Genesis 14:12

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 14:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And they took Lot, Abram`s brother`s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And they took Lot, Abram`s brother`s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
Genesis 14:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 14

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
12And they took Lot, Abram`s brother`s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, etc.] The son of Haran, his elder brother, who was now, as the Jews say f979, fifty years of age: who dwelt in Sodom, or near it, in the country adjacent to it, (see <011312> Genesis 13:12); and so being a neighbour of the men of Sodom, and a sojourner among them, he partakes of their punishment; and this was a just correction of him for choosing to dwell among such a people: and they took his goods, and departed; as him and his family, so all his substance, his cattle, wealth, and riches of every sort, and went off with it: Eupolemus f980 , an Heathen writer, makes mention of this circumstance in his relation of this war, and says, that the…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“they took Lot . . . and his goods, and departed--How would the conscience of that young man now upbraid him for his selfish folly and ingratitude in withdrawing from his kind and pious relative! Whenever we go out of the path of duty, we put ourselves away from God's protection, and cannot expect that the choice we make will be for our lasting good.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“- Abram Rescues Lot 1. אמרפל 'amrāpel, Amraphel; related: unknown. אלריוך 'aryôk, Ariok, “leonine?” related: ארי 'arı̂y, “a lion:” a name re-appearing in the time of Daniel Daniel 2:14. אלסר 'elāsār Ellasar (related: unknown) is identified with Larsa or Larancha, the Λάρισσα Larissa or Λαράχων Larachōn of the Greeks, now Senkereh, a town of lower Babylonia, between Mugheir (Ur) and Warka (Erek) on the left bank of the Frat. כדרלעמר kedārlā‛omer, Kedorla’omer, was compared by Col. Rawlinson with Kudur-mapula or mabuk, whose name is found on the bricks of Chaldaea, and whose title is Apda martu, ravager of the west. He translates it “servant of Lagamer,” one of the national divinities…”
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Sources and verification