Genesis 14:21 KJV

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 14:21-24

ABRAM AND THE KING OF SODOM"And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up my hand unto Jehovah, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread nor a shoe-latchet nor aught that is thine, lest thou shouldst say, I have made Abram rich: save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of them that went with me, Aner, Eschol, and Mamre; let them take their... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 14:21

21. the king of Sodom said . . . Give me the persons—According to the war customs still existing among the Arab tribes, Abram might have retained the recovered goods, and his right was acknowledged by the king of Sodom. But with honest pride, and a generosity unknown in that part of the world, he replied with strong phraseology common to the East, "I have lifted up mine hand" [that is, I have sworn] unto the Lord that I will not take from a thread even to a sandal-thong, and that that I will... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 14:17-24

Abram’s meeting with two kings 14:17-24This section records an important decision Abram had to make after he returned victoriously from his battle with the Mesopotamian kings. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 14:21-24

Abram identified El Elyon with Yahweh (Genesis 14:22). His willingness to take no spoil from the battle for himself demonstrates Abram’s desire that God would receive all the glory for his prosperity. He also appears not to have wanted to be indebted to the wicked king of Sodom. This man may have, by his command to Abram, been setting him up for demands later (cf. Genesis 23:15)."The gifts of the ungodly are often attached to deadly strings." [Note: Davis, p. 182.] Generally, the patriarchs... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 14:1-24

The Battle of the Kings, and the Capture and Rescue of LotChedorlaomer, king of Elam, had subdued the Canaanites of the Jordan valley some years before the events narrated in this chapter. The latter had rebelled, and a campaign for their fresh subjugation was undertaken, which included a general punitive expedition from Syria to the Gulf of Akaba.Within the last few years Assyrian tablets of great antiquity have been found, throwing considerable, if indirect, light on this narrative, and... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 14:21

(21) Grive me the persons.—To this day it is the rule among the Arabs that, if a camp be plundered, anyone who recovers the booty gives up only the persons, and takes the rest for himself. But Abram, with noble generosity, will accept nothing. The “lifting up of the hand” to give solemnity to an oath is mentioned here for the first time. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Genesis 14:1-24

Melchisedek the Uncanonical Genesis 14:18 A deeply veiled figure. The force of the figure lies in its background; its mystery in its mean surroundings. Melchisedek was a Canaanite. His birthplace was uncanonical. He ruled with wonderfully despotic power. What gave this man such a marvellous power? His personal sanctity. Abraham represents earth; Melchisedek is the High Priest of heaven. I. Where did Melchisedek get that priesthood which he was certainly credited with possessing. Melchisedek... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Genesis 14:1-24

ABRAM’S RESCUE OF LOTGenesis 14:1-24THIS chapter evidently incorporates a contemporary account of the events recorded. So antique a document was it even when it found its place in this book, that the editor had to modernise some of its expressions that it might be intelligible. The places mentioned were no longer known by the names here preserved-Bela. the vale of Siddim. En-mishpat, the valley of Shaveh, all these names were unknown even to the persons who dwelt in the places once so... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Genesis 14:1-24

CHAPTER 14 The First Recorded War and Lot’s Deliverance 1. The battle of the confederacy (Genesis 14:1-10 ) 2. Sodom and Gomorrah spoiled (Genesis 14:11-13 ) 3. Abram’s rescue (Genesis 14:14-16 ) 4. Sodom’s king to meet Abram (Genesis 14:17 ) 5. Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20 ) 6. The king’s offer and Abram’s answer (Genesis 14:21-24 ) The record of the first war is here foreshadowing the last great warfare still to come. Amraphel, King of Shinar, has been historically located by... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 14:1-24

THE WORLD'S CONFLICT We read now for the first time in scripture of war among nations of the ungodly world. Abram has no part in this. It is recorded mainly because of Lot. Four kings war against five. The names of the four kings have meanings that imply a religious significance, the first one, Amraphel meaning "sayer of darkness," and Shinar meaning "change of the city." Thus false religion can speak in dark, mystical ways with the object of improving (not saving or converting) people. In... read more