Genesis 14

Genesis 14:1-12

We have four things in the story of this chapter. 1. A war with the king of Sodom and his allies, ver. 1—11. 2. The captivity of Lot in that war, ver. 12. 3. Abram’s refuge of Lot from that captivity, with the victory he obtained over the conquerors, ver. 13—16. 4. Abram’s return from that expedition, ver. 17. with an account of what passed, 1. Between him and the king of Sodom, ver. 18, 19, 20. 2. Between him and the king of Sodom, ver. 21—24.

1. AND Before Christ about 1913. Leth. xxxv. 2. Chap. xxxv. 3. Exon. xxxv. 4. Exon. 4.

And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Ariech king of Ellalar, Chederlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations. 2. The rife made war with Berah king of Sodom, and with Birtha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shameber king of Zeboim, and the king of Bela, which is ‘Zoar’. 3. All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the fair-ice. 4. Twelve years they served Chederlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5. And in the fourteenth year came Chederlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and I know the ‘Rephaima in ‘Ahteroth Karnaim, and the ‘Zuzima in ‘Ham, and the Emiim in ‘Shaveh Kriazhaim. 6. And ’the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-paran, which is by the wilderness. 7. And they returned, and came to En-mithpat, which is Kafe, and I know all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in ‘Haxazon-tamar. 8. And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim. 9. With Chederlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Ariech king of Ellalar: four kings with five. 10. And the vale of Siddim was fall of flame-pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there: and they that remained fled to the mountains. 11. And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. 12. And they took Lot Abrams brothers son (who dwelt in Sodom) and his goods, and departed.

This is the first war in sacred history. The cause of it was the rebellion of the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim and Bela, against their conqueror Chederlaomer, a prince of Perfa. He, with his confederates, attacks them thereupon, routs their forces, plunders their cities, and among the rest, for whose fate this victory is recorded, carries away Lot among the captives. And now Lot began to for the folly of his choice, and to share in the evil of his bad fellow-citizens. Note, 1. Pride and ambition are the great causes of the defoliations which are wrought in the earth. 2. When a nation is funk in luxury, it becomes an early prey to any ambitious neighbour. Let England tremble. 3. We are to blame ourselves for the mischiefs we meet in bad company: What doth Lot here! 4. In public calamities the righteous often suffer with the wicked. 5. We are often like Lot; when in hulle to be rich, only going the ready way to be undone.

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13. And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamer the Amorite, brother of Elhcol, and brother of Aner; and these were confederate with Abram. 14. And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive; he armed his 2 trained, geranuts, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. 15. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants by night, and ’tmore them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 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.

Genesis 14:10-12

Exod. xv. 12. God interposes. Note, 1. It is a great mercy to be stopped Shall by conscience or providence in a sinful way. 2. The misselves we bring ourselves into by our sins, like the prodigal, make our return more desirable. 2. The angel’s address and question. The address, to humble; the question, to alarm her. Sarai’s maid should have taken correction definitively, and not have left that holy family to return to the idols of Egypt. Note, 1. It would stop our career often, if we would ask, Whither am I going? What am I doing? 2. Writfully to leave the means of grace, is a dangerous step. 3. If God did not gradually interpose, alas! what often would become of us, when under the guidance of a perverse spirit? 3. Her answer. She pleads her mistress’s anger, as the cause of her flight. Though no excuse for her, yet too just an accusation of Sarai. Note, 1. The wrongness of others behavious to us, is no real plea for an ill return. 2. They are partners of the guilt, who by their provocations lead others into sin. 3. If mothers or mistresses forbear not threatening, their seriants will have some reason to complain. 4. The angel’s command, or rather kind advice, ver. 9. Note, 1. When we are out of the way of duty, it becomes us to make halte to return to it. 2. We are bound to hope for God’s bleffing when we do so, however disagreeable or dangerous the step may appear. 3. Better return to suffer, than by flight continue in sin. 10. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, ‘I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. 11. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name + Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. 12. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every mans hand against him: and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. We have here Hagar’s comfort in her affliction. As she submits to the command, she is favoured with an unexpected promise. A son is assured her. She was with child, and should bring Abram an heir, though not the heir. Yet should his pofterity be numerous, a large seed, though not the promised seed. The Arabs were Ishmael’s seed, and their descendants in this day are not only vast in multitude, but great in power, the Turks, as is supposed, deriving thence their original. Note, Worldly blefings are often abundantly bellowed on those who have no better portion. 2. His name and character. His name, Ishmael, God will hear. It is right to set up a memorial of past mercies for future comfort. Let the people of God be assured he will hear their cry, and will help them. His character. A wild man. Like the wild saba cult, intractable and fierce; and though in perpettual brols, yet preserved amidst his stronger neighbours. Note, 1. A quarrelsome disputatious temper will ever be involved in Bride. 2. It is a sad mark of the bond forward this. Grace teaches us mirekness and patience. 3. Many who have exposed themselves by their own imprudence, are wonderfully protected by divine providence. 13. And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seeth me; for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? 14. Wherefore the well was called: Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. 15. And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his sons name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael. 16. And Abram was fourthor and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

Genesis 14:13-16

Though God afflicts his chosen servants, yet, when their cafe seems most desperate, help is at hand. Now was Lot giving himself up for half, when Abram’s courage and conduct redeem him from servitude. A fugitive from the battle informs Abram of the disaster, and he resolves immediately to pursue. Not ambition, but charity roused his spirit for war; it was not to enrich himself, but to recover his friend. We have here.

1. His preparations. His own servants, and the forces of his confederates: his own amounted to 318, a large family, but a small army; but what they wanted in number, they made up in fidelity, bravery, and obedience. They were trained, not to arms, as their trade, but for their defence: or rather trained up in the steps of Abram’s faith and piety, and therefore ready to follow him, as confident of the divine protection under such a general. Note, 1. Though war is very undesirable, it is not always unlawful. 2. Those will be the best soldiers, who are the best chieftains. That religion suffers men not to be quarrelsome; it ever prevents them from being cowards. 3. It is highly the interest and duty of every general to have his soldiers disciplined in the truth: profanensis and Vol. I.

impletely cannot but tend to make men afraid to die. 4. A great family is a great charge; happy the matter, that like Abram, not only provides for their bodies, but cares also for their souls.

2. Their march, and attack of these confederate kings by night: brave and generous to the last degree, and so widely directed, that Abram may vie with the greatest generals. It might have been called hardanels, to attempt to grant an army with such an handful of men; but Abram had the Lord of Holts on his side, and then more were for him than against him. Learn, (1.) When we are engaged in a good cause, we are bound to trust upon the Lord mighty in battle for success. (2.) In war, policy is usually more effectual than force.

3. Their compleat victory. Their enemies are pursued to their fenced cities, and all the captives and spoil left a prey to the conqueror. As it was for Lot’s fake, the expeditions was undertaken; he is first mentioned, and called Abram’s brother, not only because of their family relations, but of their religion. Note, 1. We ought to be ready to lay down our lives for the brethren. 2. Their unkindness to us affects not our duty to them: we must forgive, not only our armored enemies, but what is harder to be put up with, the ingratitude of our friends. 3. A nation faces the beters for one righteous man. For Lot’s fake, all the inhabitants of these cities are recovered also.

4. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him (after his return from the slaughter of Chederlaomer and of the kings that were with him) at the valley of Shavels, which is the ‘kings dale. 18. And ‘Mickhizeank king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he sent the priest of the most high God. 19. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed for Abram of the most high God, ‘possessor of heaven and earth: 20. And blessed for the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him ’tithes of all.

Hagar immediately turns back, after a grateful acknowledgment of the mercy bellowed on her; and Abram in his old age is comforted with a son. 1. The name she gave the place where God appeared to her. Thou God seeth me. Note, 1. It is the comfort of every affliction, the spur to every duty, and the restraint from every sin, to feel the eye of God upon us. 2. We should do well to acknowledge his gracious viltations, and have them not only in our mind, but in our mouth. 2. Her admiration of God’s condescension thus to look upon her. Note, 1. A soul brought to a sense of his error, is amazed at the mercy he finds with God. 2. The eye of faith looks to the all-being God, and this is its liability and support. 3. Her son born. Ishmael, long before Isaac. Note, Corruption is always the first born of the heart; and how many respect no second birth, and the constantly children of the supervisors.

Genesis 14:17-20

Behold Abram’s greatness: kings come to congratulate his victory. The kings of Sodom and Salem: the latter deserves attentive consideration.

1. His name, Mickhizeank, king of rightcousness; his kingdom, Salem, king of peace. See Heb. vii. 1. His character; a priest of the most high God. He is generally supposed to be a prince of Canaan, a worshipper of the true God. But more probably the son of God, the true king of rightcousness and peace, appears to bless his faithful servant. Note, It will be a blessed meeting indeed, when he shall come, after all our victories over sin, death, and the grave, to meet us in the clouds.

2. The provision he brought, bread and wine. The same the Lord Jesus Christ hath now provided to throughout and comfort his faithful soldiers, which mumbly fighting his battles.

3. His benediction on Abram. He blessed God for him, and blessed him from God. Note, 1. The most high God must be the object of our continual blessing and praise. 2. All good things come from him; if we are enabled to overcome our spiritual enemies, we owe it to the strength of the most high God. 3. A true christian rejoices, and blesses God for the prosperity of his brethren.

4. Abraham’s grateful offering. The tenth of the spoils. Learn, 1. They who minister in holy things, have a right to tythes. 2. God expects they who have abundance should honour him with it. 3. The Lord Jesus Christ, our great high priest, must be applied to as the only channel in which our services and offerings can be presented with acceptance to God.

5. And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the + persons, and take the goods to thyself. 22. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I have left up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God,’ the possessor of heaven and earth, 23. That ‘I will not take from a thread even to a shoe-latcher, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldst say, I have made Abram rich: 24. Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Elhcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.

Genesis 14:21-24

We have the king of Sodom’s conference with Abram.

1. His generous offer of all the spoil, except the prisoners. Note, They who fight for us, deserve to be well paid.

2. Abram’s refusal; with the restless for it. (1.) His oath before he went to battle. Swearing is a solemn act of religion: it is an appeal to the most high God, that footh and avengeth. Note, 1. Whenever we favor, we must perform, though it be to our own injury. 2. It must be in a lawful matter, and for the glory of God, and the good of our neighbour. (2.) He feared, least any reproach should be cast on his faith or his charity. He would not have it suggested, that he either wanted or needed to be enriched from this spoil. Note, 1. A chri-

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than man will avoid the things, though lawful, from which the advertiary might take occasion to speak reproachfully. 2. Faith will ever lead a man to look down upon this world, as a very little thing. A mean and mercenary spirit is not the spirit of the truth. 3. When we see a thing wrong, there must not be the least thread found upon us. (3.) He excepts the food of his soldiers, and the share of his allies: this was both right and reason. Note, 1. We have no right to exact from others, the same restraints we impose upon ourselves. 2. They earn their bread hard, who earn it at the peril of their lives.