Captive
(2-minute read)
In a gripping episode of divine intervention and human resolve, Abram, his wife, and his nephew Lot make a harrowing escape from Egypt, laden with wealth and shadowed by Pharaoh’s men. Journeying southward, they return to Canaan, retracing steps to the sacred land between Bethel and Hai, where Abram, in profound devotion, reaffirms his covenant with the Almighty. Amidst the bountiful lands bursting with flocks, tensions rise as Abram and Lot’s herdsmen clash, prompting Abram to propose a poignant separation to maintain peace and integrity.
The narrative takes a dramatic turn as Lot, enticed by the lush plains of Jordan, departs toward the ominous city of Sodom, leaving Abram in Canaan to embrace God’s renewed promise of an abundant legacy. Meanwhile, chaos erupts with Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, amassing a formidable army of 800,000 to obliterate Sodom and Gomorrah. As the valley of Siddim becomes a battlefield of nine kings, Lot is captured, triggering a daring nocturnal rescue led by Abram and his 318 warriors. Abram’s surprise attack shatters the enemy, reclaiming Lot and the stolen riches in a triumphant victory.
The aftermath unfolds with a tranquil yet powerful encounter between Abram and Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the most high God. Amidst the serene valley of Melech, Melchizedek blesses Abram, acknowledging his victory as a testament to divine sovereignty. In reverence, Abram offers a tithe, establishing an everlasting tradition of devotion. As the humbled kings of Sodom and Gomorrah plead for their possessions, Abram, embodying integrity, declines their spoils, trusting solely in the Lord’s promise. With peace restored, Lot returns to Sodom, blessed by the birth of his daughter Paltith, as Abram and his people journey back to Mamre, their faith and honor unblemished.
Major Characters
Minor Characters
Insignificant Characters
GENESIS
46%
JASHER
39%
JUBILEES
15%
Exposition
J: 42 | Y: 2032 | Abram leaves from Egypt to Canaan
Genesis 13:1-2, Jasher 15:33
Abram offers a burnt sacrifice on the altar
Genesis 13:3-4, Jasher 15:34, Jubilees 13:16
Rising Action
The herdsman of Lot quarrel with the herdsman of Abram
Genesis 13:5-7, Jasher 15:35-38
Abram and Lot discuss what to do
Genesis 13:8-9, Jasher 15:39-43
Lot dwells in the land of Jordan in Sodom
Genesis 13:10-11, Jasher 15:44-46, Jubilees 13:17a, 18
Abram dwells in Canaan
Genesis 13:12
The men of Sodom have a wicked reputation
Genesis 13:13, Jubilees 13:17b
YHWH promises Abram land and Abram builds an altar
Genesis 13:14-17, Jubilees 13:19-21a
Abram dwells in Hebron
Genesis 13:18, Jasher 15:47, Jubilees 13:21b
Climax
Y: 2032 | The great war
Genesis 14:1-4, Jasher 16:1-2
Y: 2033 | The war continues
Genesis 14:5-10, Jasher 16:3-5, Jubilees 13:22
The victors plunder Sodom and Gomorrah and capture Lot
Genesis 14:11-13, Jasher 16:6, Jubilees 13:23-24
Abram retrieves Lot
Genesis 14:14-16, Jasher 16:7-8, 19:23
Falling Action
Melchizedek blesses Abram
Genesis 14:18-20, Jasher 16:11-12, Jubilees 13:25-27
Resolution
Abram meets with the king of Sodom
Genesis 14:17, 21-24, Jasher 16:9-10, 13-19, Jubilees 13:28-29
Paltith born
Jasher 19:24a
Jubilee: 42
Year: 2032
Abram leaves from Egypt to Canaan
Genesis 13:1-2
1 And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.
2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
Jasher 15:33
33 And Abram arose, and he and all belonging to him went away from Egypt; and Pharaoh ordered some of his men to accompany him and all that went with him.
Abram offers a burnt sacrifice on the altar
Genesis 13:3-4
3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;
4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had make there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
Jasher 15:34
34 And Abram returned to the land of Canaan, to the place where he had made the altar, where he at first had pitched his tent.
Jubilees 13:16
16 And it came to pass in the forty-first jubilee in the third year of the first week, [1963 A.M.] that he returned to this place and offered thereon a burnt sacrifice, and called on the name of the Lord, and said: ‘Thou, the most high God, art my God for ever and ever.’
The herdsman of Lot quarrel with the herdsman of Abram
Genesis 13:5-7
5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.
6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
Jasher 15:35-38
35 And Lot the son of Haran, Abram’s brother, had a heavy stock of cattle, flocks and herds and tents, for the Lord was bountiful to them on account of Abram.
36 And when Abram was dwelling in the land the herdsmen of Lot quarrelled with the herdsmen of Abram, for their property was too great for them to remain together in the land, and the land could not bear them on account of their cattle.
37 And when Abram’s herdsmen went to feed their flock they would not go into the fields of the people of the land, but the cattle of Lot’s herdsmen did otherwise, for they were suffered to feed in the fields of the people of the land.
38 And the people of the land saw this occurrence daily, and they came to Abram and quarrelled with him on account of Lot’s herdsmen.
Abram and Lot discuss what to do
Jasher 15:39-40
39 And Abram said to Lot, What is this thou art doing to me, to make me despicable to the inhabitants of the land, that thou orderest thy herdsman to feed thy cattle in the fields of other people? Dost thou not know that I am a stranger in this land amongst the children of Canaan, and why wilt thou do this unto me?
40 And Abram quarrelled daily with Lot on account of this, but Lot would not listen to Abram, and he continued to do the same and the inhabitants of the land came and told Abram.
Genesis 13:8-9
8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
9 Is not the whole land before thee? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
Jasher 15:41-43
41 And Abram said unto Lot, How long wilt thou be to me for a stumbling block with the inhabitants of the land? Now I beseech thee let there be no more quarrelling between us, for we are kinsmen.
42 But I pray thee separate from me, go and choose a place where thou mayest dwell with thy cattle and all belonging to thee, but Keep thyself at a distance from me, thou and thy household.
43 And be not afraid in going from me, for if any one do an injury to thee, let me know and I will avenge thy cause from him, only remove from me.
Lot dwells in the land of Jordan in Sodom
Genesis 13:10-11
10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
Jasher 15:44-46
44 And when Abram had spoken all these words to Lot, then Lot arose and lifted up his eyes toward the plain of Jordan.
45 And he saw that the whole of this place was well watered, and good for man as well as affording pasture for the cattle.
46 And Lot went from Abram to that place, and he there pitched his tent and he dwelt in Sodom, and they were separated from each other.
Jubilees 13:17a
17a And in the fourth year of this week [1964 A.M.] Lot parted from him, and Lot dwelt in Sodom,
Jubilees 13:18
18 And it grieved him in his heart that his brother’s son had parted from him; for he had no children.
Abram dwells in Canaan
Genesis 13:12
12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
The men of Sodom have a wicked reputation
Genesis 13:13
13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
Jubilees 13:17b
17b and the men of Sodom were sinners exceedingly.
YHWH promises Abram land and Abram builds an altar
Genesis 13:14-17
14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
Jubilees 13:19-21a
19 In that year when Lot was taken captive, the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot had parted from him, in the fourth year of this week: ‘Lift up thine eyes from the place where thou art dwelling, northward and southward, and westward and eastward.
20 For all the land which thou seest I will give to thee and to thy seed for ever, and I will make thy seed as the sand of the sea: though a man may number the dust of the earth, yet thy seed shall not be numbered.
21 Arise, walk (through the land) in the length of it and the breadth of it, and see it all; for to thy seed will I give it.’
Abram dwells in Hebron
Genesis 13:18
18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.
Jasher 15:47
47 And Abram dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and he pitched his tent there, and Abram remained in that place many years.
Jubilees 13:21b
21b And Abram went to Hebron, and dwelt there.
The great war
Genesis 14:1
1 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;
Jasher 16:1
1 At that time Chedorlaomer king of Elam sent to all the neighboring kings, to Nimrod, king of Shinar who was then under his power, and to Tidal, king of Goyim, and to Arioch, king of Elasar, with whom he made a covenant, saying, Come up to me and assist me, that we may smite all the towns of Sodom and its inhabitants, for they have rebelled against me these thirteen years.
Jasher 16:2
2 And these four kings went up with all their camps, about eight hundred thousand men, and they went as they were, and smote every man they found in their road.
Genesis 14:2-4
2 That these 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, which is Zoar.
3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
Year: 2033
The war continues
Genesis 14:5-7
5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emins in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
6 And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness.
7 And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar.
Genesis 14:8
8 And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;
Jasher 16:3-4
3 And the five kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, Bera king of Sodom, Bersha king of Gomorrah, and Bela king of Zoar, went out to meet them, and they all joined together in the valley of Siddim.
4 And these nine kings made war in the valley of Siddim; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah were smitten before the kings of Elam.
Genesis 14:9-10
9 With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.
10 And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.
Jasher 16:5
5 And the valley of Siddim was full of lime pits and the kings of Elam pursued the kings of Sodom, and the kings of Sodom with their camps fled and fell into the lime pits, and all that remained went to the mountain for safety, and the five kings of Elam came after them and pursued them to the gates of Sodom, and they took all that there was in Sodom.
Jubilees 13:22
22 And in this year came Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Amraphel, king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Sellasar, and Tergal, king of nations, and slew the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Sodom fled, and many fell through wounds in the vale of Siddim, by the Salt Sea.
The victors plunder Sodom and Gomorrah and capture Lot
Genesis 14:11-13
11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.
12 And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.
Jasher 16:6
6 And they plundered all the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and they also took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, and his property, and they seized all the goods of the cities of Sodom, and they went away; and Unic, Abram’s servant, who was in the battle, saw this, and told Abram all that the kings had done to the cities of Sodom, and that Lot was taken captive by them.
Jubilees 13:23-24
23 And they took captive Sodom and Adam and Zeboim, and they took captive Lot also, the son of Abram’s brother, and all his possessions, and they went to Dan.
24 And one who had escaped came and told Abram that his brother’s son had been taken captive and (Abram) armed his household servants . . .
Abram rescues Lot
Jasher 19:23a
23a And when the kings of Elam had made war with the kings of Sodom, the kings of Elam captured all the property of Sodom, and they took Lot captive, with his property, and when it was told to Abraham he went and made war with the kings of Elam,
Genesis 14:14:16
14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
Jasher 16:7-8
7 And Abram heard this, and he rose up with about three hundred and eighteen men that were with him, and he that night pursued these kings and smote them, and they all fell before Abram and his men, and there was none remaining but the four kings who fled, and they went each his own road.
8 And Abram recovered all the property of Sodom, and he also recovered Lot and his property, his wives and little ones and all belonging to him, so that Lot lacked nothing.
Jasher 19:23b
23b and he recovered from their hands all the property of Lot as well as the property of Sodom.
Melchizedek blesses Abram
Genesis 14:18-20
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Jasher 16:11-12
11 And Adonizedek king of Jerusalem, the same was Shem, went out with his men to meet Abram and his people, with bread and wine, and they remained together in the valley of Melech.
12 And Adonizedek blessed Abram, and Abram gave him a tenth from all that he had brought from the spoil of his enemies, for Adonizedek was a priest before God.
Jubilees 13:25
25 . . . . for Abram, and for his seed, a tenth of the first fruits to the Lord, and the Lord ordained it as an ordinance for ever that they should give it to the priests who served before Him, that they should possess it for ever.
Jubilees 13:26-27
26 And to this law there is no limit of days; for He hath ordained it for the generations for ever that they should give to the Lord the tenth of everything, of the seed and of the wine and of the oil and of the cattle and of the sheep.
27 And He gave (it) unto His priests to eat and to drink with joy before Him.
Abram meets with the king of Sodom
Jasher 16:9
9 And when he returned from smiting these kings, he and his men passed the valley of Siddim where the kings had made war together.
Genesis 14:17
17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale.
Jasher 16:10
10 And Bera king of Sodom, and the rest of his men that were with him, went out from the lime pits into which they had fallen, to meet Abram and his men.
Genesis 14:21-24
21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.
22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,
23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:
24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
Jasher 16:13-16
13 And all the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah who were there, with their servants, approached Abram and begged of him to return them their servants whom he had made captive, and to take unto himself all the property.
14 And Abram answered the kings of Sodom, saying, As the Lord liveth who created heaven and earth, and who redeemed my soul from all affliction, and who delivered me this day from my enemies, and gave them into my hand, I will not take anything belonging to you, that you may not boast tomorrow, saying, Abram became rich from our property that he saved.
15 For the Lord my God in whom I trust said unto me, Thou shalt lack nothing, for I will bless thee in all the works of thy hands.
16 And now therefore behold, here is all belonging to you, take it and go; as the Lord liveth I will not take from you from a living soul down to a shoetie or thread, excepting the expense of the food of those who went out with me to battle, as also the portions of the men who went with me, Anar, Ashcol, and Mamre, they and their men, as well as those also who had remained to watch the baggage, they shall take their portion of the spoil.
Jubilees 13:28-29
28 And the king of Sodom came to him and bowed himself before him, and said: ‘Our Lord Abram, give unto us the souls which thou hast rescued, but let the booty be thine.’
29 And Abram said unto him: ‘I lift up my hands to the Most High God, that from a thread to a shoe-latchet I shall not take aught that is thine lest thou shouldst say, I have made Abram rich; save only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me -Aner, Eschol, and Mamre. These shall take their portion.’
Jasher 16:17-19
17 And the kings of Sodom gave Abram according to all that he had said, and they pressed him to take of whatever he chose, but he would not.
18 And he sent away the kings of Sodom and the remainder of their men, and he gave them orders about Lot, and they went to their respective places.
19 And Lot, his brother’s son, he also sent away with his property, and he went with them, and Lot returned to his home, to Sodom, and Abram and his people returned to their home to the plains of Mamre, which is in Hebron.
Paltith born
Jasher 19:24a
24a At that time the wife of Lot bare him a daughter, and he called her name Paltith, saying, Because God had delivered him and his whole household from the kings of Elam;
No notes.
(16-minute read)
Exposition
J: 42 | Y: 2032 | Abram leaves from Egypt to Canaan
Genesis 13:1-2, Jasher 15:33
Abram left Egypt with his wife, all his belongings, and Lot, heading into the south. Pharaoh assigned some of his men to accompany him. Abram was extremely wealthy, owning many cattle, as well as large amounts of silver and gold.
Abram offers a burnt sacrifice on the altar
Genesis 13:3-4, Jasher 15:34, Jubilees 13:16
During the 41st jubilee, in the 3rd year of the 1st week, Abram traveled from the south back to the land of Canaan. He returned to the place where his tent had originally stood, between Bethel and Hai, to the location of the altar he had built at the beginning. There, Abram offered a burnt sacrifice and called on the name of the Lord, saying, “You, the Most High God, are my God forever and ever.”
Rising Action
The herdsman of Lot quarrel with the herdsman of Abram
Genesis 13:5-7, Jasher 15:35-38
Lot, the son of Haran and Abram’s nephew, had a large amount of livestock, flocks, herds, and tents. The Lord had blessed them because of Abram. But while Abram was living in the land, Lot’s herdsmen got into conflicts with Abram’s herdsmen because their possessions were too great to share the same land—it couldn’t support both of their herds. Abram’s herdsmen avoided grazing in the fields belonging to the people of the land, but Lot’s herdsmen didn’t do the same and allowed their cattle to graze there freely. The Canaanites and Perizzites, who lived in the area, noticed this happening every day and came to Abram to complain about the actions of Lot’s herdsmen.
Abram and Lot discuss what to do
Genesis 13:8-9, Jasher 15:39-43
Abram said to Lot, “Why are you doing this to me—making me look bad in the eyes of the people of this land by allowing your herdsmen to graze on fields that aren’t ours? Don’t you know I’m a foreigner here among the Canaanites? Why would you bring this on me?”
Abram confronted Lot about this issue every day, but Lot refused to listen and continued doing the same thing. Eventually, the people of the land reported the matter to Abram.
Abram said to Lot, “How long are you going to be a problem for me among the people of this land? I’m asking you—let’s stop this fighting between us. We’re family. Please separate from me. Choose a place to live with your herds and belongings, but keep your distance from me and my household. Don’t be afraid to leave, because if anyone harms you, let me know and I’ll defend you—but please, just go. If you take the left side, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”
Lot dwells in the land of Jordan in Sodom
Genesis 13:10-11, Jasher 15:44-46, Jubilees 13:17a, 18
After Abram had finished speaking, Lot looked out and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered—this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. The land was like the garden of the Lord, similar to Egypt as you approach Zoar.
So Lot chose the entire plain of the Jordan for himself and traveled east, settling in Sodom. The two of them separated. This happened in the 4th year of that week. Abram was deeply saddened that his nephew had left him, especially because he had no children of his own.
Abram dwells in Canaan
Genesis 13:12
Abram stayed in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived in the cities of the plain and set up his tent near Sodom.
The men of Sodom have a wicked reputation
Genesis 13:13, Jubilees 13:17b
But the men of Sodom were extremely wicked and great sinners against the Lord.
YHWH promises Abram land and Abram builds an altar
Genesis 13:14-17, Jubilees 13:19-21a
After Lot had parted from him, the Lord said to Abram, “Lift up your eyes and look around you—north, south, east, and west. I’m giving all the land you see to you and your descendants forever. I will make your descendants as countless as the dust of the earth—if anyone could count the dust, they could count your offspring. Get up and walk through the land, its length and its width, because I am giving it to you.”
Abram dwells in Hebron
Genesis 13:18, Jasher 15:47, Jubilees 13:21b
Abram packed up his tent and moved to the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and lived there for many years. He also built an altar to the Lord in that place.
Climax
Y: 2032 | The great war
Genesis 14:1-4, Jasher 16:1-2
Around that time, Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, sent messages to the surrounding kings, including Nimrod (Amraphel), king of Shinar, who was under his authority, and to Tidal, king of Goyim (nations), and Arioch, king of Elasar. He made an alliance with them, saying, “Come and help me defeat all the towns of Sodom and their people, because they’ve rebelled against me for 13 years.”
These 4 kings went out with their armies—about 800,000 men—and attacked everyone they encountered along the way.
They made war against Bera, king of Sodom; Birsha, king of Gomorrah; Shinab, king of Admah; Shemeber, king of Zeboiim; and the king of Bela (which is Zoar). These five kings had joined forces in the valley of Siddim, near the Salt Sea. They had served Chedorlaomer for 12 years, but in the 13th year, they rebelled.
Y: 2033 | The war continues
Genesis 14:5-10, Jasher 16:3-5, Jubilees 13:22
In the 14th year, Chedorlaomer and the allied kings attacked again. They defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim, and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, all the way to Elparan near the wilderness. Then they turned back and went to Enmishpat (Kadesh), striking the entire region of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazezontamar.
The 5 kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboyim, and Zoar came out to confront them, and the 9 kings clashed in battle in the valley of Siddim. But the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah were defeated by the kings of Elam.
The valley of Siddim, near the Salt Sea, was filled with tar pits. As the battle raged, the kings of Sodom and their troops fled and fell into the pits, while the rest escaped to the mountains. The 5 Elamite kings chased them all the way to the gates of Sodom and took everything that was in the city.
The victors plunder Sodom and Gomorrah and capture Lot
Genesis 14:11-13, Jasher 16:6, Jubilees 13:23-24
They looted all the cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim. They also captured Lot, Abram’s nephew, along with all his belongings. They took everything from Sodom and headed toward Dan.
Unic, Abram’s servant, who lived in the plain of Mamre the Amorite (brother of Eshcol and Aner), had been in the battle and saw everything. He went and reported to Abram the Hebrew what the kings had done to Sodom and that Lot had been taken captive.
Abram retrieves Lot
Genesis 14:14-16, Jasher 16:7-8, 19:23
When Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he gathered 318 trained men born in his household and pursued the invaders to Dan. At night, he divided his men into groups and attacked them. He pursued them all the way to Hobah, north of Damascus. None of the enemy survived except the 4 kings, who fled each in his own direction. Abram recovered all the stolen goods, his nephew Lot and all his possessions, the women, and the rest of the people.
Falling Action
Melchizedek blesses Abram
Genesis 14:18-20, Jasher 16:11-12, Jubilees 13:25-27
Melchizedek (Adonizedek), king of Salem (Jerusalem), who was also Shem, came out with his men to meet Abram and his people. He brought bread and wine, for he was a priest of the Most High God. They stayed in the Valley of Melech.
Melchizedek blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram of the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth. And blessed be the Most High God, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Abram gave him a tithe of all the spoils from his enemies. The Lord established this as an everlasting ordinance: that tithes would be given to the priests who serve before Him. This law is eternal—it has no end—declaring that a tenth of everything, including grain, wine, oil, cattle, and sheep, should be given to the Lord.
Resolution
Abram meets with the king of Sodom
Genesis 14:17, 21-24, Jasher 16:9-10, 13-19, Jubilees 13:28-29
After Abram returned from defeating the kings, he and his men passed through the valley of Siddim (Sheaveh), also known as the King’s Valley, where the battle had taken place. Bera, king of Sodom, and his remaining men climbed out of the tar pits to meet Abram and his group.
The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, along with their servants, came to Abram and begged him to return their people who had been taken captive. They told him to keep all the goods for himself. But Abram replied, “As surely as the Lord lives—He who created heaven and earth, who rescued me from every trouble, and who delivered my enemies into my hand today—I will not take anything that belongs to you. I don’t want you to say tomorrow, ‘Abram got rich from the goods he saved for us.’ My God, in whom I trust, promised me, ‘You will lack nothing, for I will bless all the work of your hands.’ So here, take everything that is yours and go. I won’t even take a thread or a sandal strap, except for the food that my men used and the fair share for the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre—and those who stayed with the supplies. They’ll take their portion.”
The kings of Sodom agreed and offered Abram anything he wanted, but he refused. He dismissed the kings and their people, gave instructions concerning Lot, and sent them all back to their homes. Lot also returned to Sodom with his possessions. Abram and his people went back to their home in the plains of Mamre, in Hebron.
Paltith born
Jasher 19:24a
Around that time, Lot’s wife gave birth to a daughter. He named her Paltith, saying, “Because God delivered him and his whole household from the kings of Elam.”
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