Bereshis 14:21

21 And the Melech Sodom said unto Avram, Give me the nefesh and keep the possessions for thyself.

Bereshis 14:21 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 14:21

And the king of Sodom said unto Abram
After the conversation between him and Melchizedek was over: give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself;
meaning by "persons" or "souls", as in the original, his own subjects that had been taken and carried away by the four kings, and were now brought back by Abram; and by "the goods", those of his own and his subjects, which their conquerors had spoiled them of, but were now recovered, and which he was very willing Abram should have as his right, according to the laws of war, and as a reward of his labours; and very modestly asks for the other, which he did not deny but he might claim as the fruits of his victory: and this also shows, that the king of Sodom, though a Heathen prince, and perhaps a wicked man, yet had more regard to the persons of his subjects than to his own or their goods: the word for "goods" includes all the substance and possession of a man, gold, silver, cattle, and all movables ^F23.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F23 R. Sol. Urbin. Ohel Moed, fol. 21. 2.

Bereshis 14:21 In-Context

19 And he blessed him, and said, Baruch Avram by El Elyon, Creator of Shomayim v’Aretz;

20 And baruch El Elyon, Who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him ma’aser (tithe) of all.

21 And the Melech Sodom said unto Avram, Give me the nefesh and keep the possessions for thyself.

22 And Avram said to the Melech Sodom, I have lifted up mine hand unto Hashem, El Elyon Creator of Shomayim v’Aretz,

23 That I will not take from a thread even to the thong of a sandal, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Avram rich;