Around the time Abram and Lot had parted ways, a cold war was brewing among the kings of the region. For twelve years, the local kings of the Jordan Valley—Bera (king of Sodom), Birsha (king of Gomorrah), Shinab (king of Admah), Shemeber (king of Zeboyim), and the king of Bela (Zoar)—were subject to Kedorlaomer, king of Elam, and his allies: Amraphel (king of Shinar), Arioch (king of Ellasar), and Tidal (king of Goyim). However, in the thirteenth year, the five Jordanian kings rebelled against Kedorlaomer’s rule.
In response, in the fourteenth year of the conflict, Kedorlaomer and his allies launched a military campaign to suppress the rebellion. They first defeated various tribal groups along the King’s Highway in Transjordan, including the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim, and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, pushing as far as El Paran near the desert. Then, they turned back to En Mishpat (Kadesh) and conquered the territories of the Amalekites and Amorites in Hazezon Tamar.
Following this campaign, the local kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboyim, and Bela (Zoar) gathered their forces and engaged Kedorlaomer and his allies in battle at the Valley of Siddim (near the Dead Sea). However, the local kings were unable to repel the invaders. The valley, full of tar pits, caused many of their men to perish, while others fled to the hills. As a result, Kedorlaomer and his coalition seized all the goods and food supplies of Sodom and Gomorrah. They also captured Abram’s nephew, Lot, along with his possessions, since he had been living in Sodom.
The Rescue Party
A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew… – Genesis 14:13 (NIV)
Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre, an Amorite who, along with his brothers Eshkol and Aner, was allied with him. When Abram heard that his nephew Lot had been taken captive, he immediately gathered three hundred and eighteen fighting men from his household (possibly including those he had acquired in Egypt) and set out in pursuit of Lot’s captors, chasing them as far as Dan. He likely received help from the tribes of that region, as he later requests the king of Sodom to grant them their rightful share after returning from the war.
During the night, Abram divided his men and launched a surprise attack, routing the enemy and pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. As a result, he recovered all the stolen goods and rescued Lot, along with his possessions, the women, and other captives. How did Abram, a nomadic traveler, manage to defeat the mighty army of the allied kings?
A Mysterious Priest of God
We are introduced to the mysterious Melchizedek, the king of Salem and priest of God Most High, who declares that God delivered Abram’s enemies into his hands. Although Abram had taken great risks to rescue the people of Sodom, he refuses any reward from the king of Sodom, possibly due to his past experience in Egypt. However, when Melchizedek approaches him, Abram gladly gives him a tenth of the loot. Melchizedek brings out bread and wine, blesses Abram, and credits God for granting him victory. In response, Abram gives Melchizedek a tenth of everything he had recovered.
…he blessed Abram, saying,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
And praise be to God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”… – Genesis 14:18-20 (NIV)
Not much is known about Melchizedek, the priest-king of Salem. He is introduced in the Bible during Abram’s rescue of Lot, where he blesses Abram and receives a tenth of the recovered spoils. Psalm 110:4 later refers to him in a Messianic prophecy, linking his priesthood to the coming Messiah. The author of Hebrews compares Melchizedek to Jesus Christ, emphasizing his unique role as both king and priest, without recorded genealogy, making him a foreshadowing of Christ’s eternal priesthood.
Many believe Melchizedek foreshadowed Jesus, while others speculate that he was the pre-incarnate Christ—God appearing in human form. This could have been similar to God’s other mysterious appearances in the Bible. Like the traveler who visits Abraham near the great trees of Mamre or the Man Jacob wrestles with until daybreak, this could have been another appearance of God or the Angel of the LORD.
Melchizedek was the first person in the Bible to refer to God as the Creator of Heaven and Earth, a revelation that even Abram had not received on his own. Only after meeting Melchizedek does Abram adopt this title for God, later declaring to the king of Sodom that his victory came from the LORD, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. This became a new way for people to recognize God’s supreme authority over all creation. Melchizedek’s deep understanding of God’s authority suggests that God was working through other people long before Israel existed.
His name means “king of righteousness,” and his role as both king and priest sets him apart as one of the few non-Levite priests in the Bible, alongside Jesus. He serves as proof that God was not limited to working through Abram’s lineage alone but was involved with all mankind. While salvation ultimately came through the Jews in the form of Jesus, God has never been the God of just one group of people—He is the Creator of everything.
Lesson Learned
The king of Sodom offered Abram the goods from the recent battle but requested that the people be returned to him. Abram, however, refused the offer, declaring that he had sworn an oath to the LORD, the Creator of heaven and earth, not to accept anything from the king. He vowed not to take even the smallest thing, such as a thread or sandal strap, so that the king would never be able to claim responsibility for making Abram rich.
I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre. Let them have their share.” – Genesis 14:24 (NIV)
Abram’s reaction to the offers of the two kings—King of Sodom and King of Salem—reflects his growing understanding of God’s role in his life and victories. When offered the goods by the king of Sodom, Abram refused, determined that no one would be able to claim that they made him rich, especially not the king of Sodom. This contrasts with his earlier interactions with Pharaoh in Egypt, where Abram had accepted gifts, showing that Abram had now come to recognize the importance of relying on God alone rather than the favor of earthly kings. When Abram gave a tenth of the spoils to Melchizedek, the king of Salem, it was a sign of his acknowledgment that the victory came from God, not from human power or wealth. Melchizedek, a priest of God Most High, reinforced this truth by blessing Abram and proclaiming that the victory was God’s.
Through this experience, Abram began to understand that he didn’t need the favor of powerful nations like Egypt or Babylon, which were often depicted in the Bible as symbols of worldly pride and oppression. These nations, frequently warned against by the prophets, represented a reliance on human power rather than dependence on God. Abram’s refusal of the king of Sodom’s offer and his acceptance of Melchizedek’s blessing demonstrated that he was learning to trust God’s provision, not the wealth or alliances of the earthly superpowers.
God is always faithful, fulfilling His promises just as He did with Abram, providing strength, wisdom, and strategies to overcome challenges. Even in times when we feel distant from Him, it is not God who has moved away but us who have strayed—He remains constant and ever-present. He generously gives us His wisdom, guiding us in our journey, just as He did with Abram, who trusted Him completely. In contrast, Lot’s choices led him into difficult situations, highlighting the importance of staying close to God and relying on His guidance.
Just as Abram risked his life to save Lot, God continually goes out of His way to save us, even when we, like Lot, distance ourselves from Him. It’s hard to understand why God continues to love us, why He sacrificed His Son for us, or why He keeps offering us second chances despite our flaws. But that’s the essence of God’s love—unexplainable, undeserved, and unending. It’s a love that goes beyond human comprehension and is not based on what we deserve but on His boundless grace.
Discussion Questions
- How did Abram manage to defeat powerful kings with only 318 of his trained men?
- Who is this mysterious king of Salem?
- Why does Abram respond differently to the offers from the two kings?
- Has Abram learned from his previous mistakes?
The Jordan Valley 
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