Genesis 14 - kings go to war

Genesis 14 is all about Abram recapturing Lot and then giving a tenth of the spoils to Melchizedek king of Salem.

There are a lot of place names used. These are city states. Most of them are not shown on any historical maps. There is Zoar, that is at the south tip of the Dead Sea (Salt Sea). Elam, is that the same at Edom? If so that is a region to the east of the Dead Sea, southern Jordan. This is where Petra is now.

The king of Elam and his allies march to take over the other kings that have rebelled against his rule. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah are part of the group that has rebelled. There is a lot of debate as to where Sodom and Gomorrah existed. Now perhaps the majority think it on the northern side of the Dead Sea. But before recently it was thought to be on the southern side.

So the armies were fighting in the lowlands around the Jordan River and around the Dead Sea, it seems. They stayed out of the highlands where Abram lived. The kings probably thought there was little of value up there to take.

There was a big battle four kings versus five. The five kings lost. It says that those who escaped the battle ran up into the hills. The hills, where Abram was, was relatively safe.

After the victory the army of the king of Elam was probably tired and hungry, ready to get home.

This was probably not a big army nor was it well trained. These were city-states not densely populated. The victorious army probably was not even 1,000 men.

Abram and his allies surprised attacked at night and split up to make themselves seem more numerous. I wonder that they chased them beyond Damascus. That would be to the north. So was Elam in the north and not Edom? Probably.

Abram came out of the highlands. They were the fierce country nomads who were used to using weapons against wild animals. They hunted and protected their herds. The lowlanders that they attacked were city dwellers used to farming and domestic animals.

So Abram attacked a tired army with a force that was much more proficient with weapons so it is not surprising that they won.

Abram had little respect for the king of Sodom. Sodom was simply interested in his possessions. Abram had more respect for the king of Salem since that king knew God with with him. He appreciated the spiritual. Melchizedek, the king of Salem gave glory to God for their victory. Abram acknowledged God's favor and so he assented to give Melchizedek an offering, in the name of God.

Melchizedek was called a king and a priest. As a priest he brought bread and wine. Was this for some sacred meal? Then Melchizedek blessed Abram. He did this in his role as priest of God Most High. I do not think the word YHWH (Yahweh) is used here, it is an older word for God.

Abram would not take any of the spoil that belonged to the other kings. He had gone simply to save Lot and his family. But the allies that went with him, Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner, he let them do as they wished.

Abram still felt responsible for his kin. If they had left Lot alone he would not have gotten involved. Otherwise this was not his fight. Abram was still a sojourner in the land. God promised him his descendants would eventually own it, but he did not own it now.