Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 14:1-12

"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 Goiim, that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar). All these joined together in the vale of Siddim (the same is the Salt Sea). Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness. And they returned, and came to En-mishpat (the same is Kadesh), and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazazon-tamar. And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar); and they set the battle in array against them in the vale of Siddim; against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five. Now the vale of Siddim was full of slime pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell there, and they that remained fled to the mountain. And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. And they took Lot, Abram`s brother`s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed." — Genesis 14:1-12 (ASV)

The wars of nations feature prominently in history, but we would not have had the record of this particular war if Abram and Lot had not been involved. Out of covetousness, Lot had settled in fruitful, but wicked Sodom. Its inhabitants were the most ripe for vengeance of all the descendants of Canaan.

The invaders were from Chaldea and Persia, then only small kingdoms. They captured Lot along with the others, and his goods. Though he was righteous and Abram's brother's son, yet he was caught up with the others in this trouble. Neither our own piety, nor our relation to the favorites of Heaven, will be our security when God's judgments are active.

Many an honest person suffers because of their wicked neighbors: it is wise for us to separate, or at least to distinguish ourselves from them (2 Corinthians 6:17). Such a close relative of Abram should have been his companion and disciple. If he chose to live in Sodom, he has only himself to blame if he shares in Sodom's losses. When we stray from the path of our duty, we remove ourselves from God's protection and cannot expect that choices made by our sinful desires will lead to our comfort.

They took Lot's goods. It is just for God to deprive us of worldly enjoyments when, because of them, we allow ourselves to be deprived of the enjoyment of Him.