Genesis 14

Genesis 14 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. ULB does this with the poetry in 14:19-20.

Special concepts in this chapter
Names of places

Sometimes the names of places in Scripture are referred to by the name used during the time of the writer. For example, the location referred to as Dan was not yet known by that name because Dan had not yet come to live there. Moses, the author of Genesis, would have known this location as Dan.

Melchizedek

Melchizedek was both a priest and a king. Because of this, he parallels the roles of Jesus. Melchizedek is an important figure in the book of Hebrews. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#priest)

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
God Most High

Melchizedek worshiped the God Most High. This is probably a reference to the true and only God who created the heavens and the earth and came to be known as Yahweh. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#heaven)

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Genesis 14:1

It came about

This phrase is used here to mark the beginning of a new part of the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here.

in the days of

"in the time of"

Amraphel ... Arioch ... Kedorlaomer ... Tidal

These are names of men. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Shinar ... Ellasar ... Elam ... Goyim

These are names of places. See how you translated "Shinar" in Genesis 10:10 (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 14:2

they made war

"they went to war" or "they started a war" or "they prepared for war"

Genesis 14:3

These latter five kings joined together

The information that their armies were with them can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "These latter five kings and their armies joined together" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 14:4

Twelve years they had served

The events in verses 4-7 happened before verse 3. Your language may have a way of showing this.

they had served Kedorlaomer

They probably had to pay him taxes and serve in his army. Alternate translation: "they had been under the control of Kedorlaomer" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

they rebelled

"they refused to serve him" or "they stopped serving him"

Genesis 14:5

came and attacked

They did this because the other kings rebelled.

the Rephaim ... the Zuzites ... the Emites

These are the names of people groups. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Ashteroth Karnaim ... Ham ... Shaveh Kiriathaim

These are the names of places. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Ham

This name in Hebrew is different from the name of Noah's son, which is spelled the same way in English.

Genesis 14:6

the Horites

This is the name of a people group. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Seir ... El Paran

These are the names of places. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

El Paran, which is near the desert

This phrase helps readers understand where El Paran was. It can be translated as a separate sentence if necessary. Alternate translation: "El Paran. El Paran is near the desert" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-distinguish)

Genesis 14:7

General Information:

Verses 8 and 9 repeats what was said in Genesis 14:3 and continues to tell what happened when the kings came together to fight.

they turned and came

The word "they" refers to the four foreign kings who were attacking the region of Canaan. Their names were Amraphel, Arioch, Chedorlaomer, and Tidal. Alternate translation: "they turned and went" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-go)

the Amorites who lived in Hazezon Tamar

This phrase tells which Amorite people were defeated. There were other Amorite people who lived in other places.

Genesis 14:8

the king of Bela (also called Zoar)

The city of Bela was also called Zoar. This information could also be put at the end of the sentence. "the king of Bela went out and prepared for battle. Bela is also called Zoar."

prepared for battle

"joined battle" or "drew up battle lines." Some translators may need to also say that the armies fought, as the UDB does in verse 9. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 14:9

four kings against the five

Since the five kings were listed first, some languages might prefer to translate this as "five kings against four."

Genesis 14:10

Now

This word introduces background information about the valley of Siddim. Your language may have another way of introducing background information. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)

was full of tar pits

"had many tar pits." These were holes in the ground that had tar in them.

tar

a thick, sticky, black liquid that comes up from the ground. See how this is translated in Genesis 11:3.

the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah

Here the kings represent themselves and their armies. Alternate translation: the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah and their armies" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)

they fell in there

Possible meanings are 1) some of their soldiers fell in the tar pits or 2) the kings themselves fell in the tar pits. Since Genesis 14:17 says that the king of Sodom went to meet Abram, the first meaning is more likely correct. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

Those who were left

"Those who did not die in battle and did not fall in the pits"

Genesis 14:11

the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah

The words "Sodom" and "Gomorrah" are metonyms for the people who lived in those cities. Alternate translation: "the wealth of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah" or "the property of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

their provisions

"their food and drink"

went their way

"they went away"

Genesis 14:12

they also took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who was living in Sodom, along with all his possessions

The phrases "Abram's brother's son" and "who was living in Sodom" remind the reader of things that were written earlier about Lot. Alternate translation: "they also took Lot, along with all his possessions. Lot was Abram's brother's son and was living in Sodom at that time" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-distinguish)

Genesis 14:13

One who had escaped came

"A man escaped from the battle and came"

He was living

"Abram was living." This introduces background information. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)

were all allies of Abram

"were treaty-partners with Abram" or "had a peace agreement with Abram"

Genesis 14:14

his relative

This is a reference to Abram's nephew Lot.

318 trained men

"three hundred and eighteen trained men" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

trained men

"men who were trained to fight"

men who had been born in his house

"men who were born in Abram's household." They were children of Abram's servants.

pursued them

"chased them"

Dan

This is a city in the far north of Canaan, far from Abram's camp.

Genesis 14:15

He divided his men against them at night and attacked them

This probably refers to a battle strategy. "Abram divided the men into several groups, and they attacked their enemies from various directions"

Genesis 14:16

all the possessions

This refers to the things that the enemies had stolen from the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

his goods

"Lot's property that the enemies had stolen from Lot"

as well as the women and the other people

"as well as the women and other people that the four kings had captured"

Genesis 14:17

returned

The implied information about where he was returning to can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "returned to where he was living" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 14:18

Melchizedek, king of Salem

This is the first time this king is mentioned.

bread and wine

People commonly ate bread and wine. See how you translated "bread" in Genesis 3:19 and "wine" in Genesis 9:21.

Genesis 14:19

He blessed him

King Melchizedek blessed Abram.

Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "May God Most High, the Creator of heaven and earth, bless Abram" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

heaven

This refers to the place where God lives.

Genesis 14:20

God Most High, who has given

"God Most High, because he has given." The phrase starting with "who has given" tells us something more about God Most High.

Blessed be God Most High

This is a way of praising God. See how you translated "blessed be" in Genesis 9:26.

into your hand

"into your control" or "into your power"

Genesis 14:21

Give me the people

The phrase "the people" may refer to the people of Sodom that the enemies had captured. Abram rescued them when he rescued Lot.

Genesis 14:22

I have lifted up my hand

This means "I have taken an oath" or "I have made a promise."

Genesis 14:23

General Information:

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Genesis 14:24

I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten

This double negative emphasizes that what the young men have eaten is all that Abram would take. Alternate translation: "I will take from you only what my young men have eaten."

what the young men have eaten

It seems that Abram's soldiers had eaten some of the supplies during the journey back to Sodom after the battle.

the share of the men that went with me

The full meaning of this statement can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "the share of the recovered property that belongs to the men who helped me get it back" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre

These are the allies of Abram (Genesis 14:13). Because they were Abram's allies they fought battles alongside him. The full meaning of this statement can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "my allies Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)