Genesis 14:20

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 14:20

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 14:20

And he gave him tithes - A tenth part of all the spoils he had taken from the confederate kings. These Abram gave as a tribute to the most high God, who, being the possessor of heaven and earth, dispenses all spiritual and temporal favors, and demands the gratitude, and submissive, loving obedience, of all his subjects. Almost all nations of the earth have agreed in giving a tenth part of their property to be employed in religious uses. The tithes were afterwards granted to the Levites for... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 14:20

Verse 20 20.And he gave him tithes of all. There are those who understand that the tithes were given to Abram; but the Apostle speaks otherwise, in declaring that Levi had paid tithes in the loins of Abram, (Hebrews 7:9,) when Abram offered tithes to a more excellent Priest. And truly what the expositors above-mentioned mean, would be most absurd; because, if Melchizedek was the priest of God, it behaved him to receive tithes rather than to give them. Nor is it to be doubted but Abram offered... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 14:1-24

The kingdom of God in its relation to the contending powers of this world. I. GOD 'S JUDGMENTS ARE ALREADY BEGINNING TO FALL . War is made by confederate kings or princes against the people of the wicked cities of the plain, who by their propinquity would naturally be leagued together, but by their common rebellion against Chedorlaomer were involved in a common danger. Notice the indication of the future judgment given in the course of the narrative—"the vale of Siddim was full... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 14:17-24

Visited by kings. I. THE KING OF SALEM . 1. His exalted person . Neither a supramundane being, an angel, the Holy Ghost, or Christ; nor one of the early patriarchs, such as Enoch or Shem; but a Canaanitish (Shemite?) prince, whose capital was Salem (Jerusalem), and who united in his person the double function of priest and monarch of his people; probably the last official representative of the primitive religion, who here advances to meet and welcome the new faith in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 14:18-20

A king-priest. "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed Abraham," &c.; When the king of Sodom was beaten in a war with Chedorlaomer, Lot was involved in the overthrow. Chedorlaomer was a warrior of great power, and his very name was terrible. Five confederate kings had in vain resisted him with his three auxiliaries. He whom kings could not oppose the simple patriarch Abraham, with armed herdsmen, will... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 14:20

And blessed be the most high God (cf. Genesis 9:1-29 :56), who hath delivered — miggen , a word peculiar to poetry— nathan (cf. Proverbs 4:9 ; Hosea 11:8 )— thine enemies — tsarecha, also a poetical expression— 'ōyeb (cf. Deuteronomy 32:27 ; Job 16:9 ; Psalms 81:15 )— into thy hand. And he —not Melchisedeck (Jewish interpreters), but Abram (Josephus, LXX ; Jonathan, Hebrews 7:6 )— gave him (not Abram, but Melchisedeck) tithes "tenths." These, being the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 14:20

The Church militant. I. THE ENEMIES OF THE CHURCH . Like Abram's— 1. Numerous. 2. Formidable. 3. Exulting. II. THE TRIUMPH OF THE CHURCH . Like Abram's— 1. Certain. 2. Complete. 3. Final. III. THE THANKSGIVING OF THE CHURCH . Like Abram's— 1. Due to God most high. 2. Offered through the priest of the most high God. 3. Expressed in self-consecration to the service of God.— W . read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 14:1-24

- Abram Rescues Lot1. אמרפל 'amrāpel, Amraphel; related: unknown. אלריוך 'aryôk, Ariok, “leonine?” related: ארי 'arı̂y, “a lion:” a name re-appearing in the time of Daniel Daniel 2:14. אלסר 'elāsār Ellasar (related: unknown) is identified with Larsa or Larancha, the Λάρισσα Larissa or Λαράχων Larachōn of the Greeks, now Senkereh, a town of lower Babylonia, between Mugheir (Ur) and Warka (Erek) on the left bank of the Frat. כדרלעמר kedārlā‛omer, Kedorla’omer, was compared by Col.... read more

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