Bible Strands
Genesis 14:13
Then an escapee came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the Oaks of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were bound by treaty to Abram.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — An unnamed fugitive arrives at Abram’s camp near the Oaks of Mamre to deliver news of Lot’s capture. This report occurs immediately after the allied kings defeat Sodom and Gomorrah and seize Lot’s household.
The words — הַפָּלִיט (ha-palít) translates literally as “the fugitive” or “escapee,” and הָעִבְרִי (ha-‘ivrí) identifies Abram as “the Hebrew,” a designation that later appears in Genesis 40:15 to describe the narrator’s own origin.
The thread — Abram’s residence at the Oaks of Mamre first appears in Genesis 13:18, while the treaty relationship with Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre is reiterated in Genesis 14:24. The title “Hebrew” recurs in Genesis 40:15 when the cupbearer explains his kidnapping from that land.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to recognize that Abram’s military response in the following chapter depends on both the treaty alliances mentioned here and the urgent intelligence delivered by the escapee. It establishes the factual basis for immediate action rather than offering theological commentary.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.
Cross-references
- Genesis 13:18 So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the Oaks of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.
- Genesis 14:24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share for the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. They may take their portion.”
- Genesis 40:15 For I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing for which they should have put me in this dungeon.”
- Genesis 10:16 the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites,
- Genesis 41:12 Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams and he interpreted them for us individually.
- Genesis 43:32 They separately served Joseph, his brothers, and the Egyptians. They ate separately because the Egyptians would not eat with the Hebrews, since that was detestable to them.
- Exodus 2:6 When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the little boy was crying. So she had compassion on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrew children.”
- Exodus 2:11 One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to his own people and observed their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people.
- Numbers 21:21 Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,
- 1 Samuel 4:12 That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line all the way to Shiloh, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.