Walk in the Bible - Genesis 14
Walk in the Bible - Chapter 14
Verse 14 seems to start with a totally different subject, but not really. It starts with these kings and these cities to show us that they were the super powers of their day, as Or HaChaim reminds us. It also serves to set the stage for Abram and Lot's story to continue. It also starts with an interesting parallel between Abram and Lot, Sforno states that these kingdoms that were at war at this time originally met in the Valley of Siddim (now the Dead Sea) and in a compromise in the dispute that was going on, they all agreed to serve King Kedorlaomer. They'd serve him and pay him taxes for 12 years, just as Lot followed Abram around for a while too, but then the vassal kingdoms or Kedorlaomer rebelled, just as Lot had. Interestingly enough, some scholars argue that King Amraphel of Shinar is actually the famous King Hamurabi as he won his kingdom's freedom from King Elam who's also mentioned in verse 1 too!
From verse 5 it shows the kings who'd rebelled fighting and defeating their enemies left and right. In verse 7 the kings come to a place called "En mishpat", also called "The well of judgement" or "the fountain of judgement" , this is the place the inhabitant of the country went to , at that time to settle their disputes. It also the place were Moses would be judged for striking the rock during the Exodus!
In verse 8 the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim and Bela went out to war in an unbalanced war of five kings to four. The four kings on the other side were Cherdorlaomer, Tidal, Amraphael and Arioch. Verse 10 is likely the first reference in the Bible to asphalt, what the bible calls either "slime pits" or "bitumen pits" in some translations. Not only were the pits full of asphalt, but they were also pretty deep, some have been measured to 116 feet deep - and that's just where the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah wound up, the fell while running away and wound up in a deep pit of asphalt.
At this point, the kings on the other side went in and looted Sodom and Gomorrah and along with that , the people in the city. Now the bible pretty much goes out of the way to tell us that they not only took Lot , but everything he had too. Sforno tells us that this was no a random act, they knew Lot was related to Abram, they knew how wealthy Abram was and they though he'd pay handsomely for his release. Abram does enter the story in verse 13, when a fugitive from the raid escapes and tells him that Lot's been taken captive.
At this point (verse 14), Abram literally took up a sword and went after Lot's captors. Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible points out that because Lot wasn't actually an inhabitant of Sodom , just a sojourner, he shouldn't have been taken captive. He literally had no dogs in the fight between any of the nations at war. He did get taken , however, and Abram was very much on his way to free him, not only him, but 318 of his servants. Now Rashi and Dat Zkenim argue that since the name Eliezer translates to 318, that he really only took Eliezer and no one else. Not all scholars agree, some think it was literally 318 servants and himself. If he really did take that many servants, that meant he had many more to stay at home and look after his animals and household!
Here Abram used a tactic that would appear twice more in the Old Testament (Judges 7:20-22, 1 Samuel 11:11 ) which is to pursue by day , then at night, when vision would have been limited, they split up into 3 groups and attacked the army in 3 different directions, making the army think they were larger than they actually were.
The Bible tells us that Abram brought back Lot, his family, all of his possession as well as all of the people and their possession that were taken. Or HaChaim tells us that he did this because he recognized that the King of Sodom treated Lot with honor, so he could do no less himself. Melchizedek comes and brings bread and wine. At this point, Rashi reminds us that this isn't communion that he's bringing, he was doing what was customary for soldiers that had won in battle, he was giving them food, as they were likely hungry, and wine to refresh themselves. Additionally, some of the scholars, such as Or HaChaim believe that Melchizedek is actually Shem, one of Noah's sons!
Sforno reminds us that Melchizedek confirmed what GOD said in Genesis 12:2 when he blessed Abram. Abram responded to that blessing by giving him a tenth of everything, now GOD hadn't yet introduced tithing yet, so Abram wasn't tithing as such, but it was a tradition at that time to give one tenth to the priesthood or the sanctuary. Traces of this are found in Assyria, Babylon, even amongst the ancient Greeks! When the king of Sodom asked Abram for the people he captured only, he was recognizing Abram's right, by the custom of the day,to keep everything he'd won by rescuing them.
When Abram refuses to accept anything from the King of Sodom, he's making an oath before him, literally telling him he'll hear no more about this. Additionally, Abram is refusing to take anything from the King, as Rashi remind us, because GOD's already said he'd see to Abram himself in Genesis 12:2, further Chizkuni is telling us that Abram is literally refusing anything, whether expensive or even cheap things from the King. He won't even let the king decree what his men should take, he says himself that they should take their share , in verse 24, as it was their right to do so.
Abraham, by right could have claimed anything and everything he wanted according to the war customs of his times, but he claimed nothing for himself, instead he allowed his servants to claim their share. Just like Christ, who could have claimed kingship over the entire world, refused such a thing and instead fought the battle for us and let us claim the spoils of war, which is a share in eternal life. Abraham's humility shows us who he was as a man. Here he was, the conquering hero, returning from war, victorious, standing before the King of Sodom, and Melchizedek, who said Abram was blessed by GOD. He could have let all that praise and glory go to his head, but he didn't.
He knew where his help, riches and hope for tomorrow came from, and that was GOD, not the King of Sodom, or Melchizedek, but GOD.
As we go into this holy week, I wonder, are you more like Abram, knowing where you help, riches and hope for tomorrow comes from. I mean, lets face it, we all say casually, "See you tomorrow", but we don't actually know we'll have it, we just hope for it. So , do you know GOD? Do you know that on this night, Good Friday, he removed the separation between GOD and you ? Before you couldn't go to GOD yourself, a priest had to do it, and then , only one time of the year could that be done. When JESUS shed his blood, as the ultimate sacrifice, dying the worst possible death there was to die, his blood opened the way between GOD and you forever. He bought your life AND your eternal life.
If you don't know that, or aren't sure, I'd love to hear from you, just drop me an email - I promise I won't ask for a donation. I don't and never will. I do this on my own time as I'm studying to be a minister myself! I'm learning the Bible and sharing what I've found, so again, if you don't know GOD or aren't sure, feel free to drop me an email - I won't ask for donations - and there's no one else, it's just me and I'd love to here from you !
Verse 14 seems to start with a totally different subject, but not really. It starts with these kings and these cities to show us that they were the super powers of their day, as Or HaChaim reminds us. It also serves to set the stage for Abram and Lot's story to continue. It also starts with an interesting parallel between Abram and Lot, Sforno states that these kingdoms that were at war at this time originally met in the Valley of Siddim (now the Dead Sea) and in a compromise in the dispute that was going on, they all agreed to serve King Kedorlaomer. They'd serve him and pay him taxes for 12 years, just as Lot followed Abram around for a while too, but then the vassal kingdoms or Kedorlaomer rebelled, just as Lot had. Interestingly enough, some scholars argue that King Amraphel of Shinar is actually the famous King Hamurabi as he won his kingdom's freedom from King Elam who's also mentioned in verse 1 too!
From verse 5 it shows the kings who'd rebelled fighting and defeating their enemies left and right. In verse 7 the kings come to a place called "En mishpat", also called "The well of judgement" or "the fountain of judgement" , this is the place the inhabitant of the country went to , at that time to settle their disputes. It also the place were Moses would be judged for striking the rock during the Exodus!
In verse 8 the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim and Bela went out to war in an unbalanced war of five kings to four. The four kings on the other side were Cherdorlaomer, Tidal, Amraphael and Arioch. Verse 10 is likely the first reference in the Bible to asphalt, what the bible calls either "slime pits" or "bitumen pits" in some translations. Not only were the pits full of asphalt, but they were also pretty deep, some have been measured to 116 feet deep - and that's just where the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah wound up, the fell while running away and wound up in a deep pit of asphalt.
At this point, the kings on the other side went in and looted Sodom and Gomorrah and along with that , the people in the city. Now the bible pretty much goes out of the way to tell us that they not only took Lot , but everything he had too. Sforno tells us that this was no a random act, they knew Lot was related to Abram, they knew how wealthy Abram was and they though he'd pay handsomely for his release. Abram does enter the story in verse 13, when a fugitive from the raid escapes and tells him that Lot's been taken captive.
At this point (verse 14), Abram literally took up a sword and went after Lot's captors. Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible points out that because Lot wasn't actually an inhabitant of Sodom , just a sojourner, he shouldn't have been taken captive. He literally had no dogs in the fight between any of the nations at war. He did get taken , however, and Abram was very much on his way to free him, not only him, but 318 of his servants. Now Rashi and Dat Zkenim argue that since the name Eliezer translates to 318, that he really only took Eliezer and no one else. Not all scholars agree, some think it was literally 318 servants and himself. If he really did take that many servants, that meant he had many more to stay at home and look after his animals and household!
Here Abram used a tactic that would appear twice more in the Old Testament (Judges 7:20-22, 1 Samuel 11:11 ) which is to pursue by day , then at night, when vision would have been limited, they split up into 3 groups and attacked the army in 3 different directions, making the army think they were larger than they actually were.
The Bible tells us that Abram brought back Lot, his family, all of his possession as well as all of the people and their possession that were taken. Or HaChaim tells us that he did this because he recognized that the King of Sodom treated Lot with honor, so he could do no less himself. Melchizedek comes and brings bread and wine. At this point, Rashi reminds us that this isn't communion that he's bringing, he was doing what was customary for soldiers that had won in battle, he was giving them food, as they were likely hungry, and wine to refresh themselves. Additionally, some of the scholars, such as Or HaChaim believe that Melchizedek is actually Shem, one of Noah's sons!
Sforno reminds us that Melchizedek confirmed what GOD said in Genesis 12:2 when he blessed Abram. Abram responded to that blessing by giving him a tenth of everything, now GOD hadn't yet introduced tithing yet, so Abram wasn't tithing as such, but it was a tradition at that time to give one tenth to the priesthood or the sanctuary. Traces of this are found in Assyria, Babylon, even amongst the ancient Greeks! When the king of Sodom asked Abram for the people he captured only, he was recognizing Abram's right, by the custom of the day,to keep everything he'd won by rescuing them.
When Abram refuses to accept anything from the King of Sodom, he's making an oath before him, literally telling him he'll hear no more about this. Additionally, Abram is refusing to take anything from the King, as Rashi remind us, because GOD's already said he'd see to Abram himself in Genesis 12:2, further Chizkuni is telling us that Abram is literally refusing anything, whether expensive or even cheap things from the King. He won't even let the king decree what his men should take, he says himself that they should take their share , in verse 24, as it was their right to do so.
Abraham, by right could have claimed anything and everything he wanted according to the war customs of his times, but he claimed nothing for himself, instead he allowed his servants to claim their share. Just like Christ, who could have claimed kingship over the entire world, refused such a thing and instead fought the battle for us and let us claim the spoils of war, which is a share in eternal life. Abraham's humility shows us who he was as a man. Here he was, the conquering hero, returning from war, victorious, standing before the King of Sodom, and Melchizedek, who said Abram was blessed by GOD. He could have let all that praise and glory go to his head, but he didn't.
He knew where his help, riches and hope for tomorrow came from, and that was GOD, not the King of Sodom, or Melchizedek, but GOD.
As we go into this holy week, I wonder, are you more like Abram, knowing where you help, riches and hope for tomorrow comes from. I mean, lets face it, we all say casually, "See you tomorrow", but we don't actually know we'll have it, we just hope for it. So , do you know GOD? Do you know that on this night, Good Friday, he removed the separation between GOD and you ? Before you couldn't go to GOD yourself, a priest had to do it, and then , only one time of the year could that be done. When JESUS shed his blood, as the ultimate sacrifice, dying the worst possible death there was to die, his blood opened the way between GOD and you forever. He bought your life AND your eternal life.
If you don't know that, or aren't sure, I'd love to hear from you, just drop me an email - I promise I won't ask for a donation. I don't and never will. I do this on my own time as I'm studying to be a minister myself! I'm learning the Bible and sharing what I've found, so again, if you don't know GOD or aren't sure, feel free to drop me an email - I won't ask for donations - and there's no one else, it's just me and I'd love to here from you !
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