1 And it came to pass in the days {bimei: specific historical era} of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations {goyim: confederated peoples}.
2 They made war {milchamah: organized battle} against Bera king of Sodom, against Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, that is Zoar {hi: city designation}.
3 All these {eleh: assembled parties} joined together in the Valley of Siddim—it is the Salt Sea {yam ha-melach: Dead Sea basin}.
4 For twelve years they were subject to Kedorlaomer {Kedorlaomer: dominant overlord}, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled {maradu: rose in revolt}.
5 And in the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and struck down the Rephaim in Ashtaroth Karnaim {Ashtarot Qarnaim: twin-peaked town}, the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh Kiryathaim {Shaveh Qiryatayim: valley of towns}.
6 And they struck the Horites {chori: ancient inhabitants} in their hill country {beharram: rugged highlands} of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is by the wilderness.
7 And they returned and came to the spring of judgment, that is Kadesh, and they struck all the territory {sedeh: open region} of the Amalekite, and also the Amorite who was dwelling {hayoshev: settled inhabitant} in Hazezon-Tamar.
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) marched out and drew up for battle {milchamah: pitched conflict} with them in the Valley {emeq: broad lowland} of Siddim.
9 Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of the nations {goyim: surrounding peoples}, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings {melakhim: regional monarchs} against the five.
10 Now the valley {emeq: deep lowland} of Siddim had many pits {beerot: dangerous sinkholes} of bitumen; when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell in there, and the rest fled to the hill country.
11 And they took all the property {rekhush: possessions and wealth} of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their food {okhlam: stored provisions}, and they departed.
12 And they took Lot and his possessions {rekhush: material goods}, the son of Abram’s brother, and they went away, for he was dwelling in Sodom {sedom: morally corrupt city}.
13 Then the survivor {hapalit: one who escaped} came and reported to Abram the Hebrew. He was living among the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eshkol and the brother of Aner; and they were allies {baalei brit: formal covenant partners} of Abram.
14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he mustered {vayyarek: called to arms} his trained men {chanikhav: household retainers}, those born in his house, 318 in all, and he pursued as far as Dan.
15 And he divided himself against them by night, he and his servants {avadim: trained retainers}, and he struck them and pursued them as far as Hobah {khovah: northern outpost}, which is to the north of Damascus.
16 And he brought back all the possessions {rekhush: acquired property}, and also brought back his kinsman {achiv: close kin} Lot and his possessions. He also brought back the women and the people.
17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from striking down Kedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, to the Valley of Shaveh {emek: broad plain}, which is the Valley of the King {melek: royal domain}.
18 And Melchizedek, king of Salem, presented bread {lechem: generous hospitality} and wine; he ministered as priest of God Most High {El Elyon, Supreme Authority}.
19 And he blessed him and said, “May Abram be blessed by God Most High {El Elyon, Supreme Authority}, Possessor {koneh: owner} of heaven and earth.”
20 Blessed be God Most High {El Elyon, Supreme Deliverer}, who has handed your foes over into your hand {yad: sphere of control}; and Abram gave him a tithe of everything.
21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people {hanefesh: living souls}, and take the possessions {harekhush: material goods} for yourself.”
22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand {yad: formal oath sign} to the LORD God Most High {YHWH El Elyon, Supreme Witness}, Possessor of heaven and earth.”
23 I will not take anything that is yours—not even a thread or a sandal strap—so that you will not be able to say, “I {ani: personal insistence} have made Abram rich {heesharti: increased in wealth}.”
24 As for me, only what the young men {ne'arim: youthful retainers} have eaten, and the share of the men {anashim: battle companions} who went with me—Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre—let them take their portion.