Genesis Chapter 14

Results of Selfishness

14:1

Shinar refers to Sumeria, and Elam to early Persia. Ellasar was the leading tribe in southern Babylonia and the “nations” was probably a tribe of northeastern Babylonia. Chedorlaomer was obviously the chief leader of this confederacy. (See Genesis 14:4)

14:2-4

The first group of ‘kings’ comes against this second list of ‘kings’ ruling in Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim and Zoar (Bela). (3.) These groups were joined together, much like a sprawling metropolitan area is today, where one city runs into another. The location was identified by the author as the ‘salt sea’, although at the time it was still fresh water. (4.) The leader was Chedorlaomer and they served him, or were subject to him for a period of 12 years. Then in the 13th year they rebelled against him.

14:5-6

Then in the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer, and the kings aligned with him, killed the Rephaims, the Zuzims and the Emims, and the Horites at mount Seir, all the way to Elparan, near the wilderness. This would have been the uninhabited area. Note that Chedorlaomer and his army must have been very powerful because the Rephaims, Zuzims, Emims and Horites were all known as the powerful ones, or strong ones and all were sons of Anak, or the Anakim and were giants; of the demon-possessed type and kind of Genesis 6. Notice that God uses Chedorlaomer and his armies to slaughter all the wicked demon possessed giants!

14:7

Now they return and come to Kadesh and kill all the Amalekites, and Amorites. We are told this was the area of Hazezon-tamar. God continues to use this wicked king to destroy the even more wicked demon possessed Amalekites. God can, and will, use ungodly people to do His will.

14:8-9

Now the battle and fighting increases fiercely as the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim and Zoar fight for their lives in the vale of Siddim, against the four kings and their armies all under the powerful Chedorlaomer. These four kings fight the weaker five kings of the rich fertile valley, apparently quickly subduing them. God continues to use Chedorlaomer to destroy many of the wicked peoples ruled by these five kings.

14:10

The vale of Siddim was full of slime (tar) pits which the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell into this pits and presumably died. All those who escaped fled into the mountain to keep from being killed. These slime pits were very extensive and probably represented accumulations of organic debris from the Flood, which had collected in the basins of the great Rift Valley which traverses the entire region. Early writers also referred to these pits as the Asphalt Sea. This area eventually becomes the Dead Sea as the sea becomes salty over time, because of no outlet, and encompasses these slime pits. Remember, this entire valley is below sea level.

14:11-12

The victors now take all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, stripping the city of everything they can use. They also take Lot and his family and goods. In addition, they take many other people captive to be used as slaves.

14:13

One person manages to escape the carnage and goes to Abram; this is the first time we see Abram identified as the Hebrew, to tell him of the capture of his nephew lot. Abram is dwelling in the plain of Memre the Amorite, brother of Eschol and brother of Aner: all these were confederates of Abram. They had probably formed this confederacy to protect themselves from Chedorlaomer and others who would try to attack them and take all their goods, flocks and people. From these passages we can easily see that the entire region was filled with wicked, demon possessed, warlike peoples! No wonder Abram chose to live in an area away from these people and formed a confederacy to protect himself and his people.

14:14

For the first time we see that Abram has his own army, all of whom were born in his own House, meaning his own Tribe of people. The number of those who were specifically trained for war was 318. These men were experts at warfare. We can safely assume that his entire Tribe was a great deal larger. It appears that Abram has been carefully organizing and training his household to protect themselves against the wicked demon-possessed people around them! They would have had to do this in order to survive. Notice that Abram does not waste any time in arming his highly trained warriors (think of them as Seals or Special Forces) and leads them in pursuing those who had captured Lot and his family all the way to Dan. Some people say that Christians should not prepare for war or be involved in war. Obviously this passage clearly teaches us we SHOULD be prepared for war against God’s enemies! Remember, we are told in Ephesians 6:10-18, to put on the armor of God; so obviously a reference to warfare is used to encourage Christians to be prepared to fight; spiritually, and if necessary, physically.

14:15

Abram skillfully divides his army against them; and by night, he attacks and kills many of them and pursues those who try to escape all the way to Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. This is no short easy trek with an entire army. Notice that they do not rest and continue to fight by night and day. This is a clue that God is giving them supernatural strength and stamina.

14:16-17

Abram and his army are victorious and bring back all the goods, his nephew Lot, and all his goods, and all the peoples with him. (17.) Now we see that the king of Sodom goes out to meet Abram after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and all the kings that were with him at the valley of Shaveh.

14:18

Suddenly we are given an ‘interval of time’, or a ‘time gap’ in the sequence of events; as we are told Melchizedek, the King of Salem, whose name means King of Righteousness, brings forth bread and wine: and Melchizedek is the Priest of the most high God. Who is this strange personage who evidently represents the most high God? A King is never the Priest, so who could this be?

14:19-20

We are given even more clues: Now He (Melchizedek) blessed him (Abram) and said: “Blessed be Abram of the most High God, possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be the most High God, which has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gives Him (Melchizedek) tithes of all he has. Who do the tithes go to? Only the Priest of God can receive tithes for God. Yet Melchizedek is both the King and Priest of the most High God. Notice that the author gives us the exact words of Melchizedek! All the rest of the narrative simply tells us what is going on and that one tells Abram of the situation, not his exact words! The reason we are told the exact words is that this is a very important Person, and the Holy Spirit wants us to take notice! Many serious Bible students believe this as a Theophany of Jesus Christ. How else would Melchizedek know that God had delivered this powerful confederacy of four powerful kings and all their armies to be slain by Abram and his small army. Remember, he only had 318 men in his army! For further proof, read Psalm 110:4 and Hebrews 5:6,10; 6:20; 7:1-21.

14:21

Now, suddenly, the time interval ends and we are shifted back to the king of Sodom who says to Abram: “Give me the people back and you take the goods for yourself.” We must assume that somehow the king of Sodom escaped from certain death from the slime pits; now he wants the people back. As the victor, Abram could keep all the goods AND people. The king of Sodom has no one to rule; so he, in effect, is begging Abram to let his people return to him.

14:22-23

Abram is well aware of the wickedness of Sodom and the king of Sodom and he tells the king of Sodom: “ I have lifted up my hand and sworn to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor and Maker of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a shoelace or anything that is yours, lest you should say, I have made Abram rich.” Abram clearly wants everyone to know for all time that ALL he has comes directly from the Most High God, not from some wicked king.

14:24

Abram goes on to say: “Take everything except only what my young men have eaten and the share of the men, my allies, who went with me, Aner, Eshcol and Memre; let them take their allotted portion.” According to the rules of war, all the goods and possessions now belonged to Abram; yet he refuses to take anything of value so that no one could ever say that his wealth came from anyone other than the God Most High!

God is teaching us some powerful lessons in this Chapter of Genesis. He has given us some new revealed Truth and Promises that hold True for people of all time down through the ages. Lot’s greedy focus on wealth and ease resulted in his being made a slave and he lost all his earthly ‘wealth’. Yet God, in His infinite mercy, gave him back his life, his family and his possessions. God, who is all powerful, can take a home grown army, led by a faithful, obedient servant of God, and take them to unbelievable victory over wicked evil men who possess all the worlds power and might. God’s power is always more than what the world has. God is in control, He is the Ruler and He can use all the wickedness of the world to accomplish His plans. Remember, our Country was founded by Pilgrims who fled the persecution of Great Britain. They knew they were to worship the One True God in a manner that allowed them to be obedient to what God revealed to them. These Pilgrims, (Puritans) had laws that required every family to own a gun, and to train their children in the use of firearms. Virginia and Connecticut required everyone to bear arms, to be prepared for their own defense and freedom. George Mason, often referred to as the father of the Bill of Rights, stated ‘that the ‘militia’ was the people … to disarm the people is to enslave them’. Our Second Amendment came about because of the need of Believers to remain a free nation. We have a responsibility to protect and defend our God given freedom. We need to pray, yet to be prepared. We do not need to rely on our own strength, our power, our wealth, our resources; we do need to always trust God and rely on His Wisdom, His Guidance, His Strength, and His Power, Timing, and Control and follow Him as He leads us. So, what is God saying to your heart and soul? Are you relying on Him or on the world? Are you a follower of Jesus? Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and then He will give you all that you need. See Matthew 6:33.