(_origin uncertain_) 1 12. I. The campaign of Chedorlaomer King of Elam and three vassal kings against the five rebellious kings of the Plain, who are defeated and their cities looted; Lot made prisoner. 13 16. II. Abram's victorious pursuit of Chedorlaomer and rescue of Lot. 17 24. III. Abram... [ Continue Reading ]
KHAMMURABI (? AMRAPHEL), KING OF BABYLON, RECEIVING LAWS FROM SHAMASH, THE SUN-GOD. 1 12. The Campaign 1. _And it came to pass in the days of_ The opening formula of a new Hebrew section. Cf. Ruth 1:1; 2 Samuel 21:1; Esther 1:1; Isaiah 7:1. _Amraphel_ King of Shinar, very generally accepted as the... [ Continue Reading ]
_that they made war_ This anticipates and summarizes the contents of Genesis 14:5. As Hammurabi, the conqueror of Elam and founder of the Babylonian kingdom, terms himself king of _Amurru_= Amorites, or northern Palestine, there is nothing unhistorical in the representation of an invasion of this re... [ Continue Reading ]
_All these_ Probably the kings mentioned in Genesis 14:2, i.e. the five local subject princes. That there should be any doubt whether "all these" refers to the four kings of the east, or to the five kings of the west, is an example of the unskilful style in which this section is written. _joined to... [ Continue Reading ]
_they served_ The five kings "served," i.e. were vassals, and paid tribute to, the king of Elam who was their over-lord. _rebelled_ Probably by omitting to pay tribute or to send gifts, as they had done for 12 years. The distance from southern Palestine to Elam was great. The five kings were doubtl... [ Continue Reading ]
_came Chedorlaomer_ The king of Elam was strong enough to deal vigorously with the rebellion in his western dependencies. This and the two following verses describe the punitive expedition, with which Chedorlaomer and his vassal kings crushed the rebellion. Whether the kings led their forces in pers... [ Continue Reading ]
_the Horites_ Mentioned also in Genesis 36:20-21; Genesis 36:30, and in Deuteronomy 2:12; Deuteronomy 2:22, where they are described as having been dispossessed of the country of Seir, the hill country between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Elath, by the Edomites. They have been thought to represent p... [ Continue Reading ]
_En-mishpat_ i.e. "the Spring of Judgement." A spring of water at which there would be a sanctuary, whose priest gave oracles and decided disputes; known in the Israelite history as "Kadesh-barnea," or, as here, "Kadesh." It has been identified in modern times with a spring and oasis, called _Ain-Ka... [ Continue Reading ]
_four kings against the five_ After Genesis 14:8 we should expect the "five kings against the four." Notice the impressive repetition of the names of the kings, and the variation in the order of the names or the eastern kings, Chedorlaomer coming first, as the over-lord against whom the rebellion ha... [ Continue Reading ]
_full of slime pits_ i.e. _bitumen pits_. Bitumen, or asphalt, is found in the neighbourhood of the Dead Sea. Josephus speaks of the bitumen floating upon the surface of its waters. Here we are to suppose that the bitumen came out of large holes or pits in the earth, into which the confederates fell... [ Continue Reading ]
_they took_ The subject is abruptly transferred to the victorious army. The account of the fall of the towns is omitted. _Sodom and Gomorrah_ Mentioned perhaps as the chief towns; the three others are passed over in silence. The victorious troops did not wait; but after inflicting punishment hurrie... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lot, Abram's brother's son_ Notice this minute description of Lot and the mention of his residence in Sodom, as if chap. 13 had not immediately preceded. In Genesis 14:14_; Genesis 14:16_, Lot is spoken of as Abram's brother.... [ Continue Reading ]
Abram's Victory 13. _Abram the Hebrew_ Abram is described, as Lot in the previous verse, as if mentioned for the first time: an indication of the independent origin of the narrative. The name "Hebrew" here occurs for the first time in Scripture. It is a title used of Israelites, either by foreigne... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when Abram heard_ It is implied that, if Lot had not been taken prisoner, Abram would not have stirred either to attack the invader or to assist the native kings. But, as a dweller at Hebron, he was within sight of "the land of the Plain," cf. Genesis 19:28; and must have been well aware of Che... [ Continue Reading ]
_divided himself against them by night_ Abram divides his forces into three bands, and from three different quarters delivers a simultaneous night attack. The same manoeuvre was adopted by Gideon (Judges 7:20-22), when a small force similarly routed a large army. Cf. 1 Samuel 11:11. The surprise was... [ Continue Reading ]
_the king of Sodom_ See note on Genesis 14:10. The writer evidently assumes that this is the same king who had fallen in "the slime pits"; for only the king who had lost property and wealth, but saved his life, could suggest to Abram that the latter should keep the booty. _from the slaughter of Che... [ Continue Reading ]
_Melchizedek king of Salem_ The name Melchizedek was considered by the Jews to mean "the king of righteousness" (Hebrews 7:2), or "my king" (_malchi_) "is righteousness" (_zedek_). The name should be compared with that of Adoni-zedek (Joshua 10:1). It appears most probable that Zedek was the name of... [ Continue Reading ]
Abram and Melchizedek SPECIAL NOTE ON MELCHIZEDEK 1. _Its significance_. The episode of Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20) is one of the most interesting in the Book of Genesis. Its extreme brevity heightens the sense of mystery in which it is involved. It may be taken for granted that the incident is... [ Continue Reading ]
_he blessed him_ Melchizedek, as a priest, blessed Abram for his courageous and chivalrous action. A stranger in the land, he had come to the rescue of its people. _of God Most High_ i.e. by God Most High. The blessing of _El Elyon_is invoked by Melchizedek upon Abram, the servant of Jehovah. _poss... [ Continue Reading ]
_blessed be God Most High_ "praised be _El Elyon_." The verb has a different sense when applied to the Deity from what it has when applied to man. To "bless God" means devoutly to acknowledge, that He has been the source of goodness which demands man's thankfulness and praise. Melchizedek blesses th... [ Continue Reading ]
_the king of Sodom_ This verse resumes the narrative of Genesis 14:17. The incident of Melchizedek is parenthetical.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have lift up mine hand_ i.e. I have sworn, taken an oath with a gesture, symbolizing the appeal to God. Cf. Deuteronomy 32:40; Daniel 12:7. _the Lord, God Most High_ i.e. _Jehovah El Elyon_. The LXX and Syriac Peshitto omit "Jehovah." The Sam. reads _ha-Elohim_for "Jehovah." Abram takes his oath... [ Continue Reading ]
_a thread … a shoelatchet_ Not the most trifling thing, not even, the lace for a sandal, will Abram take. The fact that Abram has already (Genesis 14:20) given to Melchizedek a tithe of all the spoil, strictly speaking, conflicts with his refusal, in this verse, to take any share of the spoil. Proba... [ Continue Reading ]
_save only that_ Better, as R.V. marg., "let there be _nothing for me; only that_, &c." The expression here used occurs again in Genesis 41:16, It might be expressed in colloquial language: "nothing at all, please, so far as I am concerned." Abram goes on to specify the two necessary exceptions, (1)... [ Continue Reading ]