Upload
others
View
0
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Genesis Chapter Fourteen
Synopsis: We have four things in the story of this chapter. I. A war
with the king of Sodom and his allies, Ge 14:1-11. II. The captivity of
Lot in that war, Ge 14:12. III. Abram's rescue of Lot from that
captivity, with the victory he obtained over the conquerors, Ge 14:13-
16. IV. Abram's return from the expedition, (Ge 14:17), with an
account of what passed, 1. Between him and the king of Salem, Ge
14:18-20. 2. Between him and the king of Sodom, Ge 14:21-24. So
that here we have that promise to Abram in part fulfilled, that God
would make his name great. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Genesis 14:1-4 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; That these 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, which is Zoar. All these were
joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea. Twelve
years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they
rebelled.
Here we have listed the kings that came against Sodom and
Gomorrah and the Kings and cities that were confederate with them.
Shinar (country of two rivers), the ancient name of the great alluvial
tract through which the Tigris and Euphrates pass before reaching
the sea --the tract known in later times as Chaldaea or Babylonia. It
was a plain country, where brick had to be used for stone and slime
for mortar.
Among the cities were Babel (Babylon), Erech or Orech (Orchoe),
Calneh or Calno (probably Niffer), and Accad, the site of which is
unknown. It may be suspected that Shinar was the name by which
the Hebrews originally knew the lower Mesopotamian country where
they so long dwelt, and which Abraham brought with him from "Ur of
the Chaldees." Smith’s Bible Dictionary
Ellasar (oak), the city of Arioch, seems to be the Hebrew
representative of the old Chaldean town called in the native dialect
Larsa or Larancha. Larsa was a town of lower Babylonia or Chaldea,
situated nearly halfway between Ur (Mugheir) and Erech (Warka), on
Genesis Chapter Fourteen
the left bank of the Euphrates. It is now Senkereh. Smith’s Bible
Dictionary
The Elam (young man) of Scripture appears to be the province lying
south of Assyria and east of Persia proper, to which Herodotus gives
the name of Cissia (iii. 91, v. 49, etc.), and which is termed Susis or
Susiana by the geographers. Its capital was Susa. This country was
originally peopled by descendants of Shem. By the time of Abraham
a very important power had been built up in the same region. It is
plain that at this early time the predominant power in lower
Mesopotamia was Elam, which for a while held the place possessed
earlier by Babylon, Ge 10:10, and later by either Babylon or Assyria. Smith’s Bible Dictionary
Tidal (great son) (B.C. about 1900.) He is called "king of nations,"
from which we may conclude that he was a chief over various
nomadic tribes who inhabited different portions of Mesopotamia at
different seasons of the year, as do the Arabs at the present day. Smith’s Bible Dictionary
These four kings came against the five kings of the cities of the plain.
It is the first war mentioned in scripture, though there must have been
some other conflicts because the five kings of the cities of the plain
are here stated to be in rebellion against the kings of the
Mesopotamian region. That must mean they were subjugated to
them at some point.
Admah: From a root signifying red; one of the Cities of the Plain
(Ciccar) (Ge 10:19; 14:2,8; De 29:23; Ho 11:8) upon which Abraham
and Lot looked from the heights of Bethel; destroyed with Sodom and
Gomorrah. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Zeboiim (tsebhoyim; the Septuagint uniformly Sebo(e)im; the King
James Version, Zeboim): One of the cities in the Vale of Siddim,
destroyed with Sodom and Gomorrah. It is always mentioned next to
Admah (Ge 10:19; 14:2,8; De 29:23; Ho 11:8). It is not to be
confounded with Zeboim mentioned in 1Sa 13:18 and Ne 11:34. The
site has not been positively identified, but must be determined by the
general questions connected with the Vale of Siddim. International
Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Bela a thing swallowed. A city on the shore of the Dead Sea, not far
from Sodom, called also Zoar. Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Genesis Chapter Fourteen
Siddim, Vale or valley of the broad plains, "which is the salt sea" (Ge
14:3,8,10), between Engedi and the cities of the plain, at the south
end of the Dead Sea. It was "full of slime-pits" (R.V., "bitumen pits"). Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Chedorlaomer (roundness of a sheaf)(= Khudur-Lagamar of the
inscriptions), king of Elam. Many centuries before the age of
Abraham, Canaan and even the Sinaitic peninsula had been
conquered by Babylonian kings, and in the time of Abraham himself
Babylonia was ruled by a dynasty which claimed sovereignity over
Syria and Palestine. The kings of the dynasty bore names which were
not Babylonian, but at once South Arabic and Hebrew. The most
famous king of the dynasty was Khammu-rabi, who united Babylonia
under one rule, and made Babylon its capital. When he ascended the
throne, the country was under the suzerainty of the Elamites, and
was divided into two kingdoms, that of Babylon (the Biblical Shinar)
and that of Larsa (the Biblical Ellasar). The king of Larsa was Eri-Aku
("the servant of the moon-god"), the son of an Elamite prince, Kudur-
Mabug, who is entitled "the father of the land of the Amorites." A
recently discovered tablet enumerates among the enemies of
Khammu-rabi, Kudur-Lagamar ("the servant of the goddess
Lagamar") or Chedorlaomer, Eri-Aku or Arioch, and Tudkhula or
Tidal. Khammu-rabi, whose name is also read Ammi-rapaltu or
Amraphel by some scholars, succeeded in overcoming Eri-Aku and
driving the Elamites out of Babylonia. Assur-bani-pal, the last of the
Assyrian conquerors, mentions in two inscriptions that he took Susa
1635 years after Kedor-nakhunta, king of Elam, had conquered
Babylonia. Easton’s Bible Dictionary
When these men and their armies came down against Sodom and
Gomorrah, they must have passed close by the tent of Abram. From
where he was, he could stand and see any movement down toward
the Dead Sea, and from his vantage point in the higher plains, he
must have seen them coming, and could easily have observe the
battle.
Genesis 14:5-12 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
Genesis Chapter Fourteen
Kiriathaim, And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which
is by the wilderness. And they returned, and came to Enmishpat,
which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and
also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar. 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; 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. 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. 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.
In the fourteenth year - After some pause and preparation,
Chedorlaomer, in conjunction with his allies, set himself to reduce the
revolters. See note at "ver. 1" (For [1.], [2.]) [3.] The progress of the
war. The four kings laid the neighbouring countries waste, and
enriched themselves with the spoil of them, ver. 5, 6, 7. Upon the
alarm of which, the king of Sodom and his allies went out and were
routed. John Wesley’s Notes on the Bible
This is a historical writing and these are real kings and kingdoms that
are participants in a real war, not some myth or fable made up by
someone. There is physical evidence of the men and cities
mentioned here, thus proving the veracity of the Scripture. These
writings in the Book of Genesis are not parables or allegories. Abram
was a real person and so was Lot, his nephew. This is real
unvarnished history—not the made up, revised history we sometimes
encounter in the modern educational system. I believe Moses wrote
the book of Genesis. He was not alive when these things happened,
but God was, and He delivered these things to Moses by His Holy
Spirit. Not only does God refuse to lie, He cannot lie (Titus 1:2). I am
certain there was also passed down to Moses many writings,
carefully composed and maintained, that were the history of God’s
people. I believe, early on, God gave His people the ability to write
and compose their language, and those writings were largely
Genesis Chapter Fourteen
historical in nature. There was genealogy—family records, births and
deaths, but there was the story of the people that was also passed
down. The story is accurate because it is told through these writings,
but it is inspired by Almighty God.
Genesis 14:13-17 And there came one that had 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. And when Abram heard that his brother was taken
captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three
hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. 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. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought
again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the
people. 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.
I am sure Abram was very concerned about the welfare of his
nephew Lot and his family, and when someone came to him, who
had escaped the battle, he anxiously listened to the news. When he
discovered of that person that Lot had been taken captive, he did not
hesitate. He formed a confederacy of his friends and armed his
servants, who he had trained for battle, and went in pursuit of the
kings of Mesopotamia. These passage show that Abram was,
indeed, a very wealthy man, because he had 318 men he could put in
the field as soldiers. That does not include the women and children
servants he had. It also shows he was an influential, well respected
man, because his friends were willing to go with him and help him.
The Scripture says Abram dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite.
God had promised to give all this land to Abram, but, for now, he was
living on property claimed by an Amorite.
Abram pursued the enemy and divided his forces against them, and
attacked them by night. This reveals that Abram was not only a very
successful rancher, but he was a very capable general and military
strategist. The superior force of the enemy was routed by his
Genesis Chapter Fourteen
maneuvers, and he was able to recover all the captives and the booty
taken by them. When the battle was over, the king of Sodom came
and of the kings that were with him, to meet Abram as a lesser
goes to meet a greater.
Genesis 14:18-20 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth
bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he
blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God,
possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God,
which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him
tithes of all.
Dr. J. Vernon McGee (Through the Bible) has said this chapter is one of
the most important chapters in Scripture. The appearance of this
man, Melchizedek, is the reason for that. Here we see him suddenly
walk onto the pages of scripture and just as abruptly walk out. Dr.
Gary Hedrick (Messianic Perspectives) says the secrets of the Old
Testament are revealed in the New Testament. The questions here
are: who is this man, and where did he come from? He is only
mentioned one other time in the Old Testament in what is considered
by most as a Messianic Psalm. Psalms 110:4 The LORD hath
sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the
order of Melchizedek. But in the New Testament he is mentioned
several times, and is described as a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I believe that is he was, the pre-incarnate Christ. That is the answer
for who he was, and, as to the other question, the answer is given in
the New Testament by the Lord Himself: John 8:42 Jesus said unto
them, ….. I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I
of myself, but he sent me. This would apply to His appearing
anywhere and at anytime.
Hebrews 7:1-7 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; To whom also Abraham gave a
tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of
righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King
of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent,
having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like
Genesis Chapter Fourteen
unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. Now consider
how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham
gave the tenth of the spoils. And verily they that are of the sons
of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a
commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law,
that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of
Abraham: But he whose descent is not counted from them
received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the
promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of
the better.
All the descriptions of this man testify that he is Christ. Because we
know that no one has seen God at any time, though some have seen
His similitude: John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the
only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath
declared him. (1John 4:12)
Exodus 33:20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for
there shall no man see me, and live.
Deuteronomy 4:12 And the LORD spake unto you out of the
midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no
similitude; only ye heard a voice.
Numbers 12:8 With him (Moses) will I speak mouth to mouth,
even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of
the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to
speak against my servant Moses?
God can only be seen in Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:15 Who is the
image of the invisible God, …..
John 10:30 I and my Father are one.
The bread and the wine that were brought forth by this man testify of
the Lord Jesus. Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus
took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the
disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
Luke 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup
is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
Jesus is now our High Priest. Hebrews 5:10 Called of God an high
priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 4:14-15 Seeing then that we have a great high priest,
that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us
Genesis Chapter Fourteen
hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which
cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in
all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Nothing is said about his family, and Genesis is about families. In the
book of Hebrews the writer says he is King of righteousness, and
after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without
father, without mother, without descent, having neither
beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of
God. The word Melchisedec means King of Justice or, as the writer
says, King of Rightiousness. I reckon there is only one of those, the
Alpha and Omega, Jesus Christ.
This man, Melchisedec, blesses the patriarch Abram, and without all
contradiction the less is blessed of the better, and Abram gave
him tithes of all, and though this appearance was many centuries
ago, we, as Christians, are still living under the influence of
Melchisedec to this very day. I think, perhaps, Abram will encounter
this man again in a subsequent chapter.
Genesis 14:21-24 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give
me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. 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 any thing 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.
Now, we see, though Abram had received the bread and wine and
the blessing from Mechisedec, he was not about to accept any
reward from the King of Sodom. He said he had promised God he
would not take anything, and he was keeping that promise. Certainly,
this pagan king would have boasted that he had made Abram rich if
he had taken anything from him, therefore, he would take nothing
except what the soldiers had eaten and a portion for his three friends.
One of those friends was the owner of the high plains where Abram
then dwelt, Mamre the Amorite.
Genesis Chapter Fourteen
Abraham and Lot separate and the location of Sodom
Genesis Chapter Fourteen
Map showing the probable meeting place of Abram and
Melchizedek