Genesis 14:17-24

God's Promise to Abram

17 Then after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, ¹the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, ²the King's Valley ).

18 And ³Melchizedek king of Salem brought out ⁴bread and wine; now he was a ⁵priest of God Most High.

19 He blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, ⁶Possessor of heaven and earth;

20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." ⁷He gave him a tenth of all.

21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give the people to me and take the goods for yourself."

22 Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have sworn * to the LORD ⁸God Most High, ⁹possessor of heaven and earth,

23 that ¹⁰I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, 'I have made Abram rich.'

24 "I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, ¹¹Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them 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. Genesis 14:10
• 2. 2 Samuel 18:18
• 3. Hebrews 7:1-10
• 4. Psalms 104:15
• 5. Psalms 110:4; Hebrews 5:6, 10
• 6. Genesis 14:22
• 7. Hebrews 7:4
• 8. Genesis 14:19
• 9. Psalms 24:1
• 10. 2 Kings 5:16
• 11. Genesis 14:13

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "smiting"
• [b]. Heb "El Elyon"
• [c]. Heb "El Elyon"
• [d]. Or "Creator"
• [e]. Heb "El Elyon"
• [f]. Lit "soul"
• [g]. Lit "lifted up my hand"
• [h]. Heb "El Elyon"
• [i]. Or "Creator"
• [j]. Lit "Not to me except"