14:1 And
it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of a
Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of b
nations;
(a) That is, of Babylon: by kings here, meaning,
them that were governors of cities.
(b) Of a people gathered from various countries.
14:3 All these were c
joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the d
salt sea.
(c) Ambition is the chief cause of wars among
princes.
(d) Called also the dead sea, or the lake
Asphaltite, near Sodom and Gomorrah.
14:10
And the e 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.
(e) And afterward was overwhelmed with water, and
so was called the salt sea.
14:12 And they f
took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and
departed.
(f) The godly are plagued many times with the
wicked: therefore their company is dangerous.
14:13 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] g
confederate with Abram.
(g) God removed them to join Abram, and preserves
him from their idolatry and superstitions.
14:18
And Melchizedek king of Salem h brought
forth bread and wine: and he [was] the priest of the most high God.
(h) For Abram and his soldiers refreshment, not
to offer sacrifice.
14:19 And he i
blessed him, and said, Blessed [be] Abram of the most high God, possessor of
heaven and earth:
(i) Melchizedek fed Abram, declared himself to
represent a king, and he blessed him as the high priest.
14:24k 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.
(k) He did not want his liberality to be hurtful
to others.
Genesis 14 Bible Commentary
The Geneva Study Bible
(a) That is, of Babylon: by kings here, meaning, them that were governors of cities.
(b) Of a people gathered from various countries.
14:3 All these were c joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the d salt sea.
(c) Ambition is the chief cause of wars among princes.
(d) Called also the dead sea, or the lake Asphaltite, near Sodom and Gomorrah.
14:10 And the e 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.
(e) And afterward was overwhelmed with water, and so was called the salt sea.
14:12 And they f took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
(f) The godly are plagued many times with the wicked: therefore their company is dangerous.
14:13 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] g confederate with Abram.
(g) God removed them to join Abram, and preserves him from their idolatry and superstitions.
14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem h brought forth bread and wine: and he [was] the priest of the most high God.
(h) For Abram and his soldiers refreshment, not to offer sacrifice.
14:19 And he i blessed him, and said, Blessed [be] Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
(i) Melchizedek fed Abram, declared himself to represent a king, and he blessed him as the high priest.
14:24 k 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.
(k) He did not want his liberality to be hurtful to others.