~ Abram Defeats Kedorlaomer ~

After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer
and the kings allied with him,
the king of Sodom came out to meet him
in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley).

Then Melchizedek king of Salem
brought out bread and wine.
He was priest of God Most High,
and he blessed Abram, saying,

"Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
And bless be God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand."

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

The king of Sodom said to Abram,
"Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself."

But Abram said to the king of Sodom,
"I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and have taken an oath
that I will accept nothing belonging to you,
not even a thread or the thong of a sandal,
so that you will never be able to say,
'I made Abram rich.'
I accept nothing but what my men have eaten
and the share
that belongs to the men who went with me --
to Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre.
Let them have their share."

(Genesis 14:17-24)