Genesis 14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 14

Chapter 14 We have four things in the story of this chapter. I. A war with the king of Sodom and his allies, Gen. 14:1-11. II. The captivity of Lot in that war, Gen. 14:12. III. Abram's rescue of Lot from that captivity, with the victory he obtained over the conquerors, Gen. 14:13-16. IV. Abram's return from the expedition, (Gen. 14:17), with an account of what passed, 1. Between him and the king of Salem, Gen. 14:18-20. 2. Between him and the king of Sodom, Gen. 14:21-24. So that here we have... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 14:1-12

We have here an account of the first war that ever we read of in scripture, which (though the wars of the nations make the greatest figure in history) we should not have had the history of if Abram and Lot had not been concerned in it. Now, concerning this war, we may observe, I. 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 in their own... read more

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 14:21-24

We have here an account of what passed between Abram and the king of Sodom, who succeeded him that fell in the battle (Gen. 14:10), and thought himself obliged to do this honour to Abram, in return for the good services he had done him. Here is, I. The king of Sodom's grateful offer to Abram (Gen. 14:21): Give me the soul, and take thou the substance; so the Hebrew reads it. Here he fairly begs the persons, but as freely bestows the goods on Abram. Note, 1. Where a right is dubious and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 14

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 14 This chapter gives an account of a war that was waged, and a battle fought between four kings on one side, and five on the other, and of the occasion and issue of it, who were the first kings, and this the first battle the Scriptures speak of, Genesis 14:1 ; Lot and his goods being taken and carried off, with those of Sodom, by the conquerors, Abram hearing of it armed his men, and pursued after them, and overtook and overcame them, and rescued Lot and his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 14:1

And it came to pass, in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar ,.... Or Babylon, as Onkelos, where Nimrod began his kingdom, Genesis 10:8 . This was Nimrod himself, as the Jewish writers generally says; though more likely Ninyas the son of Ninus and Semiramis, and grandson of Nimrod; or rather some petty prince or deputy governor of Shinar, under the king of Babylon; since, though named first, he was not the principal in this war, but fought under the king of Elam, and as an ally and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 14:2

That these made war with Bera king of Sodom ,.... A city in the plain of Jordan, which with the four following made the Pentapolis, or five cities of the plain. Strabo F25 Geograph. l. 16. p. 526. says, in this place formerly were thirteen cities, the metropolis of which was Sodom, and which yet had remaining a compass of sixty furlongs; according to Dr. Lightfoot F26 Works, vol. 2. p. 6. Vid. Reland. Palestina illustrata, tom. 2. p. 1020. , it should be placed in the southern... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 14:3

All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim ,.... Or "of fields", or "ploughed lands" F2 אל עמק השדים "valle amaenissimorum agrorum", Munster; "in planitie agrorum", Fagius; so Jarchi; "in valle occationum", Hiller. Onomastic. Sacr. p. 937. "dicta ab agris occatis", Schmidt. , a fruitful vale abounding with corn; or of gardens or paradises, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem, being full of gardens and orchards, and was as the garden of the Lord, even as Eden, see ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 14:4

Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer ,.... King of Elam, who was of the race of Shem, and so the prophecy of Noah began to be fulfilled, that Canaan should be servant to Shem, Genesis 9:26 ; for the kings of Sodom, &c.; and their subjects, were of the race of Ham in the line of Canaan, who had by violence seized on that part of the earth which was allotted to the sons of Shem, and therefore Chedorlaomer being a descendant of his claimed his right, and made them tributary to him, which... read more

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