And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations, that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him came and attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh Kriathaim, and the Horites in their mountain of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is by the wilderness. Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat (that is , Kadesh), and attacked all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who dwelt in Hazezon Tamar. And the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and joined together in battle in the Valley of Siddim against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar - four kings against five. Now the Valley of Siddim was full of asphalt pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled; some fell there, and the remainder fled to the mountains. Then they took all their provisions, and went their way. They also took Lot, Abram's brother's son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods and departed. Then one who escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eschol and brother of Aner; and they were allies with Abram. Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided the forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. So he brought back all goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley), and after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him. Genesis 14:1-17 NKJV
Whenever there are kings and governments there are taxes, abuses of power, and at times rebellion. The Tidal kings appear to be Warlords over areas and subject kings. Apparently the kings of Soddom and Gomorrah along with other kings of subject nations decided to form an alliance and defy the Tidal king Chedorlaomer. This takes place after twelve years of service to the Tidal king, so in the thirteenth year he responds with force. During this war, Abram's relative Lot is captured.
Abram is approached by one who escapes the captors, and takes his own militia to rescue Lot. He is now referred to as the Hebrew which will become a reference to the Israeli people and their language. Abram, who is not referred to as a king nor as part of a national alliance with Sodom, responds from loyalty to his family and is able to recover Lot and all that was taken from him. At this point, he could of easily taken Lot's land and left things as they were, but the elder, who has given up the fertile land now comes to the aid of Lot. Abram is proving to be a man of his word; he does not just say what sounds good but backs it up with conviction and action, even to the point of military force. This is also at the risk of his own possessions, which are great at this time.
To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. Ephesians 3:8
