Genesis 14:17-24

Abram Blessed by Melchizedek

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 ¹King's Valley).

18 And ²Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was ³priest of ⁴God Most High.)

19 And he blessed him and said, ⁵"Blessed be Abram by God Most High, ⁶Possessor^[a] of heaven and earth;

20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!"And Abram gave him ⁷a tenth of everything.

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, ⁸"I have lifted my hand^[b] to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth,

23 that ⁹I 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 ¹⁰Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share."

Genesis 14:17-24 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Samuel 18:18
• 2. Hebrews 7:1
• 3. Psalms 110:4; Hebrews 5:6, 10; Hebrews 7:1, 11, 17
• 4. Psalms 57:2; Acts 16:17
• 5. Hebrews 7:6, 7
• 6. Matthew 11:25
• 7. Hebrews 7:4; [Genesis 28:22]
• 8. Exodus 6:8; Numbers 14:30; Deuteronomy 32:40; Ezek. 20:5, 6, 15, 23, 28; Daniel 12:7; Revelation 10:5, 6
• 9. [Esther 9:15, 16]
• 10. ver. 13

Footnotes

• [a]. Or Creator; also verse 22
• [b]. Or I have taken a solemn oath