1 In the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar ; Arioch, king of Ellasar ; Chedorlaomer, king of Elam ; and Tidal, king of Goiim,
2 they 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).
3 All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (also called the Salt Sea).
4 They served Chedorlaomer for twelve years, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 In 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,
6 and the Horites in their Mount Seir, to El Paran, which is by the wilderness.
7 They 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.
8 The 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
9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar ; four kings against the five.
10 Now 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.
11 They took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their food, and went their way.
12 They took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
Note · Genèse 14.1–12
La guerre atteint ceux qui ne la dirigent pas
La succession des noms et des campagnes peut être difficile à suivre. Son enjeu narratif devient clair avec la capture de Lot et de ses biens. Le conflit des puissants a des conséquences sur des maisons particulières. Lot est concerné parce qu’il demeure dans la zone touchée, non parce que le texte le déclare responsable de la guerre.
13 One 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.
14 When 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.
15 He 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.
16 He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot and his goods, and the women also, and the other people.
Note · Genèse 14.13–16
Une intervention pour libérer
Abram agit après avoir appris la capture de son proche. Ses serviteurs et ses alliés participent à la délivrance. Le passage raconte une intervention située ; il ne suffit pas à établir une autorisation générale de guerre au nom de la foi ou de la parenté.
17 The 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).
18 Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High.
19 He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth.
20 Blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram gave him a tenth of all.
Note · Genèse 14.17–20
Une bénédiction reçue d’un autre
Melchisédek est présenté comme roi et prêtre. Le récit ne donne ni son origine familiale ni une identité secrète. La lecture chrétienne d’Hébreux 7 utilise précisément certains silences du récit pour éclairer le sacerdoce du Christ ; elle ne doit pas être confondue avec des précisions biographiques présentes dans la Genèse.
21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, and take the goods for yourself.”
22 Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth,
23 that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’
24 I 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.”
Note · Genèse 14.21–24
Refuser pour soi sans disposer de la part d’autrui
Abram refuse que le roi de Sodome puisse s’attribuer l’origine de sa richesse. Il distingue cependant son choix de la part de ses alliés et des besoins déjà engagés. Une conviction personnelle ne lui donne pas le droit d’effacer les intérêts de ceux qui ont participé à l’action.
