Genesis 14. Melchizedek

Abram Rescues Lot

In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, ² these kings made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 

• 4 vs 5 Kings – see my table and visual below (I have to draw these things out or I just don’t get it!)
• This is the first war mentioned in the Bible

The Four Eastern Kings (Invaders)	Region	The Five Canaanite Kings (Rebels)	City
Amraphel	Shinar (Babylonia/Mesopotamia)	Bera	Sodom
Arioch	Ellasar	Birsha	Gomorrah
Chedorlaomer	Elam (modern-day southwestern Iran)	Shinab	Admah
Tidal	Goiim (“nations,” likely a coalition of peoples)	Shemeber	Zeboiim
		Unknown	Bela (that is, Zoar)

³ And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). ⁴ Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. ⁵ In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, ⁶ and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness. 

• Summary: After twelve years of serving King Chedorlaomer, the five kings rebelled. One year later, King Chedorlaomer and his allies invaded, defeating several nations on their way to defeat the rebel kings.
• Salt Sea= today’s Dead Sea

⁷ Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh) and defeated all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who were dwelling in Hazazon-tamar.

⁸ Then 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 they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim ⁹ with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five. 

• Summary: King Chedorlaomer and his allies defeat the Amalekites and Amorites. The five Canaanite kings marched out to meet them in the Valley of Siddim.
• Total nations defeated in the war: Rephaim, Zuzim, Emim, Horites, Amalekites, Amorites.

¹⁰ Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the hill country. ¹¹ So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. ¹² They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.

• The five Canaanite kings were defeated. They fled the battlefield as some fell into bitumen pits and others escaped to the hill country. The four kings plundered Sodom and Gomorrah, taking their possessions and Lot

¹³ Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram.

• The is the first time the word Hebrew (Ivri, עִבְרִי) is used in the Bible which comes from the root to ‘cross/pass over’ (Since Abram crossed over the Euphrates into Canaan)
• We are introduced to three brothers: Mamre, Eschol and Aner who were allies of Abram. The oaks of Mamre is where Abram had settled in previous chapter, most likely named after this guy (Genesis 13:18).

¹⁴ When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 

• Incredible! He had 318 TRAINED men at his disposal.
• But even then, 318 vs. four kings and their men (probably multiple 1000s) who just defeated several armies. He was way outnumbered.
• Similar to story in Judges 7-8 of Gideon with his 300 men defeating the 135,000 men in the night

¹⁵ And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. ¹⁶ Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.

• Was this a warning from God for Lot to leave Sodom?
• His total trek for this battle was about 250 miles.

• from https://ibiblemaps.com/abraham-rescues-lot/

Abram Blessed by Melchizedek

• Melchizedek! Such an interesting figure – I also have a visual on this below.
  His name means “king of righteousness” מֶלֶךְ (melek) = king , צֶדֶק (tzedek) = righteousness
• Also: Psalm 110:4  The LORD has sworn and will not relent, “You [are] a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” and Hebrews 7 talks more about Jesus as Melchizedek
• Hebrews 7:3  He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

¹⁷ After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). ¹⁸ And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 

• Most scholars believe Salem/Shalem refers to Jerusalem (based on Psalm 76:2: “His dwelling place is in Zion, His abode has been established in Salem”).
• How interesting that he brought bread and wine! Images of Passover and the Lord’s Supper.
• God Most High = אֵל עֶלְיוֹן (El Elyon). Melchizedek uses this title, which Abram then adopts in verse 22

¹⁹ And he blessed him and said,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
    Possessor of heaven and earth;
²⁰ and blessed be God Most High,
    who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 

• Abram gave him a tenth of everything not just his money – which is interesting because tithing as Leviticus law came much later. (Leviticus 27:30)

²¹ And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” ²² But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, ²³ that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ ²⁴ I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”

• Notice how Abram combines יְהוָה (YHWH) and אֵל עֶלְיוֹן (El Elyon) God Most High.
• Abram refuses any of the plunder from the battle. He refused for man to make him rich.