Genesis 14:13
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. 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.
At the time the fugitive reached him, Abraham was dwelling in peace among the oak groves at Mamre. For greater security in a country filled with violence and oppression, he had entered into alliance with the three Amorite brothers Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner, rulers of the plains where he lived.
A man who had escaped from the battle in the vale of Siddim told him of the defeat, the plundering of the cities of the plain, and the capture and calamity that had fallen on Lot and his family. Abraham cherished no unkind memory of Lot's ingratitude, his affection for his nephew was awakened, and he determined that Lot should be rescued. Seeking first of all divine counsel, he prepared for war from his own encampment with three hundred and eighteen trained servants, men trained in the fear of God as well as in service and in arms. His confederates Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner joined him with their bands to pursue the invaders.
The verse belongs to the account of the rescue of the captives taken by the Elamites, and Abraham's conduct after the victory was an example of justice and unselfishness, in that he refused to take any of the king of Sodom's goods for himself. His courage, fidelity, victory, and unselfish treatment of the prisoners and spoil drew the attention of Sodom's people to the true faith. They were shown a religion superior to their self-seeking ways, and were convinced that divine power had made him conqueror.