Genesi 14

1 OR avvenne al tempo di Amrafel re di Sinear, d’Arioc re di Ellasar, di Chedor-laomer re di Elam, e di Tideal re de’ Goi,

2 ch’essi fecero guerra contro a Bera re di Sodoma, e contro a Birsa re di Gomorra, e contro a Sineab re di Adma, e contro a Semeeber re di Seboim, e contro al re di Bela, ch’è Soar.

3 Tutti costoro, fatta lega insieme, si adunarono nella Valle di Siddim, ch’è il mar salato.

4 Essi erano stati soggetti a Chedor-laomer, lo spazio di dodici anni, ed al decimoterzo si erano ribellati.

5 E nell’anno decimoquarto, Chedor-laomer e i re ch’erano con lui erano venuti, ed aveano percossi i Rafei in Asterot-carnaim, e gli Zuzei in Ham, e gli Emei nella pianura di Chiriataim,

6 e gli Horei nelle lor montagne di Seir, fino alla pianura di Paran, ch’è presso al deserto.

7 Poi, rivoltisi, erano venuti in Enmispat, ch’è Cades; ed aveano percosso tutto il territorio degli Amalechiti, ed anche gli Amorrei che dimoravano in Hasason-tamar.

8 E il re di Sodoma, e il re di Gomorra, e il re di Adma, e il re di Seboim, e il re di Bela, ch’è Soar, uscirono, ed ordinarono la battaglia nella Valle di Siddim, contro a questi:

9 contro a Chedor-laomer re di Elam, e Tideal re de’ Goi, ed Amrafel re di Sinear, ed Arioc re di Ellasar; quattro re contro a cinque.

10 Or la valle di Siddim era piena di pozzi di bitume; e i re di Sodoma e di Gomorra si misero in fuga, e cascarono dentro que’ pozzi; e coloro che scamparono fuggirono verso il monte.

11 E quei re presero tutte le ricchezze di Sodoma e di Gomorra, e tutta la lor vittuaglia; poi se ne andarono.

12 Presero ancora Lot figliuol del fratello di Abramo, il quale abitava in Sodoma, e la roba di esso; poi se ne andarono.

13 Ed alcuno ch’era scampato venne e rapportò la cosa ad Abramo Ebreo, il qual dimorava nelle pianure di Mamre Amorreo, fratello di Escol, e fratello di Aner, i quali erano collegati con Abramo.

14 Ed Abramo, com’ebbe inteso che il suo fratello era menato prigione, armò trecendiciotto de’ suoi allievi nati in casa sua, e perseguì coloro fino in Dan.

15 Ed egli, co’ suoi servitori, li assalì di notte da diverse bande, e li sconfisse, e li perseguì fino in Hoba, ch’è dal lato sinistro di Damasco.

16 E ricoverò tutta la roba; riscosse ancora Lot suo fratello, e la sua roba, ed anche le donne, e il popolo.

17 E di poi, come egli se ne ritornava dalla sconfitta di Chedor-laomer e de’ re ch’erano con lui, il re di Sodoma gli uscì incontro nella Valle della pianura, ch’è la Valle del re.

18 E Melchisedec, re di Salem, arrecò pane e vino; or egli era sacerdote dell’Iddio altissimo.

19 E lo benedisse, dicendo: Benedetto sia Abramo, appo l’Iddio altissimo, possessor del cielo e della terra.

20 E benedetto sia l’altissimo Iddio, che ti ha dati i tuoi nemici nelle mani. Ed Abramo gli diede la decima di ogni cosa.

21 E il re di Sodoma disse ad Abramo: Dammi le persone, e prendi per te la roba.

22 Ma Abramo rispose al re di Sodoma: Io ho alzata la mano al Signore Iddio altissimo, possessor del cielo e della terra;

23 se, di tutto ciò ch’è tuo, io prendo pure un filo, od una correggia di scarpa; che talora tu non dica: Io ho arricchito Abramo;

24 salvo sol quello che questi fanti hanno mangiato, e la parte degli uomini che sono andati meco, cioè: Aner, Escol e Mamre; essi prenderanno la lor parte.

Genesi 14 Commentary

Chapter 14

The battle of the kings, Lot is taken prisoner. (1-12) Abram rescues Lot. (13-16) Melchizedek blesses Abram. (17-20) Abram restores the spoil. (21-24)

Verses 1-12 The wars of nations make great figure in history, but we should not have had the record of this war if Abram and Lot had not been concerned. Out of covetousness, Lot had settled in fruitful, but wicked Sodom. Its inhabitants were the most ripe for vengeance of all the descendants of Canaan. The invaders were from Chaldea and Persia, then only small kingdoms. They took Lot among the rest, and his goods. Though he was righteous, and Abram's brother's son, yet he was with the rest in this trouble. Neither our own piety, nor our relation to the favourites of Heaven, will be our security when God's judgments are abroad. Many an honest man fares the worse for his wicked neighbours: it is our wisdom to separate, or at least to ( 2 Corinthians. 6:17 ) of Abram should have been a companion and a disciple of Abram. If he chose to dwell in Sodom, he must thank himself if he share in Sodom's losses. When we go out of the way of our duty, we put ourselves from under God's protection, and cannot expect that the choice made by our lusts, should end to our comfort. They took Lot's goods; it is just with God to deprive us of enjoyments, by which we suffer ourselves to be deprived of the enjoyment of him.

Verses 13-16 Abram takes this opportunity to give a real proof of his being truly friendly to Lot. We ought to be ready to succour those in distress, especially relations and friends. And though others may have been wanting in their duty to us, yet we must not neglect our duty to them. Abram rescued the captives. As we have opportunity, we must do good to all.

Verses 17-20 Melchizedek is spoken of as a king of Salem, supposed to be the place afterwards called Jerusalem, and it is generally thought that he was only a man. The words of the apostle, Heb. 7:3 , state only, that the sacred history has said nothing of his ancestors. The silence of the Scriptures on this, is to raise our thoughts to Him, whose generation cannot be declared. Bread and wine were suitable refreshment for the weary followers of Abram; and it is remarkable that Christ appointed the same as the memorials of his body and blood, which are meat and drink indeed to the soul. Melchizedek blessed Abram from God. He blessed God from Abram. We ought to give thanks for other's mercies as for our own. Jesus Christ, our great High Priest, is the Mediator both of our prayers and praises, and not only offers up ours, but his own for us. Abram gave him the tenth of the spoils, ( Hebrews 7:4 ) . When we have received some great mercy from God, it is very fit we should express our thankfulness by some special act of pious charity. Jesus Christ, our great Melchisedek, is to have homage done him, and to be humbly acknowledged as our King and Priest; not only the tithe of all, but all we have, must be given up to him.

Verses 21-24 Observe the king of Sodom's grateful offer to Abram, Give me the souls, and take thou the substance. Gratitude teaches us to recompense to the utmost of our power, those that have undergone fatigues, run hazards, and been at expense for our service and benefit. Abram generously refused this offer. He accompanies his refusal with a good reason, Lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: which would reflect upon the promise promise and covenant of God, as if He would not have enriched Abraham without the spoils of Sodom. The people of God must, for their credit's sake, take heed of doing any thing that looks mean or mercenary, or that savors of covetousness and self-seeking. Abraham can trust the Possessor of Heaven and earth to provide for him.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 14

This chapter gives an account of a war that was waged, and a battle fought between four kings on one side, and five on the other, and of the occasion and issue of it, who were the first kings, and this the first battle the Scriptures speak of, Ge 14:1-11; Lot and his goods being taken and carried off, with those of Sodom, by the conquerors, Abram hearing of it armed his men, and pursued after them, and overtook and overcame them, and rescued Lot and his goods, with others, and returned, Ge 14:12-16; when he was met by the kings of Sodom and Salem, who congratulated him on his victory, Ge 14:17-19; and what passed between him, and those great personages, is related, Ge 14:20-24.