There are nine kings. There was a rebellion and five kings rebelled against the major king (it seems) whose name was Chedorlaomer. The five kings included the kings of sodom and gamorrah.

In the 14th year of the rebellion, Chedorlaomer came down and really did a number on the rebellion it seems. The five kings got together and fought together against Chedorlaomer and three other kings. Although there were five kings, Chedorlaomer and his allies won.

Chedorlaomer and his allies took all the possessions from Sodom and Gamorrah and left. This included Lot.

Was all of this exposition. JUST so we can discover that Lot was taken? What was the point of the amount of detail about this war? In thinking about it, I turn inward. Where is the war raging inside of me? The battle of rebellion internally?

I think Hashem wants us to see the battle because it lays the foundation of what’s to come.

Which is this…

What happens next is extraordinary. Basically, Abram finds out Lot has been taken, and he takes action. He sends (get this) 318 trained men to pursue Chedorlaomer and his allies. They split up and smote Chedorlaomer. They brought back all of the possessions including Lot and his family.

So. A battle between nine kings last 14 years, but Abram sends 318 men in (what sounds like) one night.

Then, a tenth king (Melchizedek) comes forth and meets with Abram. (Hebrew writings believe this king was actually Shem son of Noah). He brought out bread and wine to bless Abram. (The Talmud suggests this was to let Abram know Melchizedek wasn’t mad that Abram had killed the people of Elam who were the descendants of Melchizedek). King Melchizedek blesses Abram with a major blessing!

In response, Abram gave Melchizedek 10% of everything he owned.

One interesting note is that Rabbi Menachem Azariah da Fano in the 16th-17th century writes:

“After Noah left the ark, he desired to offer sacrifices to God. However, since Noah was bitten by a lion in the ark (Midrash Tanhuma), he was disqualified from doing so because Torah states that sacrifices may only be offered by a person devoid of bodily blemish. That is how Shem, Noah’s son, was appointed as “a priest to the supreme God.””

One of the takeaways from this passage is the concept of “wounds.” Imagine the trauma of Sodom and Gamorah going through all of this. They rebelled, had the numbers to win (5 kings against 4) and lost. They were taken away and then rescued by 318 men. The psychological trauma of that would be incredible! I’m chewing on this as I know what is coming and what befalls sodom and gamorah.

The battle internally is real for all of us. What “wounds” exist from the battle? Even if the battle is currently raging inside of us? How has the battle impacted us?

And yet, there is hope. We know Hashem wins the battle easily. We know Lot ends up surviving what happens to Sodom and Gamorah. Do our “wounds” bring us to ruin? Or do we find healing? Where does that healing come from?

Who is our Abram that can save us from the battle inside? One piece I missed- how did Abram come to find out what happened to Lot? From the Torah; “a runaway came and informed Abram.”

I’m chew on this. How often are we fighting internally, and we don’t send a runaway to ask Hashem for help? Sometimes we are called to lean into the battle; but other times we need to runaway and get help. How are we getting help in the battle?

For me? I’m getting help by developing my meditation and mindfulness practice. By reading Torah daily. By connecting with Hashem by davening (and wrapping tefillin) regularly.

And although the battle still wages, I am learning more and more to trust. To trust that Hashem can single handedly rescue me from being taken away. And then (ultimately) heal me from the wounds of past battles.