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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 14:13-16

We have here an account of the only military action we ever find Abram engaged in, and this he was prompted to, not by his avarice or ambition, but purely by a principle of charity; it was not to enrich himself, but to help his friend. Never was any military expedition undertaken, prosecuted, and finished, more honourably than this of Abram?s. Here we have, I. The tidings brought him of his kinsman's distress. Providence so ordered it that he now sojourned not far off, that he might be a very... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 14:17-20

This paragraph begins with the mention of the respect which the king of Sodom paid to Abram at his return from the slaughter of the kings; but, before a particular account is given of this, the story of Melchizedek is briefly related, concerning whom observe, I. Who he was. He was king of Salem and priest of the most high God; and other glorious things are said of him, Heb. 7:1-10 1. The rabbin, and most of our rabbinical writers, conclude that Melchizedek was Shem the son of Noah, who was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 14:16

And he brought back all the goods ,.... Taken from Sodom and Gomorrah, Genesis 14:11 , and also brought again his brother Lot ; his brother's son, Genesis 14:12 , for whose sake chiefly he engaged in this enterprise: and his goods; money, cattle, &c.; and the women also, and the people ; not only that belonged to Lot, but to Sodom and Gomorrah, who had been taken and carried captive; these were all rescued and brought back by Abram, see Genesis 14:21 ; read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 14:17

And the king of Sodom went out to meet him ,.... While Abram was in pursuit of the four kings, the king of Sodom came down from the mountain whither he and those that escaped with him fled, and came to Sodom: and from hence he went out, not alone, but accompanied with his retinue, to meet Abram: after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him ; to congratulate him upon the victory he had obtained over them; and this meeting was at the valley... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 14:18

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine ,.... Both the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem say, this is Shem the son of Noah, and which is the sense of the Jewish writers in general, and of many Christian ones; but, though it is highly probable he was living at this time, yet it is not easy to account for it why his name should be changed, or that he should reign in a country in the possession of his brother's son; or that he should meet Abram, and congratulate him on the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 14:19

And he blessed him ,.... Melchizedek blessed Abram, which was one part of his office as a priest, to wish and pray for a blessing on others, see Numbers 6:23 , &c.; and herein typified Christ, who really blesses or confers blessings on all his people, even spiritual blessings, such as redemption, remission of sins, and justifying righteousness, adoption, and eternal life: and said, blessed be Abram of the most high God ; that is, may he be blessed by him who is the most high God,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 14:20

And blessed be the most high God ,.... Let his name be praised, and thanks be given to him for all mercies temporal and spiritual, since all flow from him, and particularly for the mercies Abram and others through him were now made partakers of; for whoever were the instruments, God was the efficient cause, and to him all the glory was to be given: which hath delivered thine enemies into thine hand ; the four kings, who are called Abram's enemies, because the enemies of God and of true... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 14:16

And he brought back - the women also - This is brought in by the sacred historian with peculiar interest and tenderness. All who read the account must be in pain for the fate of wives and daughters fallen into the hands of a ferocious, licentious, and victorious soldiery. Other spoils the routed confederates might have left behind; and yet on their swift asses, camels, and dromedaries, have carried off the female captives. However, Abram had disposed his attack so judiciously, and so... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 14:17

The king of Sodom went out to meet him - This could not have been Bera, mentioned Genesis 14:2 , for it seems pretty evident, from Genesis 14:10 , that both he and Birsha, king of Gomorrah, were slain at the bitumen-pits in the vale of Siddim; but another person in the meantime might have succeeded to the government. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 14:18

And Melchizedek, king of Salem - A thousand idle stories have been told about this man, and a thousand idle conjectures spent on the subject of his short history given here and in Heb. vii. At present it is only necessary to state that he appears to have been as real a personage as Bera, Birsha, or Shinab, though we have no more of his genealogy than we have of theirs. Brought forth bread and wine - Certainly to refresh Abram and his men, exhausted with the late battle and fatigues of... read more

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