GENESIS CHAPTER 14 Several kings wage war against the king of Sodom, &c.; Lot is taken prisoner, GENESIS 14:1. Abram rescues him, GENESIS 14:13. The king of Sodom congratulates him his victory, GENESIS 14:17. Melchizedek king of Salem blesses him; to him Abram gives tithes, GENESIS 14:18. The king o... [ Continue Reading ]
Once for all, observe that the name of _kings_ is here and elsewhere given by Moses to the chief governors of cities or little provinces. Compare JOSHUA 12:9, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
Which now is, though when this battle was fought it was not so.... [ Continue Reading ]
He was their lord, either, 1. By inheritance, as the issue of Elam, Shem's son, GENESIS 10:22. Or, 2. By conquest, having subdued those people in a former war, which Josephus speaks of.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KINGS THAT WERE WITH HIM, i.e. confederate with him for the recovery of his right, expecting the same assistance from him upon the like occasion. _1913_ THE REPHAIMS, a fierce and warlike people of Canaan. See GENESIS 15:20. Or _the giants, _ as this word is taken DEUTERONOMY 2:11. ASHTEROTH KAR... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HORITES, the ancient inhabitants of Seir, of whom see GENESIS 36:20 DEUTERONOMY 2:12. _El_ signifies a _plain, _ and _Paran_ is the name of a known city and mountain. See NUMBERS 13:3 DEUTERONOMY 33:2 1 SAMUEL 25:1, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH IS KADESH, i.e. which after that time was called Kadesh, of which see NUMBERS 20:1,14, &c. THE COUNTRY OF THE AMALEKITES, i.e. which afterwards was possessed by the Amalekites, GENESIS 36:12. A known figure called prolepsis.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VALE OF SIDDIM WAS chosen by those five kings for the place of battle, that their adversaries being ignorant of the place might unawares fall into those pits, which they by their knowledge of it thought to escape. KINGS OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH, i.e. their armies; a figurative speech, frequent in S... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
LOT now suffered for his cohabitation with bad neighbours.... [ Continue Reading ]
ABRAM THE HEBREW; so called, either, 1. From his great and good predecessor Eber, GENESIS 10:24, GENESIS 11:14, in and by whom the primitive language and true religion were preserved; and therefore though Abram had five other progenitors between Eber and him, which were persons of less note, he is... [ Continue Reading ]
HE ARMED HIS TRAINED SERVANTS, whom he had disciplined and instructed both in religion and in the military art too, both which were necessary to make them good soldiers, that they might both fight with skill and courage, and also rely upon God, and engage his assistance; which was now especially nec... [ Continue Reading ]
HE DIVIDED HIMSELF, i.e. his forces into several parties, that coming upon them from several quarters he might strike them with greater terror, whilst they thought his army far more numerous than it was.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BROUGHT BACK ALL THE GOODS which the victorious kings had taken from the princes and people mentioned before in this chapter.... [ Continue Reading ]
So called either upon this occasion of the meeting of divers kings here; or because king Melchizedek either had his habitation, or was much delighted with it, and conversant in it. See 2 SAMUEL 18:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
QUEST. Who was this? ANSW. 1. Shem, as the Jews and many others think, who probably was alive at this time, and, no doubt, a great prince. But neither is it probable that Shem should be a king among the cursed race of Ham; nor will this agree with the apostle's description of Melchizedek, HEBREWS 7... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, or _therefore, _ (as the particle is oft taken, i.e. because he was a priest of God), HE (i.e. _Melchizedek_) BLESSED HIM,_ (Abram,)_ which was one act of the priestly office. SEE POOLE ON "HEBREWS 7:6". SEE POOLE ON "HEBREWS 7:7". So it is a prayer for him, that God would confirm and increase... [ Continue Reading ]
Not _Melchizedek_ gave to _Abram, _ as some Jews foolishly understand it; for Abram swears that he would not keep nor take any of the recovered goods of the kings of Sodom, or his brethren, GENESIS 14:23. But _Abram_ gave to _Melchizedek, _ as appears both from HEBREWS 4:7, and from the nature of th... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
This was the ancient manner of swearing. See EXODUS 6:8 NUMBERS 14:30 DEUTERONOMY 32:40 EZEKIEL 20:5,6.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT I WILL NOT TAKE; Heb. _If I shall take._ Understand, _God do so and so to me, _ which is expressed 1 SAMUEL 14:44. A defective manner of swearing used amongst the Hebrews, either to maintain the reverence of oaths, and the dread of perjury, seeing they were afraid so much as to mention the curs... [ Continue Reading ]
For as Abram had a right to spoils, so had they, whether they joined with him in the battle, as it is conceived they did, or only abode by the stuff, 1 SAMUEL 30:24; and therefore though he might and did give away his own right, he could not give away other men s.... [ Continue Reading ]