Genesis 14

Genesis 14

14:2 What I see as interesting here is that each city seemed to have its own king. Typically when we think of a kingdom, it has many cities and other such districts.

14:4 The picture I'm getting here is Kedorlaomer conquered these five cities and they paid tribute to him, but after 12 years they decided enough was enough. They rebelled and Kedorlaomer with some allies went to squash the rebellion. Seems reasonable enough.

14:7 I'm not sure why they conquered these cities since they are not the ones that rebelled. Maybe it was just opportunity, maybe they were just out on a scheduled conquering spree that was more or less prompted by the rebellion by the five kings. I don't know, but it does show that these kings were powerful.

14:10 Just like that we see how the battle goes. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled and were dumb enough to fall into the tar pits. Chances are they chose that field because they thought the tar pits would be to their advantage. I wonder what happened to the other three kings of Admah, Zeboiim and Bela?

14:12 So Lot did not participate in the battle and stayed in the city, but since the city fell Lot got taken anyway. Why did they take him when they just took the goods of the rest of the people? All it says is because he was living in Sodom. Perhaps they did take others but they aren't main characters so they aren't mentioned. Just kidding, though I'm sure back then this was a huge event and I shouldn't be making fun of it.

14:13 If other villagers were taken, this could be one of them, or if it was just Lot it could have been one of his servants. Either way, the man knew who to go to. Perhaps he was guided by providence, but he went straight to Abram.

14:14 I wonder if there is significance to the 318 men? Actually it is interesting since most numbers in the Bible seem to be fairly well rounded off, whether it really ended up that way or if it was approximated. This is exact. Actually the apostolic writer of the Letter of Barnabas sees significance here, though it is a bit far fetched. He says, "Understand ye that He saith the eighteen first,
and then after an interval three hundred In the eighteen 'I' stands for ten, 'H' for eight. Here thou hast JESUS (IHSOYS). And because the cross in the 'T' was to have grace, He saith also three hundred. So He revealeth Jesus in the two letters, and in the remaining one the cross." (Barnabas 9:7) I include this here as reference, not because I believe it.

14:15 The armies of man defeated by the household of God. Even though these kings plundered and conquered on their way, they were defeated by a few hundred.

14:16 And the fact that he recaptured everything means a great deal. This wasn't just run in and get Lot, it was an all out victory. It does make me wonder what happened to the armies. From the sound of it, they just fled without any booty.

14:18 Here is the first of very few references to a man known as Melchizedek. This man was somehow priest of the same God that appeared to Abram and to whom Abram built the altar. It is also interesting that Melchizedek brings out bread and wine, as if to celebrate the Lord's table. When Jesus teaches his disciples about the Lord's table it is in reference to his own coming sacrifice. We celebrate it in light of that sacrifice. What was Melchizedek doing? Was he looking forward to the sacrifice of the Lord's Anointed? It does make me wonder what the Jews think of this when they read this passage.

14:20 This is the institution of the tithe, though it wasn't known as law. Abram must have known that the Lord's hand was on him as he fought the battle, and the appearance of Melchizedek confirmed it further. Giving offering to this man was not frivolous nor was it unjust.

14:24 This was also a wise thing for Abram to do. Perhaps he knew the reputation of the men of Sodom, or perhaps he just wanted to keep the Lord at the center of his dealings. Either way, we have this as an example of Abram's faith.