Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Genesis 14:17 - 14:24

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Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Genesis 14:17 - 14:24


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Abraham's Return

v. 17. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.
The news of Abram's victory preceded him, for, with all the spoil and the women, he was unable to travel so rapidly as he had hurried in pursuit. The king of Sodom, who had saved his life by his self-possession, went forth to meet the returning victors at a place situated probably on the Kidron, which from that time bore the name "King's Dale," 2Sa_18:18.

v. 18. And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine; and he was the priest of the most high God.
of this Melchizedek, king of Salem, probably Jerusalem, nothing more is known. Cf Heb_7:3. He seems to have been one of those that clung to the worship of the true God after the majority of the people had plunged into the depths of heathendom; to this God he was a priest. He now showed his appreciation and gratitude toward Abram and his little army by bringing forth bread and wine to refresh and strengthen the weary soldiers.

v. 19. And he blessed him and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth;

v. 20. and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thine hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
So Melchizedek transmitted to Abram the blessing of God, of the Most Exalted One, of the Founder and Owner of heaven and earth. And, in turn, he praised the Lord, the Exalted One, to whom the victory of Abram must be ascribed. It was a prayer for prosperity and blessing, in beautiful, poetical form. Melchizedek is a type of Christ, The great High Priest of the New Testament, Psa_110:4, and the entire 7th Chapter of Hebrews is really a commentary on this passage. Abram acknowledged Melchizedek as a priest by giving him tithes of all, Heb_7:4. This was the more important transaction at the meeting.

v. 21. And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.
His intention was to repay Abram for the work which he performed in delivering the captive Sodomites, especially the women and children, from the hands of the enemy. He asked only for the souls, the people whom Abram had brought back, proposing that Abram keep the spoil that had originally belonged to the men of Sodom, in return for his victory.

v. 22. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the Possessor of heaven and earth,


v. 23. that I will not take from a thread even to a shoe-latchet, and that I will not take anything that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich;


v. 24. save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
It is a kind, but solemn and emphatic refusal. With a confession in the true God, in whose name he swears, Abram declares that the men belonging to his allies may take advantage of the offer and claim their share of the spoils, and he would be willing to accept what his servants had consumed in food daring their campaign; but as for himself, not even a thread or a sandal-strap would he accept from the king of Sodom, lest the latter might afterward boast that Abram owed his riches to him. Abram wanted to be under no obligations to the heathen king. Even so the believers today are encouraged to do good also to the unbelievers; but beyond that they should not go, lest their Christianity be endangered.