MPV Commentary

1. This chapter presents Abram in an unexpected character as a warrior. The occasion was this: The king of Sodom and the kings of the adjoining cities had been tributaries to the king of Elam for twelve years but decided to throw off his yoke. To chastise their rebellion, Chedorlaomer invaded their territories with three allies, defeated them in battle where the terrain favored his army (Genesis 14:10), and marched triumphantly back home with a large number of captives and booty.

12. They took Lot and his goods, and departed. The conscience of that young man would now upbraid him for his selfish folly and ingratitude in leaving his kind and pious relative. Whenever we go out of the path of duty, we put ourselves away from God's protection and cannot expect our choices to be for our lasting good.

13. One who had escaped came to Abram. He might have excused himself from taking action on behalf of his "brother," that is, nephew, who little deserved such concern. But Abram resolved to take immediate measures for Lot's rescue, far from rendering evil for evil.

14. When Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants—domestic slaves common in Eastern countries—and prepared to pursue the captors. If Abram could spare three hundred and eighteen slaves and leave a sufficient number to care for the flocks, what a large establishment he must have had.

15-16. He divided his forces by night and launched a surprise attack on the enemy. This war between petty princes of ancient Canaan was similar to the skirmishes between Arab chiefs today. When a defeated party resolves to pursue the enemy, they wait till they are fast asleep; then, as they have no idea of posting sentinels, they rush upon them from different directions, strike down the tent poles, and often end the contest with little or no loss on either side.

18. Melchizedek, a king who knew and worshipped "the most high God," came to bless God for the victory won by Abram's arms. He also blessed Abram in the name of God, acknowledging the divine hand behind their success—a pious acknowledgment we should imitate when succeeding in any lawful enterprise.

20. Melchizedek gave Abram tithes of all he had taken, a token of his gratitude and honor to a divine ordinance (Proverbs 3:9). This shows Abram's piety as well as his valor.

21. The king of Sodom said, "Give me the persons." According to war customs still existing among Arab tribes, Abram might have retained the recovered goods and acknowledged his right by the king of Sodom. But with honest pride and generosity unknown in that part of the world, he replied, "I have sworn unto the Lord that I will not take from a thread even to a sandal-thong, and that I will not take anything that is thine, lest thou shouldst say, 'I have made Abram rich.'"