Genesis 14
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants--domestic slaves, such as are common in Eastern countries still and are considered and treated as members of the family. If Abram could spare three hundred and eighteen slaves and leave a sufficient number to take care of the flocks, what a large establishment he must have had.
Open source ↗That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet,.... That is, from a thread used in sewing garments to, a shoelatchet, or the string which fastens the shoes to the foot, the least belonging to that; or from the hair lace of the head, to the shoelatchet of the foot; that is, he would take nothing of his from head to foot: the meaning is, that he would not take that which was of the least value and importance that could be conceived of, and which is more clearly expressed by what follows: and that I will not take anything that is thine; the least thing that belonged to him, or to any of his subjects, for this reason: lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich; lest he should upbraid him with it afterwards, and say, that all his riches were owing to him; whereas God had promised to bless him, and make him rich and great, as he had begun to do, and still would more and more; and in whom his trusted, and to whom he was desirous all the glory of his greatness and riches should be ascribed.
Open source ↗We have four things in the story of this chapter. I. A war with the king of Sodom and his allies (Gen 14:1-11). II. The captivity of Lot in that war (Gen 14:12). III. Abram's rescue of Lot from that captivity, with the victory he obtained over the conquerors (Gen 14:13-16). IV. Abram's return from the expedition (Gen 14:17), with an account of what passed, 1. Between him and the king of Salem (Gen 14:18-20). 2. Between him and the king of Sodom (Gen 14:21-24). So that here we have that promise to Abram in part fulfilled, that God would make his name great.
Open source ↗14:1-16 In this skirmish typical of ancient politics, powerful kings formed a coalition to subjugate smaller vassal states. 14:1-2 Archaeology has not identified these kings, but similar names from antiquity corroborate the report’s accuracy. The Mesopotamian kings were confederates under a suzerain, apparently Amraphel, who is mentioned first. 14:1 Tidal apparently ruled a number of city-states (Goiim, literally nations).
Open source ↗14:18 Melchizedek means “king of righteousness,” suggesting that he was a righteous servant of God. He was probably a Jebusite priest and king; later authors regarded him as a type of Christ (Ps 110:4; Heb 7:1-19). • Salem is the ancient name of Jerusalem (cp. Ps 76:2).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) פָּלִיט (pâlîyṭ, H6412) — a refugee נָגַד (nâgad, H5046) — properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to… אַבְרָם (ʼAbrâm, H87) — Abram, the original name of Abraham עִבְרִי (ʻIbrîy, H5680) — an Eberite (i.e. Hebrew) or descendant of Eber שָׁכַן (shâkan, H7931) — to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively) אֵלוֹן (ʼêlôwn, H436) — an oak or other strong tree מַמְרֵא (Mamrêʼ, H4471) — Mamre, an Amorite אֱמֹרִי (ʼĔmôrîy, H567) — an Emorite, one of the Canaanitish tribes אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… אֶשְׁכֹּל (ʼEshkôl, H812) — Eshcol, the name of an Amorite, also of a valley in Palestine עָנֵר (ʻÂnêr, H6063) — Aner, a Amorite, also a place in Palestine בַּעַל (baʻal, H1167) — a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in… בְּרִית (bᵉrîyth, H1285) — a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)
Open source ↗מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק (Malkîy-Tsedeq, H4442) — Malki-Tsedek, an early king in Palestine מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king שָׁלֵם (Shâlêm, H8004) — Shalem, an early name of Jerusalem יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899) — food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it) יַיִן (yayin, H3196) — wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… עֶלְיוֹן (ʻelyôwn, H5945) — an elevation, i.e. (adj.) lofty (compar.); as title, the Supreme אֵל (ʼêl, H410) — strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity)
Open source ↗בָרַךְ (bârak, H1288) — to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as… עֶלְיוֹן (ʻelyôwn, H5945) — an elevation, i.e. (adj.) lofty (compar.); as title, the Supreme אֵל (ʼêl, H410) — strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity) מָגַן (mâgan, H4042) — properly, to shield; encompass with; figuratively, to rescue, to hand safely over (i.e.… צַר (tsar, H6862) — narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble ;… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) מַעֲשֵׂר (maʻăsêr, H4643) — a tenth; especially a tithe
Open source ↗From the web
What trusted teachers and preachers say about this passage, from around the web.
thegospelcoalition.org
Open source ↗learn.ligonier.org
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Open source ↗ccel.org
Open source ↗sermonaudio.com
Open source ↗thegospelcoalition.org
Open source ↗thegospelcoalition.org
Open source ↗thegospelcoalition.org
Open source ↗learn.ligonier.org
Open source ↗learn.ligonier.org
Open source ↗learn.ligonier.org
Open source ↗ligonier.org
Open source ↗learn.ligonier.org
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
His kingdom began in Babylon, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
Did the gods of the nations destroyed by my fathers rescue those nations—the gods of Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph, and of the people of Eden in Telassar?
The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.
And as people journeyed eastward, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.
On that day the Lord will extend His hand a second time to recover the remnant of His people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
all the kings of Zimri, Elam, and Media;
Elam takes up a quiver, with chariots and horsemen, and Kir uncovers the shield.
Elam is there with all her multitudes around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword— those who went down uncircumcised to the earth below, who once spread their terror in the land of the living. They bear their disgrace with those who descend to the Pit.
And the Lord delivered into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, along with some of the articles from the house of God. He carried these off to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, where he put them in the treasury of his god.
“To build a house for it in the land of Shinar,” he told me. “And when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its pedestal.”