And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
The verse stands in the aftermath of a great eastern invasion, in which the king of Elam with four allies defeated five Canaanite kings in the vale of Siddim, after which the victors plundered the cities of the plain and departed with rich spoil and many captives. Lot was at that time dwelling in Sodom, and he was seized with his goods and his family by those invading victors, who then departed with them.
A fugitive carried the news of the disaster to Abraham, who was dwelling in peace in the oak groves at Mamre. Despite Lot's ingratitude, the tidings of his and his family's capture awakened Abraham's affection and moved him to seek divine counsel and attempt a rescue. He gathered and pursued with 318 servants trained in the fear of God and in arms, together with his Amorite confederates Mamre, Eshcol and Aner, surprised the reveling invaders by night at Dan, slew the king of Elam, routed his forces, and recovered Lot and his family with all the prisoners, their goods and rich booty.
That rescue showed the people of Sodom that divine power had given Abraham victory, and his generous treatment of the prisoners and spoil displayed the unselfish character of the faith he honored. The episode proves that righteousness is not cowardice but is courageous in maintaining the right and defending the oppressed.
The verse stands in the aftermath of a great eastern invasion, in which the king of Elam with four allies defeated five Canaanite kings in the vale of Siddim, after which the victors plundered the cities of the plain and departed with rich spoil and many captives. Lot was at that time dwelling in Sodom, and he was seized with his goods and his family by those invading victors, who then departed with them.
A fugitive carried the news of the disaster to Abraham, who was dwelling in peace in the oak groves at Mamre. Despite Lot's ingratitude, the tidings of his and his family's capture awakened Abraham's affection and moved him to seek divine counsel and attempt a rescue. He gathered and pursued with 318 servants trained in the fear of God and in arms, together with his Amorite confederates Mamre, Eshcol and Aner, surprised the reveling invaders by night at Dan, slew the king of Elam, routed his forces, and recovered Lot and his family with all the prisoners, their goods and rich booty.
That rescue showed the people of Sodom that divine power had given Abraham victory, and his generous treatment of the prisoners and spoil displayed the unselfish character of the faith he honored. The episode proves that righteousness is not cowardice but is courageous in maintaining the right and defending the oppressed.