12. Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, was living in Sodom, and they captured him. They also took everything he owned and left.
13. One of the men who had escaped went to Abram the Hebrew and told him what happened. Abram was camped near the trees of Mamre the Amorite. Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner had made an agreement to help each other, and they had also signed an agreement to help Abram.
14. When Abram learned that Lot was captured, he called all of his family together. There were 318 trained soldiers. He led the men and chased the enemy all the way to the town of Dan.
15. That night he and his men made a surprise attack against the enemy. They defeated them and chased them to Hobah, north of Damascus.
16. Then Abram brought back everything the enemy had stolen, as well as the women and servants, his nephew Lot, and everything Lot owned.
17. Then Abram went home after he defeated Kedorlaomer and the kings with him. On his way home, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh. (This is now called King’s Valley.)
18. Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, also went to meet Abram. He brought bread and wine.
19. He blessed Abram and said, “Abram, may you be blessed by God Most High, the one who made heaven and earth.
20. And we praise God Most High, who helped you defeat your enemies.” Abram gave Melchizedek one-tenth of everything he had taken during the battle.
21. Then the king of Sodom told Abram, “Give me my people who were captured. But you can keep everything else.”
22. But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I promise to the Lord, the God Most High, the one who made heaven and earth.
23. I promise that I will not keep anything that is yours—not even a thread or a sandal strap! I don’t want you to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’
24. The only thing I will accept is the food that my young men have eaten, but you should give the other men their share. Take what we won in battle and give some to Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. These men helped me in the battle.”