Names of God

Genesischapter 14

24 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 249 cross-references outward and receives 225 — heaviest partner: Genesis.

Chapter summary

The war of the kings. Four kings from the east defeat five kings of the plain and take Lot captive. Abram arms 318 trained servants, pursues, and rescues Lot by a night raid near Dan. Returning with the spoils, he is met by two kings — the king of Sodom, and Melchizedek king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who brings out bread and wine and blesses him. Abram tithes to Melchizedek and refuses anything from the king of Sodom. Psalm 110 and Hebrews 5–7 build on this chapter's single paragraph about Melchizedek — a priesthood older than Aaron's.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Law · Moses — see the Genesis overview for the book's full setting.

18–24 Names of God

1 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim,

2 that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar).

3 All these joined together in the vale of Siddim (the same is the Salt Sea).

4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim,

6 and the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-paran, which is by the wilderness.

7 And they returned, and came to En-mishpat (the same is Kadesh), and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazazon-tamar.

8 And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar); and they set the battle in array against them in the vale of Siddim;