Tyndale Open Study NotesGenesis 14

In this typical ancient political conflict, powerful kings allied to control smaller dependent states.

Archaeology has not identified these kings. But ancient texts include similar names, which supports the report’s reliability. The Mesopotamian kings were allies under one leading ruler, likely Amraphel, who is named first.

Tidal apparently ruled several city-states. The text calls his people Goiim, which means “nations” in Hebrew.

This was Chedorlaomer’s war. Under the feudal system of tribal affiliations, those in covenant with him had to fight. It was also Abram’s battle to rescue Lot, and those under treaty with him had to accompany him.

King Chedorlaomer seems to have defeated the kings of the Siddim Valley earlier and made them pay tribute in asphalt, olive oil, and copper. In the thirteenth year, they stopped paying. In the fourteenth year (14:5), the invading kings returned to bring them under their rule again.

The invaders came down the King’s Highway on the east side of the Jordan Valley to the Gulf of Aqaba, then circled back to the valley of the Dead Sea.

The five cities of the Plain were close together near the south end of the Dead Sea. The Mesopotamian kings crushed the weak revolt, plundered Sodom and Gomorrah, and carried Lot away with the other captives.

• The word Hebrew appears here for the first time in the Bible. It is different from the later term Habiru found in Egyptian texts. The Habiru were hired soldiers who roamed the land during the time of the judges.

• Mamre: See study note on 13:18.

• a brother: Or ally.

God could give his people victory over any forces invading the promised land. Faithfulness to God was necessary for victory. God promises to bless his people and give them victory over the world. He uses those who respond to his call and can skillfully use weapons of war.

• Abram … mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household: This shows that Abram was a strong leader and that God’s promise to make him great was already being fulfilled (Genesis 12:2–3).

• Dan was a city about 241 kilometers (150 miles) north of Abram’s home in Hebron. At that time, the city was called Laish or Leshem (see Joshua 19:47 and study note; Judges 18:29). Dan, the son whose descendants later settled there during the time of the judges, had not yet been born (Genesis 30:6; Judges 18:1–29). It seems that an editor later updated the place name so that later audiences would know which city the text meant.

Damascus was 64 kilometers (40 miles) north of Dan. Hobah was 97 kilometers (about 60 miles) north of Damascus.

The Valley of Shaveh, or King’s Valley, was probably the Kidron Valley (see 2 Samuel 18:18).

• The name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness.” This suggests the king of Salem was a righteous servant of God. He was probably a Jebusite priest and king. Later writers regarded him as a type of Christ, that is, a person who points forward to Christ (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:1–19).

• Salem is the ancient name for Jerusalem (compare Psalm 76:2).

By giving a tenth of everything to Melchizedek, Abram acknowledged Melchizedek as spiritual authority (see Hebrews 7:4). He affirmed that God had given him victory.

Abram understood that accepting the king of Sodom's offer (see study note on 14:1–2) might make him an ally or subject, as Lot had been. This could put God’s promises at risk. Faith looks beyond the world’s riches to the greater blessings that God will give.

In this oath, Abram may have been making it clear that his God, the LORD (Yahweh), is the same as God Most High, whom Melchizedek spoke about. It is possible that Melchizedek did not know the name Yahweh.