 {So I will accept nothing,} except what my warriors ate and the part {of the plunder} that Aner, Eshcol and Mamre deserve for being my allies. {Please} let them have their part {of the plunder}.”