Bible Strands
Genesis 14:15
During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer’s army, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Following the report of Lot’s capture, Abram mobilizes his 318 trained household men and launches a tactical night operation against Chedorlaomer’s forces.
The words — וַ/יֵּחָלֵ֨ק (va.yechalek) means he divided or split his forces, and וַ/יִּרְדְּפֵ/ם֙ (va.yirdephem) means he pursued them relentlessly.
The thread — The pursuit begins at Dan (Genesis 14:14), extends to Hobah north of Damascus, and concludes with the full retrieval of captives and goods (Genesis 14:16). The Damascus location later appears in Acts 9:2 regarding the persecution of believers.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that decisive mobilization and sustained pursuit are necessary to recover what was taken. It establishes a direct causal link between military action and the restoration of people and property.
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 he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
Cross-references
- Acts 9:2 and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
- Deuteronomy 15:2 This is the manner of remission: Every creditor shall cancel what he has loaned to his neighbor. He is not to collect anything from his neighbor or brother, because the LORD’s time of release has been proclaimed.
- 1 Kings 15:18 So Asa withdrew all the silver and gold that remained in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the royal palace. He entrusted it to his servants and sent them with this message to Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, the king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus:
- Psalms 112:5 It is well with the man who is generous and lends freely, whose affairs are guided by justice.
- Isaiah 41:2 Who has aroused one from the east and called him to his feet in righteousness? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him. He turns them to dust with his sword, to windblown chaff with his bow.