Abraham Smites the Victors and Rescues Lot. The fugitive, who is wont in such stories to bring the news, tells Abraham, mentioned here as if for the first time. He musters (Sam., LXX) his trained men, on whom as slaves born in his house he could rely more confidently than on purchased slaves, 318 in number (the sum of the letters in the name of Eliezer; see p. 148), and sets off in pursuit. He overtakes them at Dan, a name not borne by Laish till the age of Moses-' grandson (Judges 18:29). There, attacking on three sides (cf. Judges 7:16; 1 Samuel 11:11; Job 1:17), he smites the army of the four kings by night and pursues them to Hobah. The site is unknown; it is placed by some in the neighbourhood of Damascus, by others twenty hours to the N. of it. Damascus itself is fifteen hours N. of Dan. It is no mere night attack on the rearguard that is meant (cf. Genesis 14:17). On his return he is met by the king of Sodom.
Genesis 14:17. the king of Sodom: either Bera's successor, or the author has carelessly forgotten Genesis 14:10, or possibly the subject of fell in Genesis 14:10 is the people, not the kings. Shaven: here a proper name, not as in Genesis 14:5. For the King's Vale, see 2 Samuel 18:18.