Testimonia — Early Christian Bible Commentary
Genesis 14 · World English Bible
1In the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar; Arioch, king of Ellasar; Chedorlaomer, king of Elam; and Tidal, king of Goiim,
2they made war with Bera, king of Sodom; Birsha, king of Gomorrah; Shinab, king of Admah; Shemeber, king of Zeboiim; and the king of Bela (also called Zoar).
3All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (also called the Salt Sea).
4They served Chedorlaomer for twelve years, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and struck the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
6and the Horites in their Mount Seir, to El Paran, which is by the wilderness.
7They returned, and came to En Mishpat (also called Kadesh), and struck all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that lived in Hazazon Tamar.
8The king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called Zoar) went out; and they set the battle in array against them in the valley of Siddim
9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five.
10Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and some fell there. Those who remained fled to the hills.
11They took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their food, and went their way.
12They took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
13One who had escaped came and told Abram, the Hebrew. At that time, he lived by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner. They were allies of Abram.
14When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive, he led out his three hundred eighteen trained men, born in his house, and pursued as far as Dan.
15He divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and struck them, and pursued them to Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
16He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot and his goods, and the women also, and the other people.
17The king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).
18Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High.
19He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth.
20Blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram gave him a tenth of all.
21The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, and take the goods for yourself.”
22Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up my hand to the LORD, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth,
23that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’
24I will accept nothing from you except that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their portion.”
World English Bible · World English Bible; source eBible.org.
Notes on Genesis 14
1869 (English edition) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
Gen. xiv. 14. In Greek numerals.
Editorial footnote · The Stromata (Miscellanies), THE WRITINGS OF CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA. / BOOK VI. / CHAPTER XI. THE MYSTICAL MEANINGS IN THE PROPORTIONS OF NUMBERS, GEOMETRICAL RATIOS, AND MUSIC., editorial note Footnote_1035 · Original source
1885 (historical English edition; transcription printing date uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
Gen. xiv. 22.
Editorial footnote · Against Heresies: Book IV, Chapter uncertain (transcription heading: Chapter V), editorial note cite_note-59 · Original source
1885 (historical English edition; transcription printing date uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
Gen. xiv. 23.
Editorial footnote · Fragments of Clemens Alexandrinus, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-96 · Original source
1885 (historical English edition; transcription printing date uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
Not found in Scripture: but comp. Gen. xvii. 26, 27, Gen. xiv. 14.
Editorial footnote · The Epistle of Barnabas, Chapter IX.—The spiritual meaning of circumcision., editorial note cite_note-126 · Original source
1886 (historical English edition; transcription printing date uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
Gen. xiv. 18.
Editorial footnote · The Epistles of Cyprian, Chapter uncertain; original source section: Part 62, editorial note cite_note-6 · Original source
1888 (historical English edition; physical printing year uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
Gen. xiv. 14. Comp. ep. of Barn. c. 9.
Editorial footnote · Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 35, editorial note cite_note-44 · Original source
1894 (historical English edition; transcription printing date uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
Gen. xiv. 20, 22.
Editorial footnote · Conferences of John Cassian, Part I, Chapter XXIII.; original source section: Chapter 23; original book/conference: VIII. The Second Conference of Abbot Serenus., editorial note cite_note-7 · Original source
1894 (historical English edition; transcription printing date uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
Gen. xiv. 22, 23.
Editorial footnote · Conferences of John Cassian, Part III, Chapter IV.; original source section: Chapter 4; original book/conference: XXI. The First Conference of Abbot Theonas., editorial note cite_note-1 · Original source
Date uncertain | Clement of Alexandria
As then in astronomy we have Abraham as an instance, so also in arithmetic we have the same Abraham. “For, hearing that Lot was taken captive, and having numbered his own servants, born in his house, 318 (τιή),” he defeats a very great number of the enemy.
Source passage · edition’s verse reference · The Stromata (Miscellanies), THE WRITINGS OF CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA. / BOOK VI. / CHAPTER XI. THE MYSTICAL MEANINGS IN THE PROPORTIONS OF NUMBERS, GEOMETRICAL RATIOS, AND MUSIC., source paragraph 754 · Original source
Date uncertain | Fragments attributed to Clement of Alexandria (transmission and attribution uncertain)
Many, truly, are the shoes of the sinful soul, by which it is bound and cramped. For each man is cramped by the cords of his own sins. Accordingly, Abraham swears to the king of Sodom, “I will not take of all that is thine, from a thread to a shoe-latchet.” On account of these being defiled and polluted on the earth, every kind of wrong and selfishness engrosses life. As the Lord reproves Israel by Amos, saying, “For three iniquities of Israel, yea, for four, I will not turn him back; because they have given away the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes, which tread upon the dust of the ground.”
Source passage · edition’s verse reference · Fragments of Clemens Alexandrinus, Chapter uncertain, source paragraph 199 · Original source