Genesis 14
McGeeCHAPTER 14THEME: Kings of the east capture Sodom and Gomorrah; Abraham delivers Lot; Abraham refuses bootyIn chapter 14 we find the first recorded war, one in which Abram delivers Lot; and we find the appearance of the first priest, at which time Abram is blessed by Melchizedek. These are the two great truths that are here. In one sense, this is a most remarkable chapter. It does not seem to fit in with the story at all. It seems that it could be left out, that there is a continuity without it. But it is one of the most important chapters in the Book of Genesis.
Genesis 14:1
KINGS OF THE EAST CAPTURE SODOM AND GOMORRAHFirst of all, let me say that this is a historical document. In the first eleven verses, it is recorded that the kings of the east defeat the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. For quite a few years, the critical, radical scholars rejected this, saying that these men’s names do not appear in secular history at all and that this is a rather ridiculous story. But did you know that the names of these kings have been found on monuments and tablets, showing that they did exist? In fact, Amraphel is now known to be the Hammurabi of other secular history. The record that we have here is tremendously significant. There was war, and this is the first war that is mentioned in Scripture. Mankind began early in making war. Although this is the first war recorded, I do not know that it is the first war that ever took placeI do not think that the writer intends to give that impression. The reason it is recorded is because Lot, the nephew of Abram, is involved.
Genesis 14:3
The rebellion is what brought the kings of the east against Sodom and Gomorrah. These kings evidently had fought before, because the kings of the east had subjugated these cities of the plain, but the cities had reached the place of rebellion. In verses Gen_14:5-11 we read the account of how the kings of the east overcame the kings who had joined together around the lower part of the Dead Sea.
Genesis 14:12
Lot lived in Sodom and was taken captive. The reason this war is significant to the record here is that it reveals what Abram is going to do in connection with his nephew.
Genesis 14:13
ABRAHAM DELIVERS LOTWhen the kings of the east left the area of Sodom and Gomorrah with their captives, they moved north along the west bank of the Dead Sea, which was not too far from Hebron and Mamre where Abram was dwelling. You can stand where Abram stood in that day and see any movement that takes place down toward the Dead Sea. So that when word was brought to Abram, he immediately began to pursue the enemy as he moved north. “And these were confederate with Abram.” Notice that Abram has a group of men that are with him. They had to stand together in that day because of the pursuit or the approach of an enemy. They either had to hang together or hang separately.
Genesis 14:14
This is startling, and it reveals something of the extent of Abram’s possessions. This gives you some conception of the number of servants Abram had. In his own household, he could arm 318. How many did he have that he could not arm? For instance, there would also be women and children and the old folkbut he could arm 318. To have that many hired hands indicates that Abram was carrying on quite a business of raising cattle and sheep. “And pursued them unto Dan"Dan is up in the north.
Genesis 14:15
Abram pursued these men all the way north to Damascusthat is quite a stretch. Apparently, what Abram did was to divide his servants. One group made an attack, probably from the rear as they were pursuing them. The other group went around, and when the enemy turned to fight the first group, the second group came down upon them. As a result, Abram was able to get a victory. At least he was able to scatter them so that they fled across the desert, leaving the people and the booty they had captured.
Genesis 14:16
You see that they were taking the women and the other people as slaves. Abram has done a tremendous thing, and he has done it because of his nephew Lot. That is the reason all of this is mentioned here. This is very definitely not an extraneous chapter. It is a part of the life of Abram, and it is very important.
Genesis 14:17
The king of Sodom went out to meet Abram. But now someone else is going to come out and meet Abram, and it is a good thing that he did, because the king of Sodom is going to put a grave temptation before Abram.
Genesis 14:18
I have several questions here, and I am sure that you do. To begin with, where in the world did this man Melchizedek come from? He just walks out on the page of Scripture with bread and wine, he blesses Abram, and then he walks off the page of Scripturethat’s it. I wonder where he came from. I wonder where he is going, and I wonder what his business is. I find out that he is king of Salem, but he is also priest of the most high God. But now I have another question: How did he find out about “the most high God”? He found out somewhere. El Elohim is the most high God, the Creator of heaven and earth; in other words, the living God, the God of Genesis 1, the God of Noah, and the God of Enoch. This is the OneHe is not a local deity. H.
C. Leupold in his book on Genesis says that this is “strictly a monotheistic conception.” Dr. Samuel M. Zwemer, in his Origin of Religion, says that this reveals that there was monotheism before polytheism. In other words, all men had a knowledge of the living and true God. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Rom_1:21). Paul goes on to say that men continued to go down to the point where they began to worship the creature more than the Creator. Yet back in Abram’s day here is a man who is high priest for the world of that day. He has a knowledge of the living and true God. He is a priest of the living and true God. He comes out, bringing bread and wine to Abramthose are the elements of the Lord’s Supper! I wonder what he had in mind? How much did Melchizedek know? Melchizedek is mentioned three times in Scripture. In addition to this passage in Genesis, he is also mentioned in Psa_110:4, which is prophetic of Christ: “…Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” Finally, he is mentioned several times in Hebrews. After reading Hebrews, I know why nothing is said about his origin in Genesis. Nothing is said about his parents, and that is strange because the Book of Genesis is the book of families. It tells about the beginnings of these families. Every time we see mentioned a man who is important in the genealogical line (as this man Melchizedek is), his parents are mentioned. “He is the son of So-and-So,” or “these are the generations of So-and-So.” But we do not have the generations of Melchizedek.
The writer to the Hebrews makes it very clear that the reason there is no record of Melchizedek’s father or mother or beginning or ending of days is because the priesthood of Christ, in its inception, is after the order of Melchizedek. In servicein what our Lord did in the sacrifice of Himself and in His entering the Holy of Holies, which is heaven todayChrist’s priesthood follows the order of Aaron. But in His person, our Lord had no beginning or ending of days, and His priesthood follows the order of Melchizedek. As King, Christ is son of Abraham, He is son of Davidthe Gospel of Matthew tells us that. But in the Gospel of John we read: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (Joh_1:1, Joh_1:14).
He had no beginning or ending of days as far as creation is concernedHe is the eternal God. He came out of heaven’s glory, the Word was made flesh, and we beheld His glory. We have in Melchizedek a marvelous picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Brought forth bread and wine.” I know now why Melchizedek does this. It is because the Scriptures say, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come” (1Co_11:26). Melchizedek is anticipating the death of Christ here! On that basis he blessed Abram: “Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth"El Elohim, the Creator. This man was the high priest of the world in that day. The Lord Jesus is the great High Priest for the world today. The Lord Jesus is after the order of Melchizedeknot Aaronas set forth here. Aaron was just for Israel and just for a tabernacle. In His person, Christ is after the order of Melchizedek.
Genesis 14:20
Abram paid tithes to Melchizedek here at the very beginning. How did he know about paying tithes? Obviously, he had a revelation from God concerning thisas well as concerning other matters.
Genesis 14:21
ABRAHAM REFUSES BOOTYThis is the temptation. According to the Code of Hammurabi of that day, this man Abram had a perfect right to the booty and even to the persons. But the king of Sodom is clever; he says, “Give us the persons, and you take the bootyit’s yours.” That was a temptation to Abram. Forever after, when anybody would say, “That man Abram is certainly a wealthy man. God has blessed him,” I think that the king of Sodom would have said, “Blessed him, my foot! God didn’t bless him. I gave it to him; I’m the one who made him rich!” Abram knew that. Listen to him now:
Genesis 14:22
Abram is still under the influence and the blessing of Melchizedek, and it is a good thing he met Melchizedek. God always prepares us for any temptation that comes to us. He says that He will never let any temptation come to us that we are not able to bear (see 1Co_10:13). God had prepared Abram for this one.
Genesis 14:23
When Abram started out, he made a covenant with God, probably saying, “Oh, God, I am not entering this war in order to get booty. I’m not after possessions. I want to restore and recover my nephew Lot.” And God permitted him to do that. Now Abram tells this to the king of Sodom as a witness to him. Abram could have said, “I worship the living and the true God. I have taken an oath that I would not take anything. You can’t make me rich. I won’t let you give me a shoestring or a piece of thread because, if you did even that, you would run around and say that you made me rich. If I get rich, God will have to do it.”
Genesis 14:24
But Abram says, “These other men have a right to the booty, and they can have it; but I am not taking anything. What the young men who are with me have eaten is their pay for serving you and delivering you. But as for meyou cannot give me a thing.”