Genesis 14

— And he gave him tithes of all.] It was a very ancient custom to offer to God, whose priest Melchizedek was, the tenth part of what they took in war. The custom prevailed among the Greeks and Romans, and other nations, most distant from and unknown to each other. What is recorded here, was long before the law of tithes was given to the Israelites, and therefore could not be from them. Jacob vowed after this the tithes to God. And that narrative, together with this of Abram, shews plainly, that the custom of paying tithes was of very high antiquity; and that not only of the spoils of war, but of their flock, corn, and other fruit, which Jacob vowed unto God, Chap. xxviii. 23. Bps. Patrick and Wilson.

Abram] God revealed Himself to him more clearly. For this is the first time we read of the Word of the Lord coming to him, and of his having a vision, that is, being made a Prophet, and that in an high degree, God revealing His mind to him not in a dream, but in a vision; when he was awake, but having his senses bound up from their ordinary functions, whilst the heavenly influence came upon his mind. Bp. Patrick. A signal manifestation of Himself was now made to Abram by the personal WORD OF THE LORD, who announced Himself as the same God, who had brought him out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give him the inheritance of the land of Canaan. Dr. Hales. See note on Jer. i. 4. — Fear not, Abram:] He might be tempted to fear: he was a sojourner in a strange land, separated from Lot, who with the confederates was assaulted, and but lately rescued from captivity. God assures him therefore both of protection, and of great blessings besides. Bp. Kidder.

Genesis 14:2

2. — Lord God, what wilt thou give me.] What good will all the riches in the world do me, if I have not a child to inherit my estate? Bp. Patrick. We commonly have our eye upon those things which we desire, and set so great a price upon them, that the overvaluing of what we have in pursuit and expectation, makes us undervalue what we have in possession. An infirmity, to which the best of the faithful, “the Father of the faithful” not excepted, are subject. It was the speech of no worse a man than Abram, “Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless?” As if he had said, “All this great increase of cattle and abundance of treasure, which thou hast given me, avail me nothing, so long as I have never a child to leave it to.” Bp. Sanderson. — Eliezer of Damascus? His ancestors were of Damascus, in Syria, though he was born in Abram’s house. Bp. Kidder.

Genesis 14:3

3. — one born in my house is mine heir.] If they have no children at all, the rich people of Barbary purchase young slaves, educate them in their own faith, and sometimes adopt them for their own children. Relations among us would think this a cruel hardship; would often pronounce it unjust: but the people of the East seem always to have had these ideas. “One born in my house is mine heir,” says Abram, speaking of a slave that he had, born of some female slave; though he had brother’s children and grandchildren, if not a brother, in Mesopotamia, Gen. xxii. 20—24. Harmer.

Genesis 14:6

6. And he believed in the Lord:] He trusted in God, believing that He would make His promises good, how unlikely soever they seemed. “He against hope believed in God.” Bp. Kidder. — and he counted it to him for righteousness.] The Lord esteemed it a most noble act and high expression of a pious confidence in Him; and thereon graciously owned him for a “righteous” person, though he was not free from all sin; but was guilty of some actions that were not consistent with perfect “righteousness.” Bp. Patrick. This is that faith of Abram, which is so highly celebrated in the New Testament, Rom. iv. 3; Gal. iii. 6; Jam. ii. 23; and which consisted in a firm belief or persuasion, that the Divine promises, both temporal and spiritual, would be fulfilled in their sesson; and in a conduct suitable to that persuasion. Dr. Hales.

Genesis 14:8

8. — whereby shall I know &c.] He desires to know more particularly the manner of God’s performing this last promise of his inheriting that land. He questions not God’s veracity, but desires a more distinct knowledge of the matter. Bp. Kidder.

Genesis 14:10

10. — divided them in the midst.] The only trace of this rite in Scripture is in Jer. xxxiv. 18, 19, where a covenant is made by dividing a beast, and the parties

Genesis 14:15

15. — he and his servants, by night, &c.] The manner, in which the Arabs make war and pillage the caravans, is by keeping at the side of them, or following them in the rear, at a greater or smaller distance according to their forces, which may be easily done in Arabs, on account of its being one great plain: and in the night they fall silently upon the camp, and carry off one part, before the rest are under arms. Abram probably fell upon the camp of the four kings, that had carried away Lot, in the same Arab manner; and thus, with unequal forces, accomplished his design, and rescued Lot. It is to be remembered that the combats of those days more resembled a fight among the mob, then the bloody and destructive wars of Europe. Sir J. Chardin.

Genesis 14:18

18. — Melchizedek] He was a king and priest (for these two offices were in ancient times united in the same person) in that country: where men were not yet wholly fallen from the true religion. Bp. Patrick. The word Melchizedek signifies king of righteousness, Heb. vii. 2, or a just and righteous king. Pyle.

— Salem] The most ancient quarter of Jerusalem. Dr. Hales.

— brought forth bread and wine:] For the refreshment of Abram and his followers after the fight. This he did as a king, not as a priest: it was an act, not of religion, but of hospitality. In the character of a priest, “he blessed him,” as is added in the following verse. Bp. Patrick. For this was the office of a priest, Numb. vi. 23; and in this he was a type of Jesus Christ, Acts iii. 26. Bp. Kidder.

This Canaanitish prince was early considered as a type of Christ in the Jewish Church: “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek:” Ps. cx. 4; who resembled Christ in the following particulars. 1. In his name, Melchizedek, “king of righteousness.” 2. In his city, Salem, “peace.” 3. In his offices of king and priest of the most high God. And, 4. In the occasion of the names of his parents and genealogy, the time of his birth, and length of life; exhibiting an indefinite reign and priesthood, according to the Apostle’s exposition, Heb. vii. 3. Dr. Hales.

Genesis 14:20

20. And blessed be the most high God.] That is, praised be, &c. When God blesseth man, He bestows

Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

Genesis 14:21

21. And the king of Sodom said] The defeat and the great deliverance of the king of Sodom and his people should have been a warning to them, as it was in the intention of Providence, to leave off their wicked way of living: but it was not, and they are reserved for a much greater punishment. What we should be convinced of by this is, that the abuse of God’s mercies and forbearance is visited upon particular persons, as well as upon nations and cities. Bp. Wilson.

Genesis 14:22

22. — I have lift up mine hand &c.] That is, sworn; as the phrase is used in many places, Exod. vi. 8; Numb. xiv. 30, &c. Bp. Patrick. See the note on Deut. xxxii. 40.

Genesis 14:23

23. — I will not take from a thread &c.] That is, the meanest thing. Bp. Patrick.

Abram had learned the lesson of the Apostle, “to be contented with his own.” He was so far from the base desire of enriching himself with the king of Sodom’s goods, that he utterly refused them, when he might have taken them, and held them without any injustice at all. He had, or might have had, a double title to them. They were his by the law of arms and nations; having won them in the field, and in a just war: and they might have been his by the king’s free donation, if he had been minded to accept the offer: “give me the persons, take the goods to thyself.” But Abram would not take them: contenting himself with what the Lord had blessed him with, he did not desire, neither would he take “from a thread even to a shoe-latchet,” of any

c Hebr. 7. 4. God encourageeth Abram, and promiseth him a son. Before CHRIST about 1913. the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion. # CHAP. XV.