Genesis 14 Study Notes

14:15 Mounting a nighttime surprise attack, Abram gave his outnumbered troops the advantage. Caught off guard, the coalition of invaders fled headlong on a caravan route as far as Hobah to the north of Damascus.

14:16 In their hasty retreat the invaders abandoned the loot and captives they had taken from Canaan.

14:17 The king of Sodom, who apparently survived his fall into the asphalt pit (v. 10), met Abram’s triumphant group in the Shaveh Valley, probably located just east of Jerusalem.

14:18 Melchizedek, whose name means “king of righteousness” (Heb 7:2), held two titles: he was king of Salem (lit “King of Peace”)—“Salem” being another name for nearby Jerusalem—and priest to God Most High. Abram considered Melchizedek, who is the first person in the Bible to be called a priest, to be a priest of Yahweh, since he equated the title “God Most High” with “the Lord” (v. 22). The writer of Hebrews drew significant parallels between Melchizedek and Jesus Christ (Heb 5:6; 7:1-28). Jesus is the ultimate king of righteousness and peace. He is the ideal high priest who offered up the ultimate sacrifice that sufficed for all time for the sins of the whole world.

14:19 When Melchizedek blessed Abram, he was performing what would become a major traditional function of priests (Nm 6:23; Dt 10:8). Abram was blessed in the name of God Most High (Hb ’el ‘elyon), Creator of heaven and earth (1:1).

14:20 In a construction that paralleled his blessing to Abram, Melchizedek also blessed (gave praise to) God Most High because of the saving acts he had performed. The priest subtly reminded Abram that his recent victory was really God’s work; God had handed over Abram’s enemies to him. The first recorded act of tithing took place here as Abram gave the priest a tenth of the booty he had acquired from the Mesopotamian kings. Abram’s tithe anticipates Israel’s tithe to God (Lv 27:30-32; Nm 18:21-30; Mt 23:23).

14:21 The king of Sodom then ordered Abram to hand over the liberated captives, including citizens of the king’s city. As payment for his military efforts, however, the king gave Abram the recaptured possessions, a term that can refer to livestock as well as objects.

14:22-24 With Melchizedek king of Salem, who worshiped God, Abram was cooperative (vv. 18-20); but when the Canaanite king of Sodom told him to take the possessions, he refused. Abram would not let the king diminish God’s glory by taking credit for Abram’s prosperity.