14
1.And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of
Shinar. Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of
Elam,and Tidal king of nations, 10:10; 11:2
Amraphel, (H569): אמרפל: ‘amrâphel
BDB Definition: Amraphel = “sayer of darkness: fall of the sayer”
1) the king of Shinar (Babylon) (perhaps Hammurabi approximately 2100 BC)
Shinar, (H8152): שׁנער: shin‛âr BDB Definition: Shinar = “country of two rivers”
1) the ancient name for the territory later known as Babylonia or Chalde
Arioch, (H746): אריוך: ‘ăryôk
BDB Definition: Arioch = “lion-like”
1) the ancient king of Ellasar, ally of Chedorlaomer
2) the chief of the executioners for Nebuchadnezzar
Ellasar(H495):אלּסר: ‘ellâsâr BDB Definition: Ellasar = “God is chastener”
1) a town in Babylonia, approximately 28 miles (50 kilometers) E of Ur
Chedorlaomer, (H3540): כּדרלעמר: kedorlâ‛ômer
BDB Definition: Chedorlaomer = “handful of sheaves”
1) the king of Elam defeated by Abraham
Elam,(H5867):עולם / עילם: ‛êylâm / ‛ôlâm
BDB DEfinition: Elam = “eternity”:a province east of Babylon and northeast of the lower Tigris (noun proper locative)
Tidal (H8413): תּדעל: tid‛âl
BDB Definition:Tidal = “great son”
1) chief of various nomadic tribes and an ally of Chedorlaomer
Nations, (H1471):גּי / גּו : gôy
BDB Definition:
1) nation, people (noun masculine)
1a) nation, people
1a1) usually of non-Hebrew people
1a2) of descendants of Abraham
1a3) of Israel
1b) of swarm of locusts, other animals (figuratively)
1c) Goyim? = “nations” (noun proper masculine)
2. that they made war with Bera king of Sodom,Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shinab king of Admah,Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). Deut. 29:23
Bera, (H1298): בּרע: bera‛
BDB Definition: Bera = “son of evil”
1) a king of Sodom
Sodom,(H5467): Sodom = “burning”
1) a Canaanite city, usually paired with Gomorrah, located in the area of the Dead Sea and the Jordan river; both cities destroyed by God in judgment
Birsha, (H1306):בּרשׁע : birsha‛
BDB Definition: Birsha = “with iniquity”
1) a king of Gomorrah
Gomorrah,(H6017):BDB Definition:
Gomorrah = “submersion”
1) the twin-city in evil with Sodom, both destroyed in judgment by God with fire from heaven
1a) of iniquity (figuratively)
Shinab, (H8134):שׁנאב: shin’âb
BDB Definition: Shinab = “splendour of the father”
1) the king of Admah in the time of Abraham
Admah,(H126): אדמה: ‘admâh BDB Definition: Admah = “red earth”
1) city in the Siddim valley
Shemeber, (H8038): שׁמאבר: shem’êber
BDB Definition: Shemeber = “lofty flight”
1) king of Zeboim and an ally of the king of Sodom
Zeboiim,(H6636):צביּם / צביּים / צבאים: tsebô’ı̂ym / tsebı̂yı̂ym / tsebı̂yim
BDB Definition: Zeboim or Zeboiim = “gazelles”
1) one of the 5 cities in the plain which included Sodom and Gomorrah
(that is, Zoar)
Zoar, (H6820): צער: tsô‛ar BDB Definition: Zoar = “insignificance”
1) a city at the southeast end of the Dead Sea grouped with Sodom and Gomorrah as being one of the 5 cities slated for destruction by God; spared at Lot’s plea as his place of refuge
3. All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (that is,
the salt sea).
Valley of Siddim (H6010 and H7708): BDB Definition:
1) valley, vale, lowland, open country
BDB Definition: Siddim = “field” or “plain”
1) valley where the Dead Sea is located
4. Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the
thirteenth year they rebelled.
After careful research of maps that show the locations of
all these kings (I have these maps saved in my map files)
I have discovered that this is the first time in bible history
where we see the kings of the north invade and do battle
with the kings of the south (as we see mentioned in Daniel
11). However these kings in Genesis fourteen have no
correlation with those mentioned in the book of Daniel. I
just found it worthy to mention. It appears to me that these four kings of the north (Chedorlaomer being the leader of them all, and these are
also the descendants of Shem, son of Noah) were rulers
over the five kings of the south (which are the descendants
of Ham who is also a son of Noah), for a period of twelve
years which was prophesied in Gen 9:20-27 that the sons of Ham would serve the sons of Shem. In the thirteenth year the kings of the south rebelled against the kings of the kings of the north. This rebellion
went on for a period of one year until King Chedorlaomer
put together an army big enough to invade the south and
Squash the rebellion. As we will see in verses 5-12.
5. In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that
were with him came and attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth
Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh
Kirathaim,
Rephaim, (H7497): רפה / רפא: râphâ’ / râphâh
BDB Definition:
1) giants, Rephaim
1a) old tribe of giants
Ashteroth Karnaim, (H6255): עשׁתּרת קרנים: ‛ashterôth qarnayim
BDB Definition: Ashtoreth-karnaim = “Ashtoreth of the two horns or peaks”
1) a city in Bashan east of the Jordan given to Manasseh
Zuzim, (H2104): זוּזים”: zûzı̂ym
BDB Definition: Zuzim = “roving creatures”
1) an ancient people of uncertain origin, perhaps, inhabitants of ancient Ammon east of the Jordan
Ham, (H1990): הם: hâm
BDB Definition: Ham = “hot” or “sun burnt”
1) the place where Chedorlaomer and his allies smote the Zuzim, probably in the territory of the Ammonites, east of the Jordan; site uncertain
Emim, (H368): אימים: êymı̂ym
BDB Definition: Emims = “terrors”
1) ancient inhabitants of Moab
Shaveh Kirathaim, (H7741): שׁוה קריתים: shâvêh qiryâthayim BDB Definition: Shaveh Kiriathaim = “plain of the double or two city”
1) the place attacked by Chedorlaomer
6. And the Horites in their mountain of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is by the wilderness. Deut. 2:10-22
Horites, (H2752): חרי: chôrı̂y
BDB Definition: Horite = “cave dweller”
1) the inhabitants of Mount Seir
2) the inhabitants of Edom (in later times)
Seir, (H8165): שׂעיר: śê‛ı̂yr
BDB Definition: Seir = “hairy” or “shaggy”
1) patriarch of the Horites, the inhabitants of Edom before the descendants of Esau, the Edomites (noun proper masculine)
2) the land of Edom, south of the Dead Sea (noun proper territorial)
3) a mountain range in Edom extending from the Dead Sea to the Elanitic Gulf (noun proper mountain)
3a) apparently also called ‘Mount Seir’ and extending most of the distance of the mountain range itself
4) a mountain in northern Judah lying westward from Kirjath-jearim (noun proper mountain)
El Paran: (H364): איל פּארן: ‘êyl pâ’rân
BDB Definition: El-paran = “palm of Paran”
1) town and harbour at tip of Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea
7. Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat (that is
Kadesh), and attacked all the country of the Amalekites,
and also the Amorites who dwelt in Hazezon Tamar.
Kadesh, (H6946): קדשׁ: qâdêsh
BDB Definition: Kadesh = “holy”
1) a city in the extreme south of Judah
1a) same as ‘Kedesh’ and ‘Kadesh-barnea’
Amalekites, (H6003): עמלקי: ‛ămâlêqı̂y
BDB Definition: Amalekite = see Amalek “people of lapping”
1) descendants of Amalek, the grandson of Esau
I had to do some meditation on this verse because it
mentions the Amalekites. I first thought “How could
they attack the Amalekites if these people were the
descendants of Amalek, who was the great great grandson
of Abraham?” Obviously the Amalekites as a people did
not exist at this time. So read the verse a few times and it
became clear; The verse doesn’t say that they attacked the
Amalekites, but instead it says they attacked the country
of the Amalekites. I then remembered who was writing
this book of Genesis (Moses) and who was telling Moses
the story (God) So I then deduced that the reason God
mentioned the Amalekites to Moses in the revealing of
this story was so as to help Moses understand the location
of En-Mishpat, which would explain why we see
in parentheses (that is Kadesh) if we go to Deuteronomy
chapter two we can see why it is important that Moses
know this area (Compare Deut 2:2-5). This helps Moses in knowing what lands he cannot possess, And why he can’t possess them.
Amorites, (H567):אמרי: ‘ĕmôrı̂y
BDB Definition: Amorite = “a sayer”
1) one of the peoples of east Canaan and beyond the Jordan, dispossessed by the Israelite incursion from Egypt
Hazezon Tamar, (H2688): חצצן תּמר / חצצון תּמר: chatstsôn tâmâr / chatsătsôn tâmâr BDB Definition: Hazezon-tamar = “dividing the date-palm”
1) an Amorite city
2) a town situated in the desert Judah; probably Engedi
3) maybe the ‘Tamar’ of Solomon’s day
8. And the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king
of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is,
Zoar) went out and joined together in battle in the valley
of Siddim
9. Against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of
nations, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of
Ellasar-four kings against five.
So, during this rebellion, before the great battle in the
valley of Siddim, the kings of the north had to march
through hostile territories of the northern parts of what was
then known as the land of Canaan. However, the kings of
the north stayed on the eastern side of the Jordan river as
they marched south towards Sodom and Gomorrah. It
wasn’t until they were way south of the dead sea, at the gulf
of Aqaba, fighting the Horites in the area known as Mt. Sier
beyond the Jordan river. Then they moved west to head
back up north and attacked all the country of the
Amalekites in and around Kadesh- Barnea up to the north
and west of the Jordan river. The Amorites (who are
descendants of Canaan) who dwelt in the land of Hazezon
Tamar (also known as Engedi), located southwest of the
dead sea were also attacked by king Chedorlaomer. Once
all the (what I call minor kingdoms of Sodom and
Gomorrah) were defeated King Chedorlaomer and his allies
could attack Sodom and Gomorrah and the other three
major kingdoms.
10. Now the valley of Siddim was full of asphalt pits; and the
kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled; some fell there, and the
remainder fled to the mountains. 11:3; 19:24
The asphalt pits here are described differently in other
bible translations. They are also described as slime-pits, tar
pits or even bitumen pits. They all basically mean the same
thing. my take on this is that both sides had to fight in this
rough terrain, but for whatever reason, whether the kings
of the north had a better strategic location in which the
battle started or they were just a stronger force, we don’t
know. What we do know is that the kings of Sodom and
Gomorrah were overwhelmed, and in their haste, during
their retreat, many of the southern forces fell into these
pits and were destroyed while others were killed in the
battle itself. Those that survived fled to the mountains
including the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah.
11. Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah,
and all their provisions, and went their way. v. 16
12. They also took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son who dwelt in
Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
As the saying goes “to the victor goes the spoils of war”
this rings true in this war. After the kings of the north
(also known as the kings of Mesopotamia) defeated these
kings of the south, they took not only all there material
wealth but also the people (as slaves no doubt and the
women to defile). Lot, because of the choice he made
when he departed from Abram is now paying the
consequences of that decision. Not only did Lot leave
from the protection of Abram’s bosom but he also lost the
protection of God himself. However, as we will see in the
next few verses and those in chapter eighteen, Lot has still
found favor in Gods eyes and is rescued from his own vices
through Abram’s intervention.
13. Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the
Hebrew, for he dwelt by the Terebinth trees of Mamre the
Amorite, brother of Eschol and brother of Aner; and they
were allies with Abram.
This is the first time that the word Hebrew appears in the
Bible. I take this verse as to also indicate that Abram was
already known as a Hebrew by the people of Canaan.
If we go to my file, or the Strong s definition we find that
The word Hebrew is a derivative of Eber, son of Salah, who
himself was the great grandson of Shem. Abram at the time
still lived by the terebinth trees (which is where he built an
altar to the Lord). Abram had made peace with the people
of this land which included three brothers (Mamre, Eschol,
and Aner).
14. Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken
captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained
servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit
as far as Dan.
As far as Abram was concerned, Lot was his brother (not
just a nephew). Approximately four hundred years removed
from the flood and we see that War was already in mans
heart. Abram himself: though a peaceful man, had to have
men from his tribe trained in the (I hate to use the term art
of warfare) it seems so oxymoron, that is to say, so opposite
of what war is in reality. There is no art to war: people die
sometimes in a most grotesque and painful way. I don’t
know who coined this term, but it must have been someone
who had no regard for human life, but I digress, in Order for Abram and his tribe to survive they had to defend themselves when necessary.
So Abram, along with his allies and his trained servants pursued the kings of the north, as far north as the land of Dan. Abram was not going to allow Lot to be enslaved and persecuted, if he had anything to say about it. Abram caught up with them in the place called Dan. According to my maps and a Google search this is approximately 164-175 mile journey. A total of a little over two days to travel this far.
15. He divided his forces against them by night, and he
attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is
north of Damascus.
Abram didn’t just attack right away. He developed a
strategy, and attacked them in the cover of darkness. This
must have been a great strategy because we are told that he
pursued them north of Damascus. The kings of the north
were so caught by surprise that they never had a chance to
regroup and counter-attack, (of course it doesn’t hurt to have
God on your side).
16. So he brought back all the goods, and also brought
back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women
and the people.
After this battle Abram brought back all the Goods, his
brother Lot, and all the people that were taken by the kings
of the north. It’s a good thing to note here that Abram did
not plunder the possessions or people of the kings of the
north. He only took what the kings of the north had stolen
from the kings of the south. This shows a character that is
being developed in Abram. I believe that Abram is not
going to rely on his own abilities to gain in riches and land.
He is learning to trust in God for his needs. I also feel that
Abram is the kind of man who is very content with what he
has, and is not influenced by the ways of the world. This in
turn is what the Lord delights in.
17. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the
valley of Shaveh (that is, the king’s valley). After his return
from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were
with him. Heb 7:1
I have read few commentaries and did research online in
regards to this verse. Depending on which bible you read
you are told that the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah were
killed while fleeing from the kings of the north in the battle
at the valley of Siddim. I am not going to comment on this
subject, for I believe that this is irrelevant to this story. The
only thing I will comment on here is that the King of Sodom
only and not the king of Gomorrah came to meet Abram
after his defeat of king Chedorlaomer.
18. Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread
and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.
19. And he blessed him and said:
“Blessed be Abram of God
Most High. Heb: 7:1-7
Possessor of heaven and
earth; v.22
(Compare Heb 7:1-7). Instead of copying and pasting all of Hebrew chapter seven I would suggest to the reader to go and read all of this chapter of Hebrews to get a better understanding of tithing, Melchizedek, and the priesthood. There is a lot of meat on this subject, which i am still not weaned from the milk, and ready to move on to the more solid food, when it comes to the spiritual nature of this subject. So for the integrity of my work here i am not going to try and wing it, so to speak. that would be a disservice to God, and His word.
20. And blessed be God Most
High,
Who has delivered your
enemies into your hand”
And he gave him a tithe of all. Heb. 7:2
There is a lot that can be commented here in these verses,
one is identifying who Melchizedek is? Also the symbolism
of the bread and wine, and then lastly the fact that Abram
gave a tithe (tenth) to Melchizedek. Who is Melchizedek?
Let us remember one great rule of thumb when trying to
understand the bible “let the bible interpret the bible’ line
upon line, precept upon precept. When we go to the
referenced scriptures listed here (Heb. 7:1-7) we can pretty
much find all we need to know about the identity of this
man. First we are told that he is the king of Salem.
Salem(H8004): שׁלם: shâlêm
BDB Definition: Salem = “peace”
1) the place of which Melchizedek was king
1a) most Jewish commentators affirm that it is the same as Jerusalem
So he is the King of what we know today as Jerusalem. In the same verse (Heb. 7:1) He is also Called the priest of the most high (God the Father). Verse 2 of Hebrews seven goes on to give us more clues to His identity. Verse 2 says that Melchizedek was interpreted by the Jews to be the “king of righteousness” And, by its definition also the king of peace: see the Strong’s definition of Salem listed above. As we go on to Verse three of Hebrews chapter seven we are told that he is without father nor mother, having not being a descendant from anyone. He is also described as basically having no beginning, nor ending of life, and being like the Son of God and always being a priest to God. And Finally we see that Abram, recognizing his deity gave him a tenth of all the spoils he took from the kings of the north. When we put this all together we can only come to one conclusion: Melchizedek is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ Compare John 1:1-5, 14). Now with this in mind we can go on to understand more fully the symbolism of the bread and wine(which Melchizedek brought to Abram) and the tithe that Abram offered up to Melchizedek. In Genesis 14:18 it is told to us that Melchizedek brought bread and wine when he came to meet Abram. This is obviously a foreshadowing of the new covenant which was revealed on the night of Passover, prior to the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus. Now we know that Abram was under his own covenant with God, so this bread and wine was not given to Abram in the same manner as was given to the Apostles of the New Testament. However we are told that Abram saw the promise afar off. So did Melchizedek give Abram a glimpse of the New Covenant? The scriptures do not say, but it leaves me to ponder this question.
Heb 11:13 These all died by way of faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off. And they were persuaded of them and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
To the reader who may not be familiar with the New Covenant can go to Matt 26:26-29. Now we know that Abram was under his own covenant with God, so this bread and wine was not given to Abram in the same manner as was given to the Apostles of the New Testament. However we are told that Abram saw the promise afar off (Heb 11:13). When we go to the book of numbers in the old testament we can start to see where God establishes the priesthood through the tribe of Levi, son of Jacob/Israel (Compare Num 18:21-26). I know I quoted a lot of scriptures here, but in the process of researching these scriptures (in my E-Sword) I learned
a lot myself about tithing, and the priesthood of the levites. I will have more to say about the priesthood and tithing when I come to the scriptures I quoted in the book of numbers.
21. Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the
persons, and take the goods for yourself.”
Unlike Melchizedek, The king of Sodom came to Abram in
an almost demanding tone: “Give me” as if Abram is his
servant and must do as the king demands. The king didn’t
bring any kind of offering to Abram to show his
appreciation for what Abram has done, (which I believe
would have been customary during this time). The king of
Sodom does not even recognize the God of Abram to whom
Abram’s victory would not have been possible. I believe that
one of the reasons that the king ask for only his people and
not the goods Abram brought back is, number one to keep
his kingdom established: for without people to rule over
there is no kingdom. Number two, what good is a kingdom
of riches if you have no one to flaunt it over so as to have
rulership over them. And number three, with him having
the persons, he could exploit them to help build his
kingdom back up and also to say to the people: “Look! It
was I who delivered you from your captivity and sent out
Abram to free you. Now this is my own personal belief, and
there is nothing scriptural about my take on the kings
actions. I just try to put myself in the kings shoes, knowing
scripturally that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were a
wicked and evil society which was a reflection of the men
that were rulers over them.
22. But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised
my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of
heaven and earth, v.19
23. “that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap,
and that I will not take anything that is yours, Lest you should
say, “I have made Abram rich”- 2 Kin. 5:16
24. “except only what the young men have eaten, and the
portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and
Mamre; let them take their portion.”
Abram is making it very clear to the king of Sodom that it
was by the power of God the creator, and ruler, of both the
heavens above, and the earth below who Abram holds his
allegiance (if you will), to. Abram will not let the king share
or steal the glory from God for his victory. Abram is saying
to him, “you will not boast in my riches, for my blessings
come from above and none other. God does not share his
throne with anyone (Exo 20:1-3, Isa 42:8). The last thing Abram tells the king of Sodom is that the only thing his people and those that helped Abram will take is the food which sustained them on their journey. Abram finishes by saying that the leaders: Aner, Eschol, and Mamre can take their portion if they so desire, that is up to them.
We see in these verses the maturity in Abram when it comes to his relationship with God. Abram has learned to trust in God in the trials of life that come to him. Unlike the time of the famine when he hastily went into Egypt instead of trusting in Gods promise that the land he lived in would be his and his descendants forever. Even though we are not told of this aspect of Abram’s thinking, I believe that Abram has developed a faith in God; that He will protect him when he goes out to fight against the kings of the north. I say this because what we are told is that Abrams men only number three hundred and eighteen men of his own house (see vs. 14 in this chapter) plus his friends Aner, Eschol and Mamre. Undoubtedly the kings of the north had a great army in order to accomplish all that they had done. I believe Abram knew he was outnumbered greatly but I also
believe that Abram’s faith in God gave him the strength and courage he needed to carry out this task. Our faith in God should be this strong whenever we are faced with the trials that we all go through in life.