Abraham's Four-Mile Stride and His Oath to the King of Sodom

(Gen. 14:16:) "AND HE BROUGHT BACK ALL THE PROPERTY." Immediately (in Gen. 14:17): "AND THE KING OF SODOM CAME OUT." When the Holy One, blessed be He, saw Abraham pursuing the sixteen kings and their legions, He seated him at His right hand, as it is said (Ps. 110:1): "The utterance of the LORD to my lord: Sit at My right hand…." They said: In that war the stride of Abraham our father was four miles, and he ran until he had killed all the kings and their legions, and he passed on in peace, as it is said (Isa. 41:3): "He pursues them, he passes on in peace…." Immediately the king of Sodom came out to meet him, as it is said (Gen. 14:17): "And the king of Sodom came out to meet him." He said to him: "I beg of you (Gen. 14:21), give me the persons, and take the property for yourself." Whether he wished it or did not wish it, he said to him: "Had they killed me, they would have taken all my possessions; now that you have rescued me, take for yourself the possessions and give me the persons." Therefore it is said: "And take the property for yourself." Immediately Abraham swore, as it is said (Gen. 14:22): "And Abram said to the king of Sodom: I have lifted up my hand…." And "lifting up" is nothing other than an oath, as it is said (Dan. 12:7): "And he lifted up his right hand and his left hand to the heavens, and swore by the One who lives forever."