Genesis 14:1-4
As we all know, things that appeal to our eyes don't often turn out to be all that good for us. Lot 'looked around' and saw (v.10) where he thought he wanted to go. He pitched his tent near Sodom (v. 13). This was just the beginning of Lot's problems and evidence that he didn't choose wisely. As it turned out, he pitched his tent in the midst of a brewing regional war.
In one corner, of the Eastern kings:
- Amraphel, of Shinar:
- Shinar is another name for Babylonia.
- Name means, 'one that speaks of dark things'
- The identity of this king is unknown; some speculate this is Hammurabi, though there doesn't seem to be evidence.
- Arioch, of Ellasar
- Ellasar, same as Akkadian phrase 'al ashur' meaning city of Ashur or Assyria.
- Name means, 'a mighty lion'
- The name shows up in some ancient tablets.
- Kedorlaomer, of Elam
- Elam was a son of Shem
- Name means 'handful of sheaves' or 'glory of Laomer'
- Unknown among Elamite kings; 'kedor' shows up in several though.
- Elam is the ancient name for modern day Khuzestan, east of Babylon
- Tidal, of Goyim.
- Name may be Tudchaliash, a royal name of Hittite kings.
- Goyim is a generic word of nations.
- Name means 'cast out of the Most High'
In the other corner, of the western kings:
- Bera, of Sodom
- Name is unknown among kings.
- Name means 'evil'
- Likely a word play with Birsha, meaning 'wicked'.
- Sodom, exact location unknown – means 'scorched' or 'burnt'
- Birsha, of Gomorrah
- Name is unknown among kings.
- Name means 'wicked'
- Likely a word play with Bera, meaning evil
- Gomorrah means 'a ruined heap'
- Shinab, of Admah
- Name means 'a father's tooth' or 'hostile'
- Admah is a city near Dead Sea, means 'earthy'
- Shemeber, of Zeboyim
- Name means 'splendor' or 'heroism'
- Zeboyim (Zeboim) means 'gazellees' or 'hyena'
- (unnamed king), of Bela (Zoar)
- Bela means 'devouring' or 'swallowing'
- Zoar means 'small' or 'bringing low'
The western kings had been subject to the east kings for twelve years. This was likely paying an ever-increasing tribute to those kings. In the thirteenth year, they decided they had had enough. They rebelled against this coalition. An entire year passed with no retribution or penalty for the rebellion. They likely thought they had gotten away with it and escaped any retribution. In fact, they had probably gone on with life. Then, in this fourteenth year, this eastern coalition, led by Kedorlaomer, go out to war.
The eastern coalition defeated the Rephaites, Zuzites and Emites; all these were are identified with the giants in the land in Joshua's time. They came down along the east side of the Dead so by Sodom and Gomorrah, down to the Seir, a mountainous region of Edom. They then circled northwest to Kadesh and then back to the south end of the Dead Sea to the Valley of Siddim.
These eastern kings went from city to city and region to region conquering. Once the king of a territory was conquered, they demanded payment of tribute. This was like a group of bullies taking lunch money as toll to walk on his sidewalk. They were extracting tribute. The rebellion of the western coalition of kings amounted to them ceasing payments to the bully. The victim finally told the bully, "no more! That's it!" Then, they hoped they could survive any consequence.
Genesis 14:8-12
Even though some time had passed, the bully had not forgotten. After all, if one group of kings got away with not making payment, they would all join in and overthrow the eastern bullies, sending them home broke. The kings of the west decided to pick the battlefield and go out to meet the bully. The five kings, if they stuck together, were confident in the plan to beat the four kings.
An Archeologist Nelson Glueck commented about this war…………
"I found that every village in their path had been plundered and left in ruins, and the countryside was laid waste. The population had been wiped out or led away into captivity. For hundreds of years thereafter, the entire area was like an abandoned cemetery, hideously unkempt, with all its monuments shattered and strewn in pieces on the ground."[1]
We don't get much information about the war; the next scene is the army of the five kings running away and falling into the tar pits. These are naturally occurring pits around the dead sea. The five kings fled and the four kings looted Sodom and Gomorrah. They took all their goods and food. Along the way, they snatched Lot and all his possessions.
Note: Had Kedorlaomer been satisfied with looting without taking people, he may have gotten away with it. His greed caused him to take people, Lot and all their possessions. Ironically, it was greed and worldly lust that brought Lot to Sodom and it is the same which gets him nabbed. Also, blessing of his wealth, brought back from Egypt drew the eye of this greedy king.
Genesis 14:13-16
A man escaped from the battle and came to tell Abram that Lot had been taken captive by the kings. Abram was living at the great trees of Mamre which was about 50 miles north of the valley of Siddim. This was Amorite had some treaty or alliance with Abram. It was in Mamre's interest to assist Abram lest these kings conquer him. 'Abram the Hebrew' is Abram, the descendant of Eber, the first use of Hebrew in the bible.
Abram moved quick in what appears to be an automatic response; Lot was kin. This response shows his love for Lot, who is called his 'brother' in the NKJV. The NIV translates it to 'relative'. The idea is that he was a kinsman. Moving fast, Abram armed 318 of his own personal servants. If the 318 is to be taken at face value then this was a decent sized army. This obviously wasn't every man Abram could dig up, but these were fit for a rescue mission while others stayed to protect their homes, wives and children. We see just how large a clan and how rich Abram was. There are some who think this 318 is a symbolic:
A realistic number for an armed force, but two extrabiblical examples suggest it may be a symbolic number indicating a large group. In an Egyptian text, Princess Giluchepa of Mitanni arrives with 317 harem attendants. In the Greek work Homer's Iliad, 318 men die in a four-day battle. The number 318 is the sum of the 12 prime numbers from 7 to 47, so the number may have symbolic meaning.1
With no other indication this is anything but a literal 318, I'll stick with that, especially since it says they were born in his household. Abram took his 318 men and went all the way to Dan, which was the north end of the Promised Land, about 150 miles away.
We get almost no detail about the battle. Abram divided them, they attacked and won; giving us the indication that Abram and his small army weren't new at this. In the battle, they chase them another 50 miles or so up to Hobah, north of Damascus. It appears the 4 kings and their army didn't know what hit them. Abram recovered Lot and his goods, the women and people that had been taken.
Genesis 14:18
When Abram returns from his war, the king of Sodom comes out to meet him. They want to meet the man who ran Kedorlaomer off. Remember the king of Sodom and the other 4 kings had been subject to him for 13 years before rebelling and then losing their battle to him. Abram was their hero. He single-handedly accomplished what the 5 of them couldn't do, so Abraham was received as a great military general might be. Then another king came out to see him. He was more than just a king though; he was also a priest of God Most High. He came from Salem, which is Jerusalem, indicating they were likely near there. Melchizedek brought bread and wine to Abram, a daily provision, but a luxurious one. (We can't help but think of it as communion!)
This Melchizedek is mentioned only in a few places in the bible. But they are very important statements.
David said in Psalm 110:4
The LORD has sworn
And will not relent,
"You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek."
This Psalm from David is prophetic of Jesus. David declared that the messiah would be a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. While we see Melchizedek as a type of Christ as king and priest, some believe he may have been Christ Himself, making an Old Testament appearance. It could be.
Melchizedek means "righteous king" and "Salem" means peace. He was the righteous king of peace. We just read that Jesus is a priest in the order of Melchizedek. What does this mean?
Hebrews 7:3
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated "king of righteousness," and then also king of Salem, meaning "king of peace," 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.
We know of no beginning or end of Melchizedek. While the Levitical priests served a limited term of 30 years, after which their service ended. This is a glimpse at Jesus, our immortal and eternal Priests and King. Melchizedek was also not a priest because of his genealogy. Levitical priests had to have priestly genealogy that traced back to Aaron. Being a priest and king wasn't normal. This is a mixture of civil authority and spiritual authority. This is kind of like the original violation of church and state. The superiority of Melchizedek is seen in the tithing and blessing.
Melchizedek is the Priest and king of Salem which is the original Jerusalem. He came out and offered a blessing to Abram. This was acknowledgment of God's role is this rescue, that it wasn't Abram that was great but all glory wen to God. Mechizedek called him God Most High – El Elyon! This is one of the many Hebrew names for God.
When Melchizedek used this name and called God possessor of heaven and earth it became clear that Melchizidek and Abram worshiped the same God. Abram received a blessing, saw this priest bless and praise God and so he responded by giving him a tithe of all he had. This is no small measure. You didn't just run around and give a 10th of what you had to just anyone. Abram knew this guy was special.
Hebrews tells us that when Abram paid a tithe to this guy he showed that Melchizedek was a greater priest than all the priest that would come later. The priestly line of Aaron and the tribe of Levites aren't even in existence yet. These priests are still in Abram's loins. The father of these future priest just bowed to this priest. This makes this priest a greater priest than all the priest that would someday come from Levi.
We don't know much else about Melchizidek. He pops onto the scene and leaves a mark that is recorded in history. It's a picture of another righteous king that will offer bread and wine to the conqueror or as Revelation puts it 'Overcomer'. Melchizedek pays tribute to Abram as a conqueror. Our high priest, Jesus Christ will honor us if we overcome.
Abraham responded to this blessing by offering a tithe. Abram bowed to this foreshadow of Jesus Christ; he prefigures his priesthood, kingship, righteousness and peace. Jesus is the perfect high priest, King of kings, the righteousness of God and prince of peace.
High Priest:
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. (Hebrews 4:14)
King of kings (Our victorious King will come riding a white horse):
16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:16)
Prince of Peace:
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
`Righteousness of God:
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. (Romans 3:21-22)
Also 2 Corinthians 5:21
Genesis 14:21-24
Abram had a right to the all the goods he recovered. All he had to do was to return the people and he could keep all the goods as spoils of war. This was a rule of war at that time. It was due payment for recovering the people. The king of Sodom knew this.
However, Abram had taken an oath, raised his hand, not to take anything. He raised his hand to El Elyon – God Most High. This is the same phrase used by Melchizedek. He didn't want anyone to say they made Abram rich. It was important to him to be able to say all he had and all he was came from God. He gave all glory to God. All he would take was a portion for the men who went with him.
There is a picture here we need to see. And you can miss it so easily. It's an incredible contrast.
- The King of Salem comes out and pays tribute to Abram.
- The King of Sodom comes out and offered to let him keep the possessions he recovered.
- The king of Salem offers blessings
- The king of Sodom offers goods and trinkets.
Abram said yes to the king of Salem and took bread and wine with him. Abram said no to the king of Sodom and told him he won't take what he offered. Sometimes the things God offers don't seem as pleasing to the eye. Sometimes we can't even touch them. We can't place a value on them – they can't be bought or sold. It seems as though Christianity mistakenly believes it can place value in both. Yet to receive the prize of Sodom devalues the blessing, worship and trust that the success came from God Most High. This idea that God is where we put our trust and faith is see in 15:1 that really caps this event and leads to a covenant renewal
After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:
"Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield, s
your very great reward. t"
I can't help but notice, once again, the contrast of the Abram that ran to Egypt and this faithful and magnanimous Abram.
***
The things of Sodom are shiny, flashy and can be bought and sold. They appeal to the flesh and to our lusts. But we know those things will pass away. Moth and rust will destroy the things of Sodom.
The kings of the east were paying tribute to these stronger kings, a type of tithe, given to buy peace. It wasn't given willingly, but under duress, under compulsion. They were in bondage to these kings. By their human strength they joined to rebel against them and failed. It was worldly kings warring and battling with worldly kings for power, control, money and fame. It may be the slaying of giants that caused them to make peace with these dark kings of the east. Abram, a non-king came along, not to aid the rebellion, but to save Lot. In doing so, he became a testimony to the Kings of the world, Sodom, Gomorrah and Zoar. They saw Abram, not glory in his authority or power but in God Most High. They saw him pass up the spoils of their war and even offer a tithe to this other king, a different kind of king.
We know Sodom & Gomorrah went back to being what they are famous for. Melchizedek made a mark in history and in the scriptures; a mark that points forward to a day when Christ Jesus would come and reveal Himself as the King of Righteousness, Prince of Peace, High Priest and King of Kings. Since we know this day and time, we know to reject Sodom and the ways of the kings of this world. We know the King of all kings and his power. We say yes to the King of Righteousness and no to Sodom. We should say Yes to Christ and No to the World.
©2019 Doug Ford
[1] David Guzik, Enduring Word Online Commentary
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