15
He divided his forcesוַיֵּחָלֵקagainst themעֲלֵיהֶםby night,לַיְלָהheהוּאand his servants,וַעֲבָדָיוand defeated themוַיַּכֵּםand pursued themוַיִּרְדְּפֵםas far asעַדHobah,חוֹבָהwhichאֲשֶׁרis northמִשְּׂמֹאלof Damascus.לְדַמָּשֶׂק
Genesis 14:15
Study it in the app“He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 14:15, word by word
- He divided his forcesיֵּחָלֵקyechalek
divide
To give each one their part.
Where else “yechalek” appears- by nightלַיְלָהlayla
night
Night.
Where else “layla” appears- and his servantsעֲבָדָיavaday
servant
Someone who works for another, or a king's official.
Where else “avaday” appears- and defeated themיַּכֵּyake
defeat
To attack and beat in battle.
Where else “yake” appears- and pursued themיִּרְדְּפֵyirdfe
pursue
To go after someone to catch them.
Where else “yirdfe” appears- Hobahחוֹבָהchova
Hobah
Hobah, a place north of Damascus.
Where else “chova” appears- is northשְּׂמֹאלsemol
north
The direction opposite the south, facing where the sun rises.
Where else “semol” appears- of Damascusדַמָּשֶׂקdamasek
Damascus
See it on the mapWhere else “damasek” appears
Places in this verse
Damascus
Today: Damascus, capital of Syria
A city in southern Syria, about 135 miles (220 km) northeast of Jerusalem; today it is the capital of Syria.
David put it under his control (2 Sam 8:6). On the road to Damascus, Jesus appeared to Saul, who was going to persecute believers (Acts 9:3-5).
The context
14When Abram heard that his brother had been taken captive, he called out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan.
15 · This verse (above)
16He brought back all the possessions, and also Lot his brother and his possessions he brought back, and also the women and the people.
To study Genesis 14 in a group
1. What it says
What did Abram do when he heard that his relative Lot had been taken captive (vv. 14-16)?
2. What it means
What does Melchizedek, king of Salem, do, and what does he say when he blesses Abram (vv. 18-20)?
3. How I live it
How can you help a relative or friend in trouble without expecting anything in return, as Abram did (vv. 22-24)?