Genesis Chapter Fourteen
"He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love." --- (SofS 2:4)
Travis Case, Pastor/Teacher Northgate Baptist Church F.E.A.S.T Ministries
Genesis 14:1-9
, "And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; 2 That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar. 3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea. 4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, 6 And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness. 7 And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar. 8 And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim; 9 With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five."A. Robert Deffinbaugh suggest that Titles for Genesis chapters 13, 14, and 15 could be:
1. Chapter 13 - "Abram Had A Lot To Lose."
2. Chapter 14 - "Abram Had A Lot To Gain."
3. Chapter 15 - "Abram Had A Lot To Learn."
B. This is the First Written Account of War in ancient literature.
1. There are earlier references and pictures of ancient men fighting in battle long before Abram's day, but this is the first written description of an actual battle between opposing kings and nations.
2. This is also the first time in the Scriptures that Patriarchal and Secular History Intersect.
3. The Purpose of this passage is to show the Courage of Abram and His Great Faith in God.
C. Through Archeological Research the Kings mentioned in this passage are identified as True Historical Characters.
1. Contemporary Tablets show that they were Reigning at the very time when, according to Bible chronology, Abram Was Living In Canaan.
2. Archeologists have discovered that these Four Kings were actually Confederated, and at this time were dominating most of the land known today as Palestine.
3. Kudor or Chedor-laomer was apparently the Chieftain of this alliance of kings and the other three kings were his allies.
a. Archeological records reveal that King Kudar, Chedor-laomer, the Elamitre monarch, was nearly Eighty Years Old when he directed this allied raid against Palestine.
b. He had Conquered Ellasar Forty-Three Years Earlier and had placed his son, Warad-Sin, upon its throne.
c. That son died a few years later; but his second son, Eriaku (also called Rim-Sin), was king of Ellasar at the time of this Palestinian revolt.
D. The Invaders were Four Kings from Babylon (Mesopotamian) and Elam (Persia - Iran).
1. Amraphel, king of Shinar --- land of Babylon.
2. Arioch, king of Ellasar --- city of Babylon or of Assyria.
3. Tidal, king of Goiim (nations) --- Probably included several nationalities and city-states.
4. Chedorlaomer, king of Elam (Persia).
a. The three kings of verse one were subject to his rule and forced to fight with him.
b. He also rules over Palestine.
E. The Defenders were Five Kings of Palestine.
1. Bera king of Sodom,
2. Birsha king of Gomorrah,
3. Shinab king of Admah,
4. Shemeber king of Zeboiim,
5. The King of Bela (Zoar).
6. The Government of the day was what is know as City-States, that is, a city and its surrounding territory --- each city had a king.
F. The Battlefield was the Valley of Siddim, the Salt Sea (Dead Sea).
The war was not a small battle, it involved Much of The Known World of that day.
G. The Cause of the war was a Revolt by the Palestinian states against the rule of a foreign government.
1. Chedorlaomer, king of Elam (Persia) conquered Palestine Twelve Years Earlier.
2. For twelve years Palestine had been enslaved and taxed --- now they had had enough --- they Rebelled and Refused To Pay Their Taxes.
3. Chedorlaomer had no choice but to Protect His Tax Base and Trade Routes that ran through Palestine down into Egypt and northern Africa.
a. Whoever controlled this land bridge maintained a Monopoly On International Trade.
b. The route of the conquest seems to be the "Way of The Kings" or "The Kings Way" (Num. 20:17; 21:22) --- the trade route which the Mesopotamian kings sought to control.
H. The Strategy of the war was Brilliant.
1. The prime target of the invading armies was Sodom and Gomorrah --- The invaders took a wide sweep around the two cities, Conquering The Border Cities First.
2. One By One the noose was drawn tightly around the two cities.
a. The Rephaims were defeated at Ashteroth-Karnaim.
b. The Zuzims were conquered at Ham.
c. The Emims were subdued at Shaveh-Kiriathaim.
d. The Horites were overcome at Mount Seir.
e. The Amalekites were rounted at En-mishpat (Kadesh).
f. The Amorites were overthrown at Hazezon-Tamar.
3. The Major Battle was fought in the valley of the Salt Sea (Dead Sea).
Genesis 14:10-16
, "And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain. 11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. 12 And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. 13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. 14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. 15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people."A. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah suffered a Humiliating Defeat --- they fled and hid in the tar (asphalt) pits-bitumen --- the rest of their army fled into the surrounding mountains.
B. Lot was taken captive.
1. Lot chose to go His Own Way, seeking His Own Interests over the Promises of God.
a. Therefore, he had to face the Consequences of His Sin.
b. Instead of Peace and Prosperity he found Shame and Slavery.
2. Lot was actually Living In Sodom, within the wicked city itself --- He had become a part of the worldly environment.
When we left Lot in chapter 13 he was first Living In The Valley of The Jordan, heading eastward. (13:11)
3. Lot Lost all his possessions --- his home, property, livestock, money --- all his wealth.
4. Lot who was So Shrewd was now a Prisoner of War --- a slave --- being deported to a foreign land --- all Because of His Selfish Choice.
C. Abraham, the Hebrew.
1. This is the first time the word "Hebrew" is used in the Bible.
2. The name Israelite was the name used primarily by Jews among themselves.
3. The word Jew eventually became the most used word to designate the Hebrew people.
D. Abraham was a Man of Faith.
1. A faithful man is Not Content To Simply Enjoy His Blessings While Others Suffer.
a. It would have been easy for Abraham to Stay Out of The Entire Mess.
(1) Lot was the one who Chose to live in Sodom --- he compromised himself --- He Deserves What He Gets.
(2) Besides, there is little that can be done against such a Formidable Foe.
b. Abraham understood that we are Not Here Only To Take Care of Ourselves --- he knew that we have an Obligation To Help Each Other --- this is called Character.
c. He Could Not Simply Stand By while others suffered --- Abraham understood that he was Blessed In Order That He Might Bless Others.
2. A faithful man knows that the Best Way To Face A Formidable Foe Is Through Faith.
a. Those times when we know that we are the Most Helpless are the times when we need to be Most Trusting.
b. God has a Proven Track Record of Success in "Hopeless" situations:
(1) Abraham in this battle.
(2) David with Goliath.
(3) Elijah with the Prophets of Baal.
(4) Moses facing Pharaoh.
3. A faithful man sees the Importance of Guarding His Heart.
a. Abraham Receives the food and blessing from Melchizedek but Refuses the reward that is offered by the King of Sodom.
(1) Abraham recognized that Sodom Was A Corrupt And Godless City.
(2) Any Association with the city was bound to lead to a Compromised Faith.
b. We must be Careful Who Our Friends Are --- who we Associate with --- what kinds of Values We Embrace.
c. There is always a Price To Be Paid when we Unite With The World:
(1) We Water Down The Truth so as Not To Offend.
(2) We Compromise our Reputation and Witness.
(3) We Lose Our Spiritual Sharpness --- Sin Doesn't Bother Us As Much:
(A) We are Not Affected By the Immorality --- Vulgarity --- Violence ---- Disrespect Shown To God.
(B) As we develop an Appetite For The Things of The World we Dull Our Appetite For The Things of God.
d. Any Connection with the world will Distort Our Thinking:
(1) If we allow our culture to define Riches --- we will become Obsessed with the Material.
(2) If we allow our culture to define Love --- we will find ourselves embracing Perversion.
(3) If we allow our culture to define Worship --- we will focus on External Feelings rather than Inward Humility.
(4) If we allow our culture to define Self-Image --- we will end up with an Arrogance that Refuses To Submit To God's Authority.
(5) If we allow our culture to define what is appropriate to Feed Our Minds --- we will end up Compromising our Pursuit of that which is Holy.
(6) If we allow our culture to define God --- we will end up Worshipping A Reflection of Ourselves.
4. Abraham Gave Up what he was "Entitled To" in order to Retain His Purity before the Lord.
D. Abram had a Great Military Mind --- in spite of being Greatly Outnumbered:
1. He employed a Forced March and a Surprise Attack from Various Positions.
2. His pursuit was Vigorous and Extensive, until the Victory Was Complete.
3. Abram chased these kings to Dan and engaged them in conflict there --- then he chased them north of Damascus, and finally he drove them out of the country.
E. The Triumphal Return of Abram must have been the ancient counterpart to a Ticker Tape Parade in New York City.
Genesis 14:17-24
, "And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale. 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. 21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. 22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: 24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion."A. "To The Victor Belongs The Spoils."
1. By all rights and even by the request of the king of Sodom, the Spoils Belong To Abram.
a. Is this Poetic Justice or what?
b. Lot Had Chosen Sodom for its promise of material blessings and nearly Lost Everything.
(1) He chose to go His Own Way, seeking His Own Interests over the promises of God.
(2) We may like to be Self-Sufficient, but this is not God's way.
c. Lot had seemingly Gotten The Best of Abram, but now Abram Rescues Him From Being A Slave.
2. Now, God Was Giving It Back To Abram to whom it should have Belonged In The First Place.
B. Melchizedek, King of Salem, Appears On The Scene.
1. Melchizedek was not only the Ruler of the city of Salem (Jeru-salem) but also its High Priest.
a. This is the First Time the word "Priest" is used in the Bible --- He brings Abraham a message from God making him a Prophet, Priest and King.
The Levitical Priesthood will not be establish for approximately 200 Years yet.
b. Melchizedek --- malki (king) and sedeq (righteousness) --- The King of Righteousness.
c. Some think that he may have been a Semitic Kinsman of Abram rather than a member of some idolatrous Canaanite tribe.
d. Others think that he was one of the Canaanite Kings of the city of Jerusalem.
e. Some even think that he might have been Shem (who could have still been living) or even the Pre-incarnate Christ.
Such as the angels that appeared to Abraham or to Joshua at Jericho, or the fourth man in the fiery furnace.
f. The truth is that No One Knows anything about him but what the Scriptures reveals.
g. Not having any record of his genealogy, he is a Type of The Eternal Priesthood of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 110:4, "The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."
Heb. 5:6, "As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."
Heb. 7:1-3, "For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually." --- V. 11-12, "If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, ....."
(1) The Origin of the Priesthood was changed --- from the tribe of Levi --- Christ came from the tribe of Juda, from which no priest had ever come --- He was of an Entirely Different Order.
(2) The Qualifications of the Priesthood was changed --- men became priest because they met the requirement of the law --- Christ was Appointed to be the Great High Priest because of His Endless Life.
(3) The Number of Priest has changed --- the priesthood kept Changing because the priest died --- Not So With Christ.
Heb. 2:17, "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people."
Heb. 4:14-15, "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
Heb. 6:20, "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."
Heb. 7:1-28, "For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. 4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: 6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. 11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: 21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) 22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore."
Heb. 8:1, "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;"
Heb. 10:10-12, "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;" --- V. 19-22, "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."
2. Melchizedek's words were a Reminder of the Covenant God had made with Abram.
a. There was no back-slapping or politicking.
b. Melchizedek was a king and a priest, not a king and a politician.
c. Melchizedek first gave Abram Bread and Wine --- he ministers to his Physical Needs.
d. His words were intended to remind Abram that the Victory Was God's and that His Success was a result of God's Blessings.
e. Abram's Tithe was tangible evidence that it was God Who Deserved The Glory.
(1) God's Glory was to be His Alone.
(2) Abram's tithe was Not A Debt To Be Paid but rather a Symbolic Representation That Everything Belongs To God.
(3) 2 Cor. 8:5, "And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God."
3. The King of Sodom offers to give Abram Great Riches.
a. To Accept anything from a Pagan King would be to give him the opportunity to suppose that his giving was Responsible For Abram's Success.
b. The Price of such goods was Too High --- Abram Refused What Was Rightfully His.
1 Cor. 6:12, "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any."
(1) The Only One I Wish To Serve Is Christ --- If God doesn't give me something then I don't want it.
(2) The Only Power To Which I Will Yield My Life Is His --- Anything else that threatens to control me or limit me I reject!
(3) It may be lawful, it may even be good, but if it makes any demand upon me that is not his demand, I Do Not Want It.
c. Abram said, (V. 22) "It is Yahweh, it is the Lord, who is the Most High God, who owns it all."
d. In (V. 23) he adds, "My Confidence is in God Most High, I will count on him, rather than these Human Resources."
4. This was a Wonderful Conviction that Abram had --- However, notice, Abram Did Not force his convictions on other.
Gen. 14:24, "Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion."
Rom. 14:4-5, "Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 5 .... Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind."
C. Some years later, Abram made his way through this Same Valley on his way to Mount Moriah to Sacrifice His Own Son.
1. Melchizedek did Not Appear unto Abram as he passed through This Time.
2. This valley, just outside of Salem, was know as the "King's Valley," --- It was none other than the Valley of the Kidron, the little brook that ran down along the eastern side of Jerusalem, separating the Mount of Olives from the city.
3. It was into this valley that Our Lord went with His Disciples on the night he was Betrayed, crossing over to go up the slopes of the Mount of Olives to the Garden of Gethsemane.
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