What does Genesis 14:13 mean?
Lot and all he owns has been taken by a powerful military force from the east led by the king of Elam, Chedorlaomer. Lot was scooped up along with all of Sodom's and Gomorrah's possessions and provisions after Chedorlaomer's forces had defeated them in battle. Lot, it seems, has quickly gone from choosing to live in the region of Sodom (Genesis 13:10), to living very near Sodom (Genesis 13:12), to actually living in Sodom (Genesis 14:11–12; Genesis 19:1). This, despite its reputation for depravity (Genesis 13:13).Now Abram learns from a survivor of that battle of Lot's capture. Abram is referred to here as a Hebrew, the first use of this term in the Bible. This was, apparently, the name for a particular kind of outsider in Canaanite society. Abram is still living near Hebron, near the oaks (or large trees) on land owned by an Amorite named Mamre. Abram and Mamre are called allies, along with two of Mamre's brothers.