## Sforno on Genesis Chapter 14

###### Sforno on Genesis 14:1:1
[Sforno on Genesis 14:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:1:1)

**וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אַמְרָפֶל מֶלֶךְ שִׁנְעָר.** שֶׁהָיָה מְפֻרְסָם לְמֶלֶךְ גָּדוֹל בְּדוֹרוֹ וְגַם אַחֲרֵי כֵן, הִנֵּה בְּיָמָיו קָמוּ **אַרְיוֹךְ, כְּדָרְלָעֹמֶר וְתִדְעָל,** וְנִלְחֲמוּ עִם **בֶּרַע** וַחֲבֵרָיו. וְאַחַר כָּךְ:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויהי בימי אמרפל מלך שנער, who was widely known as a powerful king in his generation and also later. During his lifetime the kings listed forthwith, i.e. Aryoch, king of Elassar, Kedorlaomer, king of Eylam, and Tidal, king of Goyim, jointly made war against Bera, etc.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:3:1
[Sforno on Genesis 14:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:3:1)

**כָּל אֵלֶּה.** אַמְרָפֶל וּשְׁתֵּי הַכִּתּוֹת שֶׁנִּלְחֲמוּ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
כל אלה, all the ones just named, Amrafel and the two groups that conducted the war.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:3:2
[Sforno on Genesis 14:3:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:3:2)

**חָבְרוּ אֶל עֵמֶק הַשִּׂדִּים.** וְעָשׂוּ פְּשָׁרָה, וּמֵאָז **הַחֲמִשָּׁה מְלָכִים** הַנִּלְחָצִים בַּמִּלְחָמָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
חברו אל עמק השדים, gathered in that valley and arrived at a compromise concerning the dispute between them. From that time on, the five kings and their subjects served Kedorlaomer, paying him taxes for 12 years, after which they rebelled.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:4:1
[Sforno on Genesis 14:4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:4:1)

**עָבְדוּ אֶת כְּדָרְלָעֹמֶר.** מִפְּשָׁרָה שֶׁעָשׂוּ שָׁם **שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה**, וְאַחַר כָּךְ **מָרָדוּ**:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
עבדו את כדרלעמר, after the compromise they had reached 12 years ago. Afterwards, they rebelled.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:5:1
[Sforno on Genesis 14:5:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:5:1)

**וְהַמְּלָכִים אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ.** אֲשֶׁר הָיוּ אִתּוֹ בִּפְשָׁרַת **עֵמֶק הַשִּׁדִים**, וּבְתוֹכָם **אַמְרָפֶל**:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
והמלכים אשר אתו, the ones who had been signatories to the compromise deal 12 years previously, amongst whom had also been Amrafel.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:5:2
[Sforno on Genesis 14:5:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:5:2)

**וַיַּכּוּ אֶת רְפָאִים וְאֶת הַזּוּזִים וְאֵת הָאֵימִים.** שֶׁהָיוּ כֻּלָּם עֲבָדִים לַחֲמִשָּׁה מְלָכִים וְנִלְחֲמוּ בַּעֲדָם, וּבָזֶה הוֹדִיעַ שֶׁהָיוּ הַחֲמִשָּׁה מְלָכִים גְּדוֹלִים, וְהוֹדִיעַ גְּבוּרַת הָאַרְבָּעָה מְלָכִים שֶׁנִּצְּחוּם. וּמִזֶּה נוֹדַע גֹּדֶל גְּבוּרַת אַבְרָהָם וְתַחְבּוּלוֹת מִלְחַמְתּוֹ וַחֲסָדָיו עִם אָחִיו, שֶׁמָּסַר עַצְמוֹ לְהִתְגַּבֵּר עֲלֵיהֶם וּלְהוֹשִׁיעַ מֵחֶרֶב מִפִּיהֶם אֶת בֶּן אָחִיו וְאֶת רְכוּשׁוֹ, וּמִשִּׁנֵּיהֶם הִשְׁלִיךְ טֶרֶף יוֹתֵר מִמַּה שֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ בְּחֶמְלַת ה׳ עָלָיו:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויכו את הרפאים...ואת הזוזים...ואת האימים, all of these people had been subservient to the group of 5 kings headed by the king of Sodom, and had even fought wars on behalf of their masters. By telling us all this, the Torah wanted us to know that the five kings were not just paper tigers, pushovers. By inference, it enables us to imagine the military power of the four kings who defeated the five kings afterwards. Having once appreciated all this, we can image what a tremendous feat Avram accomplished when he defeated the four kings under the leadership of Kedorleomer. He must have possessed outstanding military skills in order to have accomplished this. It also testifies to the act of selfless love he displayed for his nephew, when he endangered himself and his men to such a degree in order to free him from captivity. Most of all, it gives us a chance to marvel at the mercy G’d showed both to Lot and to Avram in this sequence of events.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:10:1
[Sforno on Genesis 14:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:10:1)

**וַיָּנֻסוּ מֶלֶךְ סְדוֹם.** וּבְכֵן הִתְבָּאֵר שֶׁלֹּא בָּטַח אַבְרָהָם לְהֵעָזֵר בָּם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וינוסו מלך סדום, this made it plain that Avram could not rely on them that they would help him.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:10:2
[Sforno on Genesis 14:10:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:10:2)

**וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִים הֶרָה נָּסוּ.** שְׁלֹשֶׁת הַמְּלָכִים הַנִּשְׁאָרִים:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
והנשארים הרה נסו, the remaining three kings.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:12:1
[Sforno on Genesis 14:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:12:1)

**וַיִּקְחוּ אֶת לוֹט בֶּן אֲחִי אַבְרָם.** הִתְאַמְּצוּ לִשְׁבּוֹת אֶת לוֹט מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָיָה בֶּן אֲחִי אַבְרָם, שֶׁיָּדְעוּ עָשְׁרוֹ וְהָיוּ מְצַפִּים שֶׁיִּפְדֵּהוּ אַבְרָם בְּהוֹן רַב:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויקחו את לוט בן אחי אברם, they made a special effort to capture Lot because he was Avram’s nephew. They were aware of his wealth. They were expecting that Avram would pay a heavy ransom for the release of his nephew.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:13:1
[Sforno on Genesis 14:13:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:13:1)

**וַיַּגֵּד לְאַבְרָם הָעִבְרִי.** לֹא שֶׁיָּדַע **הַפָּלִיט** שֶׁהָיָה אַבְרָהָם קָרוֹב לְלוֹט, רַק יָדַע שֶׁהָיָה מַחֲזִיק בְּדֵעוֹת עֵבֶר כָּמוֹהוּ:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויגד לאברם העברי, this refugee had no idea that Lot was related to Avram. He only knew that Lot’s religious beliefs were similar to those of Avram.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:13:2
[Sforno on Genesis 14:13:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:13:2)

**וְהוּא שׁוֹכֵן בְּאֵלוֹנֵי מַמְרֵא.** לְפִיכָךְ עָלוּ עִמּוֹ לַמִּלְחָמָה עָנֵר אֶשְׁכּוֹל וּמַמְרֵא, כְּאָמְרוֹ **עָנֵר אֶשְׁכּוֹל וּמַמְרֵא הֵם יִקְחוּ חֶלְקָם**.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
והוא שוכן באלוני ממרא, this is why Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre participated in the war with Avram, and why he insisted in verse 24 that they receive their share of the loot.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:14:1
[Sforno on Genesis 14:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:14:1)

**וַיִּרְדֹּף עַד דָּן.** בִּמְרוּצָה לָבֹא עֲלֵיהֶם פִּתְאוֹם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וירדוף עד דן, in his pursuit to attack them suddenly.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:15:1
[Sforno on Genesis 14:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:15:1)

**וַיֵּחָלֵק עֲלֵיהֶם.** לְתַחְבּוּלָה כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּחְשְׁבוּ שֶׁקָּמוּ כָּל הַסְּבִיבוֹת עֲלֵיהֶם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁחָשְׁבוּ אֲרָם בְּאָמְרָם "הִנֵּה שָׂכַר עָלֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל" (מלכים ב ז:ו).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויחלק עליהם לילה, he divided his forces all around them to make them believe that they were being attacked by large forces from several fronts. We have been told about a similar situation in Kings II 7,6 when the Aramites fled headlong after hearing noises that convinced them that they were being attacked by large forces.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:15:2
[Sforno on Genesis 14:15:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:15:2)

**לַיְלָה.** גַּם זֶה מִתַּחְבּוּלָתוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יִרְאוּ הֱיוֹתָם מְעַטִּים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁיָּעַץ אֲחִיתֹפֶל בְּאָמְרוֹ "וְאֶרְדְּפָה אַחֲרֵי דָוִד הַלַּיְלָה" (שמואל ב יז:א).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
לילה, this was also part of the subterfuge, preventing the kings from realising that they were facing insignificant numbers of opponents. In Samuel II 17,1 this was the advice to Avshalom by Achitofel when he advised to pursue David at night.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:15:3
[Sforno on Genesis 14:15:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:15:3)

**וַיַּכֵּם.** מַכָּה מַשִּׂיאָה אוֹתָם לָנוּס.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויכם, the defeat caused them to flee.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:15:4
[Sforno on Genesis 14:15:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:15:4)

**וַיִּרְדְּפֵם.** שֶׁתְּחִלַּת נְפִילָה נִיסָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וירדפם, the beginning of all pursuits is putting people to flight.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:16:1
[Sforno on Genesis 14:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:16:1)

**וְגַם אֶת הַנָּשִׁים.** שֶׁל לוֹט שֶׁהָיָה צָרִיךְ לִפְדּוֹתָן:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וגם את הנשים, he liberated Lot’s wives, as well as


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:16:2
[Sforno on Genesis 14:16:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:16:2)

**וְאֶת הָעָם.** הַשְּׁבוּיִם מִבְּנֵי סְדוֹם, וְאֶת אֵלֶּה בִּקֵּשׁ מֶלֶךְ סְדוֹם מֵאַבְרָהָם בְּאָמְרוֹ **תֶּן לִי הַנֶּפֶשׁ**.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
העם, all the ordinary people of Sodom who had been taken captive. It was these whom the King of Sodom asked to be restored to him, when he “graciously” (verse 21) offered that Avram could keep the chattels.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:18:1
[Sforno on Genesis 14:18:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:18:1)

**הוֹצִיא לֶחֶם וָיָיִן.** לְשָׁבֵי הַמִּלְחָמָה הָעֲיֵפִים.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
הוציא לחם ויין, to all those returning from battle who were tired.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:18:2
[Sforno on Genesis 14:18:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:18:2)

**וְהוּא כֹהֵן.** וְלוֹ הָיָה נָאֶה לְבָרֵךְ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
והוא כהן, it was appropriate therefore that he should intone blessings.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:19:1
[Sforno on Genesis 14:19:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:19:1)

**וַיְבָרְכֵהוּ וַיֹּאמַר בָּרוּךְ אַבְרָם לְאֵל עֶלְיוֹן.** רִאשׁוֹנָה בֵּרְכוֹ, וְאַחַר כָּךְ אָמַר: הִנֵּה בִּלְעֲדֵי בִּרְכָּתִי אַבְרָם הוּא בָּרוּךְ לְאֵל עֶלְיוֹן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר (בראשית יב:ב) "וַאֲבָרֶכְךָ".

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויברכהו ויאמר ברוך אברם לאל עליון, first he blessed on his own behalf. Then he added that Avram was also blessed by the Supreme G’d. He said basically the same as G’d Himself had said to Avram in 12,2.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:19:2
[Sforno on Genesis 14:19:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:19:2)

**קוֹנֶה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ.** הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ הֵם קִנְיָן לוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת בָּהֶם כִּרְצוֹנוֹ, כִּי אֵינוֹ לָהֶם סִבָּה טִבְעִית כְּמוֹ שֶׁחָשְׁבוּ קְצָת בַּעֲלֵי הַמֶּחְקָר, אֲבָל הוּא פּוֹעֵל רְצוֹנִי לָהֶם וּפוֹעֵל בָּהֶם כִּרְצוֹנוֹ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
קונה שמים וארץ, heaven and earth are His, to do with as He pleases. They do not have a will of their own as some scientists believe. G’d alone works His will on them, using them according to His will.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:20:1
[Sforno on Genesis 14:20:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:20:1)

**וּבָרוּךְ אֵל עֶלְיוֹן.** פֹּעַל זֶה שֶׁפָּעַל לְהַגְבִּיר אַבְרָהָם עַל אוֹיְבָיו הוּא בְּרָכָה לוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ, כִּי בּוֹ יִשְׂמַח בְּמַעֲשָׂיו בַּאֲבוֹד רְשָׁעִים וּבַעֲלוֹז צַדִּיקִים, כְּעִנְיָן "שַׁבְּחוּהוּ כָּל הָאוּמִּים כִּי גָבַר עָלֵינוּ חַסְדּוֹ" (תהלים קיז:א-ב).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וברוך אל עליון, this power G’d gave to Avram to enable him to overcome his enemies, is a blessing for the Lord. He is able to rejoice in the deeds of His creatures when the wicked perish, and when He makes the righteous rejoice in their success. David expressed it in these words in Psalms 117,1-2 שבחוהו כל האומים גי גבר עלינו חסדו, “Praise the Lord all you nations. Extol Him, all you peoples; for great is His steadfast love toward us;”


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:23:1
[Sforno on Genesis 14:23:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:23:1)

**אִם מִחוּט וְעַד שְׂרוֹךְ נַעַל.** כָּל אִם שֶׁבַּמִּקְרָא כְּשֶׁלֹּא יָבֹא אַחֲרָיו פֹּעַל תְּנַאי יִהְיֶה בִּמְקוֹם מִלַּת שֶׁלֹּא. אָמַר אִם כֵּן **הֲרִימוֹתִי** יָדִי שֶׁלֹּא מִחוּט וְעַד שְׂרוֹךְ נַעַל אוּכַל לִיתֵּן לְךָ שֶׁאֵין בְּיָדִי כְּלוּם וְשֶׁלֹּא **אֶקַּח מִכָּל אֲשֶׁר לָךְ**. וְכֵן "אִם יִרְאוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ" (במדבר יד:כג) – שֶׁלֹּא יִרְאוּ. "אִם אַתֶּם תָּבֹאוּ" (במדבר יד:ל) – שֶׁלֹּא תָּבֹאוּ. "חַי ה' אִם יוּמַת" (שמואל א טו:ו) – שֶׁלֹּא יוּמַת. "חַי ה' אֲשֶׁר עָמַדְתִּי לְפָנָיו אִם אֶקַּח" (מלכים ב ה:טז) – שֶׁלֹּא אֶקַּח, וְזוּלָתָם רַבִּים:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
אם מחוט ועד שרוך נעל, every time the word אם occurs in Scripture and is not followed by a verb making it a conditional statement, it is used instead of the word שלא, “so that not.” Avram’s statement here means: “I have sworn an oath not to give you even a shoelace or a length of thread as I do not own any of these things. Conversely, I will also not take (accept) anything that is (was) yours.” G’d said something similar to the Jewish people after the debacle of the spies in Numbers 14,23) when He said אם יראו את הארץ, which is a way of saying that they will most certainly not get to see the land (of Israel). In verse 30 in the same chapter the words אם אתם תבאו also mean “you will certainly not come.” Similarly, Samuel I 15,6 חי ה' אם יומת, means “an oath to G’d that he will not be executed, etc.” Also, in Kings II 5,16 חי ה' אשר עמדתי לפניו אם אקח וגו', means: “As the Lord lives whom I serve, I will not accept anything.” There are many similar examples.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:24:1
[Sforno on Genesis 14:24:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:24:1)

**בִּלְעָדַי.** אַתָּה אָמַרְתָּ **תֶּן לִי הַנֶּפֶשׁ**, בִּלְעָדַי תוּכַל לְקַחְתּוֹ שֶׁאֵין אֲנִי מַחֲזִיק בּוֹ כְּלָל.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**I am excluding myself.** Literally, “Without me” — i.e. “You can take it without asking me because I claim no part of it.”


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:24:2
[Sforno on Genesis 14:24:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:24:2)

**רַק אֲשֶׁר אָכְלוּ הַנְּעָרִים וְחֵלֶק הָאֲנָשִׁים.** זֶה בִּלְבַד אֶקַּח מִכָּל אֲשֶׁר לְךָ, הַהוֹצָאָה שֶׁנַּעֲשְׂתָה בַּאֲכִילַת הַנְּעָרִים, וְאֶקַּח גַּם כֵּן חֵלֶק הָאֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר הָלְכוּ אִתִּי.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**Only what the lads have eaten.** Avraham claimed only the cost of provisioning his men, but Aneir, Eshkol and Mamrei could take their share for themselves.


###### Sforno on Genesis 14:24:3
[Sforno on Genesis 14:24:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/14:24:3)

אֲבָל **עָנֵר אֶשְׁכֹּל וּמַמְרֵא הֵם יִקְחוּ חֶלְקָם.** וְלֹא אֶתֵּן אֲנִי לָהֶם חֵלֶק וְלֹא אֶקַּח חֵלֶק בַּעֲדָם, אֲבָל מֵעַצְמָם יִקְחוּ כְּמוֹ רָאשִׁים.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
אבל ענר אשכול וממרא הם יקחו חלקם, I will neither give them a share, nor will I accept a share on their behalf, but they will themselves take the share they are entitled to.