Genesis 14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 14:15

And he divided himself against them, he and his servants by night ,.... Together with his confederates; and very probably their whole three was divided into four parts, under their four leaders; and this might be done in order to attack the four kings and their soldiers, who might be in four separate bodies; or to fall upon their camp in the four quarters of it, and to make a show of a greater army, thereby to intimidate the enemy: Abram seems to have understood the art of war, and the use... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 14:21

And the king of Sodom said unto Abram ,.... After the conversation between him and Melchizedek was over: give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself ; meaning by "persons" or "souls", as in the original, his own subjects that had been taken and carried away by the four kings, and were now brought back by Abram; and by "the goods", those of his own and his subjects, which their conquerors had spoiled them of, but were now recovered, and which he was very willing Abram should have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 14:22

And Abram said to the king of Sodom ,.... In reply to his request: I have lifted up mine hand unto the Lord ; which was both a gesture of praying and of swearing, and both may be intended here; when he set out on his expedition, it is very probable he prayed to God for success, and swore that if he prospered him, that he would receive no profit or advantage from it to himself; or now in the presence of Melchizedek he lift up his hands and swore that he would take none of the goods he had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 14:23

That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet ,.... That is, from a thread used in sewing garments to, a shoelatchet, or the string which fastens the shoes to the foot, the least belonging to that; or from the hair lace of the head, to the shoelatchet of the foot; that is, he would take nothing of his from head to foot: the meaning is, that he would not take that which was of the least value and importance that could be conceived of, and which is more clearly expressed by what... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 14:24

Save only that which the young men have eaten ,.... His three hundred and eighteen trained servants, and those of his confederates, who having recovered the victuals taken away from the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, had eaten of it for their refreshment, as it was but just and right they should: and the portion of the men which went with me ; the part in the spoil which belonged unto them by the laws of war; wherefore, though he abridged himself of rights and privileges that... read more

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