Genesis 14:15 - He 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.

Generated Verse: Genesis 14:15

What does "Genesis 14:15" mean?


This verse, Genesis 14:15, describes a successful military tactic employed by Abram (later known as Abraham) against a coalition of kings who had plundered Sodom and Gomorrah and captured his nephew Lot. Let's break down the meaning:

"He divided himself against them by night...": This indicates a surprise attack. Abram split his force into multiple groups, likely to confuse and disorient the enemy under the cover of darkness. This would have made it difficult for the enemy to gauge the size and direction of the attack.

"...he and his servants...": Abram personally led the attack, demonstrating courage and commitment. "Servants" here refers to a fighting force loyal to him. These were not simply household staff; they were trained men capable of engaging in battle. Genesis 14:14 mentions he had 318 trained men born in his own house.

"...and struck them...": This signifies a decisive blow. The attack was effective in causing damage and scattering the enemy.

"...and pursued them to Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.": This tells us the pursuit was relentless and long. Hobah was located north of Damascus (Damascus is in modern-day Syria), indicating Abram chased the fleeing kings a considerable distance. "Left hand of Damascus" typically means north of Damascus (as one faces the city). The pursuit was likely aimed at recovering the stolen goods and rescuing Lot.

In summary, this verse depicts a daring and effective night raid led by Abram. By dividing his forces and attacking under the cover of darkness, he surprised and routed the coalition of kings, pursuing them far north to Hobah near Damascus. The goal was to defeat the kings, rescue Lot, and recover the stolen goods.

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