Chapter 14:
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| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
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| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
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Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
Genesis 14
We have in this chapter,
I. A war with the king of Sodom and his allies, ver. 1-12.
II. Abram's rescue of Lot from captivity, ver. 13-16.
III. Abram's return from that expedition, ver. 17. with an account
of what passed,
1. Between him and the king of Salem, ver. 18-20.
2. Between him and the king of Sodom, ver. 21-24. In part
fulfilled, that God would make his name great.
Verse 1. We have here an account of the first war that ever we read of in
scripture, in which we may observe. [1.] The parties engaged in it.
The invaders were four kings; two of them no less than kings of
Shinar and Elam - That is, Chaldea and Persia; yet probably not
the sovereign princes of those great kingdoms, but rather the
heads of some colonies which came out thence, and settled
themselves near Sodom, but retained the names of the countries
from which they had their original. The invaded were the kings of
five cities that lay near together in the plain of Jordan, Sodom and
Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar. [2.] The occasion of this
war was, the revolt of the five kings from under the government
of Chedorlaomer.
Verse
4. Twelve years they served him - The Sodomites were the
posterity of Canaan, whom Noah had pronounced a servant to
Shem, from whom Elam descended. Thus soon did that prophecy
begin to be fulfilled. In the thirteenth year, beginning to be weary
of their subjection, they rebelled - Denied their tribute, and
attempted to shake off the yoke.
Verse
5. In the fourteenth year - After some pause and preparation,
Chedorlaomer, in conjunction with his allies, set himself to reduce
the revolters. See note at "ver. 1" (For [1.], [2.]) [3.] The progress
of the war. The four kings laid the neighbouring countries waste,
and enriched themselves with the spoil of them, ver. 5, 6, 7. Upon
the alarm of which, the king of Sodom and his allies went out and
were routed.
Verse
13. We have here an account of the only military action we ever
find Abram engaged in; and this he was not prompted to by
avarice or ambition, but purely by a principle of charity.
Verse
14. He armed his trained servants, born in his house - To the
number of three hundred and eighteen: a great family, but a small
army; about as many as Gideon's that routed the Midianites, Jude
vii, 7. He drew out his trained servants, or his catechized servants;
not only instructed in the art of war, but instructed in the
principles of religion; for Abram commanded his household to
keep the way of the Lord.
Verse
16. His brother Lot - That is, his kinsman.
Verse
18. The Rabbins say, that Melchizedek was Shem the son of
Noah, who was king and priest to those that descended from him,
according to the patriarchal model. Many Christian writers have
thought that this was an appearance of the Son of God himself,
our Lord Jesus, known to Abram at this time by this name. But as
nothing is expressly revealed concerning it, we can determine
nothing. He brought forth bread and wine - For the refreshment of
Abram and his soldiers, and in congratulation of their victory.
This he did as a king. As priest of the most high God he blessed
Abram, which we may suppose a greater refreshment to Abram
than his bread and wine were.
Verse
19. Blessed be Abram, of the most high God - Observe the titles
he here gives to God, which are very glorious.
1. The most high God, which speaks his absolute perfections in
himself, and his sovereign dominion over all the creatures.
2. Possessor of heaven and earth - That is, rightful owner and
sovereign Lord of all the creatures; because he made them.
Verse
20. And blessed be the most high God - Note,
1. In all our prayers we must praise God, and join hallelujahs with
all our hosannas. These are the spiritual sacrifices we must offer
up daily, and upon particular occasions.
2. God as the most high God must have the glory of all our
victories. In them he shews himself higher than our enemies, and
higher than we, for without him we could do nothing. And he
gave him tithes of all - That is, of the spoils, Heb. vii, 4. This may
be looked upon,
(1.) As a gratuity presented to Melchizedek, by way of return for
his respects.
(2.) As an offering dedicated to the most high God, and therefore
put into the hands of Melchizedek his priest. Jesus Christ, our
great Melchizedek, is to be humbly acknowledged by every one of
us as our king and priest, and not only the tithe of all, but all we
have, must be given up to him.
Verse 21. Give me the souls, and take thou the substance - So the
Hebrew reads it. Here he fairly begs the persons, but as freely
bestows the goods on Abram. Gratitude teaches us to recompense
to the utmost of our power those that have undergone fatigues, or
been at expence for our service.
Verse
22. I have lift up mine hand to the Lord that I will not take
anything - Here Observe,
1. The titles he gives to God, the most high God, the possessor
of heaven and earth - The same that Melchizedek had just now
used. It is good to learn of others how to order our speech
concerning God, and to imitate those who speak well in divine
things.
2. The ceremony used in this oath; I have lift up my hand - In
religious swearing we appeal to God's knowledge of our truth and
sincerity, and imprecate his wrath if we swear falsely; and the
lifting up of the hands is expressive of both. Lest thou shouldst
say, I have made Abram rich - Probably, Abram knew the king of
Sodom to be a proud and scornful man, and one that would be apt
to turn such a thing as this to his reproach afterwards, and when
we have to do with such men, we have need to act with particular
caution.
Verse
23. From a thread to a shoe-latchet - Not the least thing that had
ever belonged to the king of Sodom.
Chapter 14:
| Calvin
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
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