141 And it came about in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar , Arioch king of Ellasar , Chedorlaomer king of Elam , and Tidal king of Goiim , 2 that they made war with Bera king of Sodom , and with Birsha king of Gomorrah , Shinab king of Admah , and Shemeber king of Zeboiim , and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar ). 3 All these came as allies to the valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea ). 4 Twelve e years they had served Chedorlaomer , but the thirteenth e year they rebelled . 5 In the fourteenth e year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim and the Zuzim in Ham and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim , 6 and the Horites in their Mount Seir , as far as El-paran , which is by the wilderness . 7 Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh ), and conquered all the country of the Amalekites , and also the Amorites , who lived in Hazazon-tamar . 8 And the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah and the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar ) came out; and they arrayed for battle against them in the valley of Siddim , 9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim and Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar -four kings against five . 10 Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits ; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled , and they fell into them. But those who survived fled to the hill country . 11 Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply , and departed . 12 They also took Lot , Abram's nephew e , and his possessions and departed , for he was living in Sodom .
13 Then a fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew . Now he was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite , brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner , and these were allies e with Abram . 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive , he led out his trained men , born in his house , three hundred and eighteen e , and went in pursuit as far as Dan . 15 He divided his forces against them by night , he and his servants , and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah , which is north of Damascus . 16 He brought back all the goods , and also brought back his relative Lot with his possessions , and also the women , and the people .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 14:1-16
Commentary on Genesis 14:1-12
(Read Genesis 14:1-12)
The wars of nations make great figure in history, but we should not have had the record of this war if Abram and Lot had not been concerned. Out of covetousness, Lot had settled in fruitful, but wicked Sodom. Its inhabitants were the most ripe for vengeance of all the descendants of Canaan. The invaders were from Chaldea and Persia, then only small kingdoms. They took Lot among the rest, and his goods. Though he was righteous, and Abram's brother's son, yet he was with the rest in this trouble. Neither our own piety, nor our relation to the favourites of Heaven, will be our security when God's judgments are abroad. Many an honest man fares the worse for his wicked neighbours: it is our wisdom to separate, or at least to distinguish ourselves from them, 2 Corinthians 6:17. So near a relation of Abram should have been a companion and a disciple of Abram. If he chose to dwell in Sodom, he must thank himself if he share in Sodom's losses. When we go out of the way of our duty, we put ourselves from under God's protection, and cannot expect that the choice made by our lusts, should end to our comfort. They took Lot's goods; it is just with God to deprive us of enjoyments, by which we suffer ourselves to be deprived of the enjoyment of him.
Commentary on Genesis 14:13-16
(Read Genesis 14:13-16)
Abram takes this opportunity to give a real proof of his being truly friendly to Lot. We ought to be ready to succour those in distress, especially relations and friends. And though others may have been wanting in their duty to us, yet we must not neglect our duty to them. Abram rescued the captives. As we have opportunity, we must do good to all.