Genesis 14:17

And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.

From the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings. Professor Rawlinson thinks that this expression, "the slaughter," in our version is over-strong. The Hebrew phrase does not mean more than 'defeat,' or 'overthrow.' It is certainly used in this general sense in the earlier part of this chapter, where, as applied both to a people and a country, our translators have rendered it "smote" (Genesis 14:5; Genesis 14:7). But the same phrase occurs, Joshua 10:20, where it evidently expresses the idea of slaughter. Paul (Hebrews 7:1), in allusion to this passage, follows the Septuagint in the use of kopees (G2871), "slaughter;" and certainly it looks as if they had fallen in the melee caused by Abram's attack; because we do not read of Chedorlaomer and his allies undertaking any future expedition.

At the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale - (see the note at Genesis 14:5). The king's valley or dale is mentioned only in one other passage (2 Samuel 18:18), where, however, Shaveh is not used.