Gen. 14 Several kings wage war against the king of Sodom, &c. Lot is taken prisoner, Gen. 14:1–12. Abram rescues him, Gen. 14:13–16. The king of Sodom congratulates him his victory, Gen. 14:17. Melchizedek king of Salem blesses him; to him Abram gives tithes, Gen. 14:18–20.

i.e. Of a people which came to him out of several nations, (being allured possibly by his fame, or by promises and privileges granted to them), and put themselves under his government.

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 Josh. 12:9;c.

Which now is, though when this battle was fought it was not so.

He was their lord, either, 1. By inheritance, as the issue of Elam, Shem’s son, Gen. 10:22. Or, 2. By conquest, having subdued those people in a former war, which Josephus speaks of.

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. The Rephaims, a fierce and warlike people of Canaan. See Gen. 15:20. Or the giants, as this word is taken Deut. 2:11.

The Horites, the ancient inhabitants of Seir, of whom see Gen. 36:20, Deut. 2:12. El signifies a plain, and Paran is the name of a known city and mountain. See Num. 13:3, Deut. 33:2, 1 Sam. 25:1;c.

Which is Kadesh, i.e. which after that time was called Kadesh, of which see Num. 20:1, Num. 20:14;c. The country of the Amalekites, i.e. which afterwards was possessed by the Amalekites, Gen. 36:12. A known figure called prolepsis.

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.

Lot now suffered for his cohabitation with bad neighbours.

Abram the Hebrew; so called, either, 1. From his great and good predecessor Eber, Gen. 10:24, Gen. 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…

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…

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.

He brought back all the goods which the victorious kings had taken from the princes and people mentioned before in this chapter.

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 Sam. 18:18.

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, Heb.

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 “Heb. 7:6” and “Heb. 7:7”.

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, Gen. 14:23. But Abram gave to Melchizedek, as appears both from Heb.

This was the ancient manner of swearing. See Ex. 6:8, Num. 14:30, Deut. 32:40, Ezek. 20:5–6.

That I will not take; Heb. If I shall take. Understand, God do so and so to me, which is expressed 1 Sam. 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 curse…

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 Sam. 30:24; and therefore though he might and did give away his own right, he could not give away other men’s.