Genesis 14 syllabus

 Genesis 14 syllabus

1). Genesis 11:10-32: Most conservative scholars teach the Genesis 5 & Genesis 11 genealogical lists are closed, meaning no gaps. 

2). Timeline from Finis Jennings Dake’s God’s Plan For Man

 

a). Shem 2 years after the flood begat Arphaxad: Genesis 11:10.

 

b). Arphaxad 35 years and begat Salah: Genesis 11:12.

 

c). Salah 30 years and begat Eber: Genesis 11:14.

 

d). Eber 34 years and begat Peleg: Genesis 11:16.

 

e). Peleg 30 years and begat Reu: Genesis 11:18.

 

f). Reu 32 years and begat Serug: Genesis 11:20.

 

g). Serug 30 years and begat Nahor: Genesis 11:22.

 

h). Nahor 29 years and begat Terah: Genesis 11:24.

 

i). Terah 205 years and died in Haran, 427 years after the flood (Genesis 11:32).

 

3). Time markers: Using the Genesis 5 and Genesis 11 genealogical lists we can find time markers.

a).  Year of the flood 2348 B.C. Noah was 600 years, 2 months and 17 days old (Genesis 7:11).

b). Abraham’s and Sarah’s ages at Isaac’s birth was 100 and 90 respectively (Genesis 21:5; Genesis 17:17). 

c). Isaac was 40 when he and Rebekah were married (Genesis 25:20).

d). Isaac was 60 years old and Abraham was 160 years old when Jacob and Esau were born (Genesis 25:26). Though Abraham’s death is documented in Genesis 25:1-8, he lived until the twins were 15.      

4). Abraham was 75 when his father Terah died in Haran: Genesis 12:4, which means Terah was 130 when Abram was born, not 70 as Genesis 11:26 implies. Doing the math reveals Abraham was born 352 years after the flood. This shows some intriguing revelations. Shem at the birth of Abram, would be 450 years old and he would live another 150 years. When Shem died Abraham was 150 years old, Sarah had already died at 127 (Genesis 23:1), and Isaac would be 50. Shem was 550 years old when Isaac was born, Genesis 21:5; Shem was 590 years old when Isaac and Rebekah were married and he died 10 years before Jacob and Esau was born, Genesis 25:26. He seems to fall off the Biblical landscape and yet he lived 500 more years after the flood. It is sobering to think that Shem survived the flood as did his brothers, Japheth and Ham, and did not have a prominent effect in the after flood culture. Even though Shem lived for another 502 years after the flood, it is Abraham that has the prominence, not Shem. 

Genesis 14:1

 

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 nations;

 

1. “And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar,…”

 

a. Amraphel [Strong: 569 'Amraphel am-raw-fel': of uncertain (perhaps foreign) derivation; Amraphel, a king of Shinar:--Amraphel.] [Gesenius: Amraphel = "sayer of darkness: fall of the sayer"]

 

1). Amraphel (Unger’s Bible Dictionary) “…a king of Shinar, the alluvial lowland of southern Babylonia, and ally of Chedorlaomer in the invasion of the west in the time of  Abraham…”

 2). Chumash, p.61, Note 1. “Amraphel…The Sages (Eruvin 53a) identify Amraphel as Nimrod, who reigned over Shinar [Babylon]…”

 

3). According to the Biblical chronology, Shem’s grandson, Salah lived until Abraham was 118 years old. Because the Bible does not give the age breakdown of the descendants of Japheth and Ham like it does with Shem’s we have to compare them. Using those comparisons, if Shem’s grandson Salah was contemporary with Abraham for 118 years it is probable that Ham’s grandson, Nimrod was also contemporary with Abraham. It is indeed a possibility that this person could be Nimrod under a different name. Jewish tradition teaches that Nimrod and Abram were enemies because of Abram’s faith. Nimrod was Amraphel.

a). Barnes: A descendant of Nimrod.

b). Gill: Nimrod or his grandson.

 

c. [king of] Shinar [Strong: 8152 Shin`ar shin-awr':  probably of foreign derivation; Shinar, a plain in Babylonia:--Shinar.]

 

1). Shinar (Unger’s Bible Dictionary) “…roughly spoken of as southern Babylonia.” [See map.]

 

2). We must remember that Nimrod was king over Shinar.

 

a). Genesis 10:8-10 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.

10:9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.

10:10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

 

2. “…Arioch king of Ellasar…”

 

3. “…Chedorlaomer king of Elam…”

 

a. Chedorlaomer [Strong: 3540 Kdorla`omer ked-or-law-o'-mer: of foreign origin; Kedorlaomer, an early Persian king:--Chedorlaomer.]

 

1). Chumash, p.61, Note 1: “The Midrash identifies Chedorlaomer as Elam, the son of Shem son of Noah

 

b. king [Strong: 4428 melek meh'-lek: from 4427; a king:--king, royal.]

 

c. Elam [Strong: 5867 `Eylam ay-lawm' or mOwlam (Ezra 10:2; Jeremiah 49:36) {o-lawm'}; probably from 5956; hidden, i.e. distant; Elam, a son of Shem and his descendants, with their country; also of six Israelites:--Elam.]

 

1). Elam was located just northeast of the Persian Gulf in present day Iran.  Elam is listed as one of the sons of Shem in Genesis 10:22.

 

a). Genesis 10:22 The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram;

 

2). Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Chapter 6.4: “Shem, the third son of Noah, had five sons, who inhabited the land that began at Euphrates, and reached to the Indian Ocean; for Elam left behind him the Elamites, the ancestors of the Persians.  

a). Elam was a city named after Shem’s son. If Elam’s age when he died was comparable to Arphaxad, his brother’s age (Arphaxad was contemporary with Abram for 86 years. Abram was 86 years old when Arphaxad died), then Elam was living when this war occurred. Abram was about 80 years old. As previously stated, Jewish tradition teaches that Chedorlaomer was none other than Elam, Shem’s son. The point I’m making is that Abram went to war and defeated not only Shem’s descendants but possibly even his son! The question that begs to be asked is, Where or what part does Shem play in all this? He was certainly alive while all this was going on. Perhaps the reason for Shem disappearing from the Biblical record after the flood, and also why Abraham gains the preeminence in the Biblical record and not Shem or any of his sons. In the end this is speculation 

 

3). Shem, the son of Noah and one of those who survived the flood, lived until Abraham was 150 years old. So he was alive at this point.  There is no doubt that the city/state of Elam was associated with the son of Shem. It is such a shock to me that a man of the stature of Shem, who survived the flood, would have no preeminence after the flood. It seems he just dropped off the map after the flood. Those are the facts, but why is unknown. Perhaps, Shem became a worldly individual, perhaps even antagonistic toward the things of God.

 

4). There is a fascinating passage of Scripture in Ezekiel that I believe sheds more than a little light on this. Looking at this passage we must remember this multitude of men including all the men from Elam were slaughtered by Abram and his confederacy.

 

a). Ezekiel 32:24, 25 There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit.

32:25 They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of them that be slain

 

4. “…and Tidal king of nations.”

 

1). In the British Museum are a few artifacts that actually mention three of these kings. They are Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, Arioch king of Ellasar, and Tidal king of nations The accounts found in the British museum appear to have been written after the Biblical account of the battle of the Valley of Siddim. These artifacts do not link Elam with Chedorlaomer.

Genesis 14:2

 

That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.

 

 1. “That these made war with Bera king of Sodom…”

 

2. “…and with Birsha king of Gomorrah…”

 

3. “…Shinab king of Admah…”

 

4. “…and Shemeber king of Zeboim…”

 

Genesis 14:3

 

All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.

 

1. “All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim…”

 

a. The earliest descriptions that we see in Scripture concerning this area do not mention a sea in the area.

 

1). Genesis 13:10-12 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

13:11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

 

2). Genesis 14:10 “And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits;”

 

b. Jesus described it as a busy area, full of agricultural and commercial activity (Luke 17:28).

 

c. The prophet Ezekiel described it as a place of abundant food (Ezekiel 16:49).

 

d. And Moses, the writer of Deuteronomy described it as well known for their vineyards, their grape s and their wine, though he associated it all with ungodliness (Deuteronomy 32:32, 33).

 

2. “…which is the salt sea.”

 

1). This is a geographical reference inserted by Moses to point out the location of the battle. At the time all this occurred, the area  was still just a “vale”, there was no Dead Sea. It was a lush agricultural area. The Dead Sea formed as a result of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Before the Dead Sea was formed, the area was called the vale of Siddim, and during that time, the whole plain of Jordan “was well watered everywhere,” in fact Genesis 13:10 compares the area to “the garden of the LORD”, presumably the Garden of Eden. There are no descriptions in the Scripture that I know of that mention the area, pre-destruction, as having a sea or lake there. Looking at the little bit of information that we have, I speculate that the Jordan River flowed south through the whole “plain of Jordan”, with tributaries branching off southwest and southeast and at its southernmost end was the “vale of Siddim” a very well watered area. I personally believe that the Dead Sea formed as a result of the judgment/destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, i.e., it was not there previously.

 

2). Siddim, vale of (Unger’s Bible Dictionary) (sidim; the valley of the fields; perhaps so called from the high cultivation in which it was kept before the destruction of Sodom and the other cities), the scene of the battle between Chedorlaomer, and his allies, and the five confederate kings (Genesis 14:2). However, it is possible that Siddim may designate “salt flats” from Hittite siyanta, “salt”.

Genesis 14:4

 

Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

 

1. “Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer,…

2. “…and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.”

 

Genesis 14:5

 

And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims, in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,

 

1. “And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him,…”

 

a. It took a year for Chedorlaomer to get his army together and to make the long trip to Canaan. Instead of coming from the direct east, these four kings came down from the north. Why? There were only two known roads that led from the area north of the Persian Gulf to the area around the cities of the plain.. One led west across hundreds of miles of the Arabian and Eastern deserts. The other went north following the Euphrates River. Given the fact they came down from the north into the area east of the valley of Shaveh, it is certain they followed the roads north following the Euphrates River  and south toward Damascus. It was probably the same route Abram took when he came into the land of Canaan, north to Haran and then south through Damascus. 

 

2. “…and smote the Rephaims, in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim.”

 

a. The Rephaims, the Zuzims, the Emims and the Horites were all races of giants (Deuteronomy 2:20-22).

b. While on their way to punish their subjects they made war upon many of the nation/cities on their way.

Genesis 14:6

 

And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-paran, which is by the wilderness.

 

Genesis 14:7

 

And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalakites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezon tamar.

 

Genesis 14:8

 

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 joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;

 

1. “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;)…”

 

2. “…and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;”

 

Genesis 14:9

 

With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.

 

1. “With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam…”

 

2. “…and with Tidal king of nations…”

 

3. “…and Amraphel king of Shinar…”

 

4. “…and Arioch king of Ellasar…”

 

5. “…four kings with five.”

 

a. The four kings of Mesopotamia against the five kings of Canaan.

Genesis 14:10

 

And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.

 

1. “And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits;”

 

2. “…and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there;”

 

3. “…and they that remained fled to the mountain.”

 

a. The other three kings are not mentioned whether they survived or not. Probably, who ever did not successfully flee to the mountain were either killed or were taken captive.

Genesis 14:11

 

And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.

 

1. “And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah…”

 

2. “…and all their victuals, and went their way.”

 

Genesis 14:12

 

And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

 

 1. “And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son…”

 

a. Lot was Abram’s nephew (Genesis 11:27).

 

2). Because Lot is the focus of the narrative no one else is named, but all the people of the cities were taken captive or killed. 

2. “…who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.”

 

a. It is unknown how Lot fared economically after his move to Sodom, but before he moved to Sodom his substance was very great. Another thing not mentioned is Lot’s family. When Lot separated from Abram and moved to Sodom he was not married, yet approximately 20 years later when Sodom is destroyed by the LORD, he is married and has at least two daughters. It is unknown how many years went by between the time Abram and Lot separated and the invasion of the Mesopotamian kings. Based on the fact Lot’s wife and daughter are not mentioned, it could mean only a few years at most had passed, that Lot got married shortly after the rescue and began having a family.

 

Genesis 14:13

 

And there came one that escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.

 

1. “And there came one that escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew…”

 

a. Possibly one of Lot’s servants.

 

b. First use of the word “Hebrew” in the Bible.

 

2. “…for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite,”

 

a. Abram lived on a plain owed by an individual named “Mamre”. He was an Amorite’

 

3. “…brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner:”

 

a. The three Amorite brothers, Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner.

 

4. “…and these were confederate with Abram.”  

 

a. confederate [Two Hebrew words: (1167 * ba’al) (master, husband, confederate, have to do, they of…) & (1285 * beriyth) (a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh):- confederacy, covenant, league.)]

 

1). All of the translations fail to translate this word as strongly as it should. While most say “allied” or “confederate with”, these men were in blood covenant together. The translation that comes closest is the Holman Christian Standard Bible that says, “They were bound by a treaty with Abram.” The note underneath says “were possessors of a covenant of”.  The Hebrew meaning of compound word reveals they made a blood covenant among themselves similar to the blood covenant in Genesis 15.  

 

2). H. Clay Trumbull, writes in his The Blood Covenant, “blood covenanting: a form of mutual covenanting by which two person enter into the closest, the most enduring, and the most sacred of compacts, as friends and brothers, or as more than brothers…”

 

3). The closest word in our culture that approaches the meaning of the word covenant is perhaps marriage. It is also possible that before this rescue effort that Abram entered into another covenant with the LORD. The use of the word for covenant surely explains Abrams' response to the king of Sodom in Genesis 14:22-24. I have wondered for a long time why Abram said those words to the king of Sodom, because it strongly implies he made a vow or covenant to God concerning this rescue. More on this in the notes on Genesis 14:22.

 

Genesis 14:14

 

And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.

 

1. “And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen,…”

 

a. These 318 were just the men from Abram’s group. It does not say if the three Amorite brothers, Mamre, Eschol, and Aner also brought their men with them also. We must remember they were in covenant with Abram. In the end it does not say. 

b. Dan is about 120 miles north of Mamre. It probably took about 6-7 days (Josephus says one and a half day and a night). These kings and their army were on their way back to Mesopotamia. They would follow basically the same route they used when they came. North through Damascus and then southeast following the Euphrates River.

Genesis 14:15

 

And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.

 

1. “And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them…”

 

a. smote [them] [Strong: 5221 nakah naw-kaw'; a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively):--beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), X go forward, X indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, X surely, wound.]

 

1). The same Hebrew word translated “smote” in verse 15 is translated “slaughter” in verse 17.

2. “…and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.”

 

Genesis 14:16

 

And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

 

1. “And he brought back all the goods…”

 

2. “…and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods…”

 

3. “…and the women also, and the people.”

 

 Genesis 14:17

 

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

 

1. “And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him,…”

 

a. The word “slaughter” is also used in the New Testament to describe this battle. The implication is that none were spared, Abram’s men killed them all.

 

1). Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

 

2). In this verse we see that the king of Sodom coming to meet with Abram as he was returning from the battle and rescue. The king of Sodom had fled during his battle with the kings from Mesopotamia earlier in Genesis 14:10. Some teach that the king of Sodom died and this was his replacement.

2. “…at the valley of Shaveh, which is the kings dale.”

 

a. Pulpit Commentary: “A valley about two stadia north of Jerusalem (Josephus, 'Ant.,' 8:10), supposed to be the valley of the Upper Kedron, where Absalom s pillar was after. wards erected (2 Samuel 18:18); which may be correct if the Salem afterwards mentioned was Jerusalem…”

 

b. Barnes Notes: The identity of the King's dale with the valley cast of Jerusalem, through which the Kedron flows, corresponds very well with the present passage.

 

c. According to the wording of the verse and the wording of the earlier verse where it gave the location of the battle, it means that the king of Sodom traveled about 40 miles northwest, from the mountains to which he fled during the battle to the valley of Shaveh just north of present day Jerusalem, which is the location of the ancient city of Salem, where Melchizedek was king.

Genesis 14:18

 

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

 

1. “And Melchizedek king of Salem…”

 

a. [And] Melchizedek [Strong: 4442 Malkiy-Tsedeq mal-kee-tseh'-dek; melek-king; tsedeq-right; [king of righteousness: Hebrews 7:2. His name literally means “king of righteousness”.]

 

b. [king of] Salem [Strong: 8004 Shalem shaw-lame' the same as 8003; peaceful; Shalem, an early name of Jerusalem:--Salem.; an early name of Jerusalem. [He was the king of Salem].

 

1). Hebrews 7:2 says that “by interpretation”, Melchizedek was, “King of righteousness”, King of Salem”, and King of Peace”.

 

2). The only other mention of Melchizedek in the Old Testament is in Psalms.

 

a). Psalm 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

 

3). In the New Testament Melchizedek is only mentioned in Hebrews 5:6, 10; 6:20; 7:1, 10, 11, 15, 17, 21.

 

4). In all of those references there is no mention of where he really came from, some have speculated that this unknown person could be Shem, the son of Noah. Conservative scholars teach and I agree with them, this was a theophany of Christ, a pre-incarnation appearance of Christ. 

 

2. “…brought forth bread and wine…”

 

1). These are Covenant foods. I personally believe this was the culmination of a Covenant Abram had made with God before he went to war to rescue Lot. His response to the king of Sodom in Genesis 14:22, 23 point to this. Also, this points to the atonement in Christ.

 

a). Mark 14:22-25 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

14:23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.

14:24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

14:25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

 

2). As we shall see, Genesis 14:18-24 reveals some of the obligations of a probable Covenant that was cut with Abram and probably Melchizedek before he went on the journey and battle to rescue Lot and his family as well as all the goods and people who were taken captive. If not a Covenant, there was definitely a vow made by Abram before the rescue attempt.    

 

3. “…and he was the priest of the most high God.”

 

a. This order of priesthood was a foreshadow of the priesthood of Jesus.

 

1).  Psalm 110:4 The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

 

2). Hebrews 7:14-17 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Genesis 14:19

  

And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

 

a. Amplified Bible: And blessed, praised, and glorified be God Most High, Who has given your foes into your hand! And [Abram] gave him a tenth of all [he had taken]. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

 

1. “And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God…”

 

a. Notice in particular the words spoken to Abram by Melchizedek. I can’t help but see this ceremony as the culmination of Covenant/vow that was made previous to Abram going to rescue his nephew. The writer of Hebrews says that Melchizedek was greater than Abram.

 

2. “…possessor of heaven and earth.”

 

Genesis 14:20

 

And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

 

1. “And blessed be the most high God…”

 

2. “…which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand...”

 

a.  The phrase “delivered thine enemies into thine hand”, is clearly from a covenant perspective especially looking at the Hebrew word for “delivered”. The use of the English word “delivered” confirms this.

 

2). The wording of this part of the verse to me is a strong hint  that before Abram left to go on this mission, there was a covenant cut or a vow made with “the most high God” to ensure victory and success of the following: The rescue of Lot and his family first and foremost along with the rest of the people, the delivering of  the four kings into Abram’s hands, and the recovering of all the goods. The giving of the ten percent of all the goods was the final piece of this vow.  

2. “…And he gave him tithes of all.”

 

a. [And he] gave him [Strong: 5414 nathan naw-than'; a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, + cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander, strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to) God, yield.]

 

b. tithes [Strong: 4643 ma`aser mah-as-ayr' or maasar {mah-as-ar'}; and (in plural) feminine maasrah {mah-as-raw'}; from 6240; a tenth; especially a tithe:-- tenth (part), tithe(-ing).]

 

1). This is the first time the word “tithes” is mentioned in Scripture. The occasion has all the earmarks of a worship service, the bread and wine of communion and intimate relationship, the blessing and the giving of tithe. My belief of Melchizedek is he was a theophany of the pre-incarnate Christ, meeting Abram just outside what would later be Jerusalem. Other scholars teach that previous to going after the kings and rescuing his nephew Lot and I agree with them that Abram had vowed or entered into Covenant before he went to war and petitioned God to help him rescue his nephew Lot. In my view the words of Genesis 14:22-24 were the words of that vow to God. The giving of tithe of all the goods Abram brought back was part of Abram’s obligation in the Covenant. This seems evident from looking closely at how Abram responded to the King of Sodom’s offer of Abram taking all the wealth he rescued from the Mesopotamian kings. Genesis 14:22-24 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take anything that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion. (See notes).

Genesis 14:21

And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

 

1. “And the king of Sodom said unto Abram,…”

 

a. If the king survived the battle this king’s name was Bera, Genesis 14:2. He is mentioned first in the list of the kings of the cities of the plain, which points to his preeminence. There are those who believe the original king of Sodom was killed along with the king of Gomorrah  (Genesis 14:10), and this was the king of Sodom’s replacement. At any rate we don’t know how many of the other kings if any survived this invasion or how many of the ordinary citizens survived, but the king of Sodom was willing to give up all the material goods and have just the people.

 

 2. “…Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.”

 

a. It almost seems like the king is bargaining with Abram, in the sense that Abram vanquished the person that vanquished this king. The king of Sodom was corrupt, he was probably a homosexual, he could care less about the goods but he wanted the persons. It seems like he considered them his property that he could use them as bargaining chips. Abram’s response I believe reveals his contempt toward the king. The only reason all these people were rescued, was because of Lot. What a powerful testament to the mercy of God. Lot was the salt in that community, even though in my opinion he should have never been there, he was still the salt.

Genesis 14:22

 

And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

 

1. “And Abram said to the king of Sodom I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD…”

 

a. This is clearly an action of covenant making. Other examples in Scripture where the hand was raised in oath.

 

a). Isaiah 62:8 The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:

 

b). Ezekiel 47:14 And ye shall inherit it, one as well as another: concerning the which I lifted up mine hand to give it unto your fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for inheritance.

 

c). Deuteronomy 32:39-41 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

32:40 For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.

32:41 If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.

 

d). Revelation 10:5, 6 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,

10:6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

 

e). Daniel 12:7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

 

2). John Gill Commentary: I have lifted up mine hand unto the Lord; which was both a gesture of praying and of swearing, and both may be intended here; when he set out on his expedition, it is very probable he prayed to God for success, and swore that if he prospered him, that he would receive no profit or advantage from it to himself; or now in the presence of Melchizedek he lift up his hands and swore that he would take none of the goods he had recovered to his own line; and in this form of praying or swearing, he makes use of the same epithets of God Melchizedek had just used:

 

3). In response to the king of Sodom’s offer of Abram keeping the goods but not the people, Abram told the king very bluntly of a vow he had made to God concerning the matter.

2. “…the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,”

 

a. This the same exact wording that Melchizedek used when describing God to Abram at the culmination of the Covenant.

Genesis 14:23

 

That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

 

1. “That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine,…”

 

a. This is the content of the vow Abram made to the Lord. We can safely say it was probably made during the decision to go rescue Lot and his family. It probably included giving of the tithe as well as the refusal of taking any of the goods to himself. All on the basis of the Most High God giving Abram victory over his enemies. There may have been a formal covenant made, but if not, it at least consisted of this binding vow. 

 

2. “…lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:”

 

a. lest [Strong: 3808 lo' lo or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, + of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.]

b. [thou should] say [Strong: 559 'amar aw-mar': a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech), utter, X verily, X yet.]

 

b. I [Strong: 589 'aniy an-ee' contracted from 595; I:--I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, X which, X who.]

c. made…rich [Strong: 6238 `ashar aw-shar': a primitive root; properly, to accumulate; chiefly (specifically) to grow (causatively, make) rich:--be(-come, en-, make, make self, wax) rich, make (1Kings 22:48 marg).]

 

d. Abram [Strong: 87 'Abram ab-rawm': contracted from 48; high father; Abram, the original name of Abraham:--Abram.]

 

1). It seems apparent that the goods that Abram brought back would significantly increase his worth, and by all rights Abram was entitled to it because of his victory. The king of Sodom’s attempt to bargain with Abram I believe came from an ungodly boldness. I can’t help but see a contempt that Abram has for this king. It has already been reported in Genesis 13:13 that “…the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.” It was this I believe fueled Abram’s contempt. Basically Abram said that he in no way would give opportunity for this person to say I helped Abram get his wealth.

 

Genesis 14:24

 

Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.

 

1. “Save only that which the young men have eaten…”

 

2. “…and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre…”

 

1). These men went with Abram because they were in Covenant with Abram.

 

3. “…let them take their portion.”

 

a. It is not stated what their portion was. It is clear that though Abram did not want any of the goods, he did not put that same restriction upon the men that put their lives in jeopardy to help him rescue his nephew and family.