Genesis 14

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.

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

These are names of men.

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

These are names of places. See how you translated "Shinar" in Genesis 10:10.

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

"These latter five kings and their armies joined together"

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 had been under the control of Kedorlaomer"

they rebelled

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

Genesis 14:5

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

These are the names of people groups.

Ashteroth Karnaim ... Ham ... Shaveh Kiriathaim

These are the names of places.

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.

Seir ... El Paran

These are the names of places.

El Paran, which is near the desert

"El Paran. El Paran is near the desert"

Genesis 14:7

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. "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."

Genesis 14:10

Now

This word introduces background information about the valley of Siddim.

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.

the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah

the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah and their armies"

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.

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 wealth of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah" or "the property of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah"

their provisions

"their food and drink"

Genesis 14:12

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

"they also took Lot, along with all his possessions. Lot was Abram's brother's son and was living in Sodom at that time"

Genesis 14:13

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.

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, he and his servants, and

"At night Abram divided his men—he attacked them from one side and his servants attacked them from another—and"

servants

"men of war." They served him by fighting for him.

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

"returned to where he was living"

Genesis 14:18

Melchizedek, king of Salem

This is the first time this king is mentioned.

Genesis 14:19

He blessed him

King Melchizedek blessed Abram.

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

"May God Most High, the Creator of heaven and earth, bless Abram"

Genesis 14:20

Blessed be God Most High

This is a way of praising God.

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 14:24

I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten

"I will take from you only what my young men have eaten."

the share of the men that went with me

"the share of the recovered property that belongs to the men who helped me get it back"

Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre

"my allies Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre"