Genesis 14 · Verse 15

Genesis 14:15

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.
Genesis 14:15, King James Version

Genesis 14:15 in other translations

BSBDuring the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer’s army, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.
WEBHe 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.
ASVAnd he divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
YLTAnd he divideth himself against them by night, he and his servants, and smiteth them, and pursueth them unto Hobah, which is at the left of Damascus;
DARBYAnd he divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and smote them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is to the left of Damascus.
BBEAnd separating his forces by night, he overcame them, putting them to flight and going after them as far as Hobah, which is on the north side of Damascus.
WebsterAnd he divided himself against them, he and his servants by night, and smote them, and pursued them to Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.

What does Genesis 14:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 14:15-16
15-16. he divided himself ... by night--This war between the petty princes of ancient Canaan is exactly the same as the frays and skirmishes between Arab chiefs in the present day. When a defeated party resolves to pursue the enemy, they wait till they are fast asleep; then, as they have no idea of posting sentinels, they rush upon them from different directions, strike down the tent poles--if there is any fight at all, it is the fray of a tumultuous mob--a panic commonly ensues, and the whole contest is ended with little or no loss on either side.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 And he divided himself against them - It required both considerable courage and address in Abram to lead him to attack the victorious armies of these four kings with so small a number of troops, and on this occasion both his skill and his courage are exercised. His affection for Lot appears to have been his chief motive; he cheerfully risks his life for that nephew who had lately chosen the best part of the land, and left his uncle to live as he might, on what he did not think worthy his own acceptance. But it is the property of a great and generous mind, not only to forgive, but to forget offenses; and at all times to repay evil with good.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 14:13-16

Abram takes this opportunity to give a real proof of his being truly friendly to Lot. We ought to be ready to succour those in distress, especially relations and friends. And though others may have been wanting in their duty to us, yet we must not neglect our duty to them. Abram rescued the captives. As we have opportunity, we must do good to all.

Read the full comment on Genesis 14:13-16 →

Genesis 14:15 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֵּחָלֵ֨קvai.ye.cha.Lekand divided himselfH2505
עֲלֵיהֶ֧ם\׀'a.lei.Hemon themH5921
לַ֛יְלָהLay.lahnightH3915
ה֥וּאhu'heH1931
וַעֲבָדָ֖יוva.'a.va.Davand servants hisH5650
וַיַּכֵּ֑םvai.ya.Kemand he attacked themH5221
וַֽיִּרְדְּפֵם֙vai.yir.de.Femand he pursued themH7291
עַד\־'ad-toH5704
חוֹבָ֔הcho.VahHobahH2327
אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherwhichH834
מִשְּׂמֹ֖אלmi.se.Mol[is] from [the] northH8040
לְדַמָּֽשֶׂק\׃le.da.Ma.sekof DamascusH1834

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 14:15

  • Acts 9:2

    And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

  • Deuteronomy 15:2

    And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the Lord’s release.

  • 1 Kings 15:18

    Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Ben–hadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

  • Isaiah 41:2-3

    Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow. He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet.

  • Psalms 112:5

    A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
And he.
Ps 112:5
smote.
Isa 41:2,3
Damascus.
De 15:2; 1Ki 15:18; Ac 9:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 14:14

    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.

  • Genesis 14:15

    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.

  • Genesis 14:16

    And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

Read all of Genesis 14

Genesis 14:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y derramóse sobre ellos de noche él y sus siervos, é hiriólos, y fuélos siguiendo hasta Hobah, que está á la izquierda de Damasco.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et il divisa sa troupe, et se jeta sur eux de nuit, lui et ses serviteurs, et il les frappa, et les poursuivit jusqu’à Hoba, qui est à la gauche de Damas.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und er teilte sich wider sie des Nachts, er und seine Knechte, und schlug sie und jagte ihnen nach bis Hoba, das zur Linken von Damaskus liegt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et divisis sociis, irruit super eos nocte: percussitque eos, et persecutus est eos usque Hoba, quæ est ad lævam Damasci.