Genesis 14:1-24 (3/11/15)

Home , Amraphel, Arioch, Chedorlaomer, Horites

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Genesis 14:1-4 (NKJV) 1 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 they made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

This is the first time that war is mentioned in the Bible—but no doubt this was not the first war on earth (Nimrod).

The only reason this war is mentioned is because it resulted in Lot, Abram’s nephew, being taken captive which led to Abram battling Chedorlaomer and his forces to get him back.

This battle consisted of four kings from the north fighting with and defeating five kings from the south and putting them under tribute.

The four kings of the north are: Chedorlaomer of Elam (modern Iran), Amraphel of Shinar (Babylon—modern Iraq), and the two other kings, Arioch and Tidal, represented the Hurrians and Hittites (peoples from areas within modern Turkey).

These went to war against: Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).

These five kings lived and reigned in the area east and south of the Dead Sea—which today is the Trans-Jordan Valley but biblically and historically is the area of Ammon, Moab and Edom.

The four kings from the north (Hamites) led by Chedorlaomer defeated and subjugated the five kings from the south (Shemites).

Genesis 14:4 (NKJV) 4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

Genesis 14:5-7 (NKJV) 5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him came and attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in their mountain of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is by the wilderness. 7 Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and attacked all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who dwelt in Hazezon Tamar.

So here we see Chedorlaomer gather up his forces in an effort to reconquer these kings.

His strategy was to attack all of the cities around Sodom and Gomorrah first thus wiping out the smaller cities that were allies of Bera king of Sodom and Birsha king of Gomorrah.

This would make Bera and Birsha more vulnerable to Chedorlaomer’s attack.

In verse 5 we read of some of the tribes in the south that were attacked by Chedorlaomer and his armies—the Rephaim (“strong ones”); the Zuzim (“the powerful ones”); and the Emim (“the terrible ones”).

These were the giants that the Bible calls the Nephilim (“fallen ones”—explain)

Deuteronomy 2:9-11, 19-21 (NKJV) 9 Then the LORD said to me, 'Do not harass Moab, nor contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession.' " 10 (The Emim had dwelt there in times past, a people as great and numerous and tall as the Anakim. 11 They were also regarded as giants, like the Anakim, but the Moabites call them Emim…19 And when you come near the people of Ammon, do not harass them or meddle with them, for I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the descendants of Lot as a possession.' " 20 (That was also regarded as a land of giants; giants formerly dwelt there. But the Ammonites call them Zamzummim, 21 a people as great and numerous and tall as the Anakim. But the LORD destroyed them before them, and they dispossessed them and dwelt in their place…

Merrill Unger in his book on demonology believes that part of the uncleanness of Sodom, Gomorrah and the surrounding cities was not only militant homosexuality—but demonic infiltration and hybridization—the kind we saw in Genesis 6 before the Flood. (Explain)

Genesis 14:8-10 (NKJV) 8 And the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and joined together in battle in the Valley of Siddim 9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar--four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of asphalt pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled; some fell there, and the remainder fled to the mountains.

Archeology has confirmed this portion of the Bible.

Between 1974 and 1976, approximately 20,000 cuneiform tablets were discovered in Syria that dated between 2500 and 2000 B.C.—which would put them around the period we are studying in Genesis 14.

When they were studied it was discovered that they contained the names of all five towns mentioned in Genesis 14— Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela or Zoar listed in the precise biblical order.

The mention of ‘asphalt pits’ in v.10 caused John D. Rockefeller, the founder of the Standard Oil Company, when he read this, to conclude where there is asphalt or tar pits there must be oil.

This led him to drill in the area where he did find an abundance of crude oil.

Genesis 14:11-12 (NKJV) 11 Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. 12 They also took Lot, Abram's brother's son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

As I said, the only reason this battle is mentioned is because Lot, Abram’s nephew, was captured.

This would lead to Abram going to war against these kings in order to get Lot back.

I believe this was in the plan of God because it was going to be one of the ways He would begin to fulfill His promise to Abram made in chapter 12 when God said, “I will bless you and make your name great…”

Genesis 14:13-16 (NKJV) 13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; and they were allies with Abram. 14 Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. 16 So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.

Abraham was a man of faith and peace.

When Lot’s herdsmen and Abram’s herdsmen began fighting with each other over grazing rights—Abram didn’t fight with Lot he let him choose first what land he wanted.

But even though he was a man of faith and peace—he was also practical and prepared.

Abram wasn’t looking for a fight but if evil threatened the safety of his family he wasn’t opposed to doing what needed to be done to protect them either.

Abram wasn’t a pacifist—you can be a man or woman of peace and faith and not be a pacifist— that is no contradiction.

Francis Shaeffer said, “I am not a pacifist. For me to be a pacifist in an evil world would mean I would have to abandon the people I love when they needed me most.”

When Abram found out that his ‘brother’ (family) Lot was taken captive—his response was to do something about it.

He could have justified doing nothing—

 “They didn’t attack me so I don’t want to get involved”.

 “Lot disrespected me in choosing first where to graze his flocks and herds—serves him right.”

 “Lot should have been more careful in choosing where to live…”

That was the general attitude of the German people (many who were clergy) when Hitler began persecuting the Jewish people—“it doesn’t concern me”.

“Am I my brother’s keeper” Cain asked God—the answer is yes.

Turning your back on someone in need or who has been taken captive by the enemy is not faith or godliness—it’s sin.

Genesis 14:14 (NKJV) 14 Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants (slaves) who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.

Abram maintained his own private militia—as I said, he was a man of peace but he was also prepared to fight evil.

For him to have a militia this big it meant he must have had over a thousand people under his care—family and slaves.

There are those that want to condemn the Bible for condoning slavery—and I understand where they’re coming from.

People need to realize that the goal in life isn’t to find freedom—it’s to find the right master.

God even provided in the law a way for a free man to become the voluntary slave of another—

Exodus 21:1-6 (NKJV) 1 "Now these are the judgments which you shall set before them: 2 If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free and pay nothing. 3 If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master has given him a wife, and she has borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. 5 But if the servant plainly says, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,' 6 then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.

So let me say it again—the goal in life isn’t to find freedom—it’s to find the right master.

Psalm 40:6 (NKJV) 6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened (pierced)…(you have made me a bond-slave in Your house)

He pursued them all the way to Dan, the future northern border of the Promised Land (140 miles from Abram’s home in Hebron).

Genesis 14:15 (NKJV) 15 He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.

Abram and his little army attacked them at night when it was dark and they wouldn’t be able to tell how many were coming against them—

And possibly they might have been celebrating their victory and somewhat drunk when Abram showed up and catches them off guard.

He pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus—another 60 miles.

Genesis 14:16-17 (NKJV) 16 So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.

17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.

The next few verses are some of the most mysterious and controversial in the entire Bible—

Genesis 14:18-20 (NKJV) 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all.

Now Melchizedek, without a doubt, is the most enigmatic figure in the Bible.

He only appears once in the history of God’s people in the O.T.—right here in Genesis 14:18-20

A thousand years later David mentions him in Psalm 110:4

But then another thousand years goes by before he is mentioned again in the Book of Hebrews where he becomes a central figure in the writer’s theology of the new covenant with Christ as its Great High Priest.

Hebrews 7:1-3 (NKJV) 1 For this Melchizedek, 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 translated "king of righteousness," and then also king of Salem, meaning "king of peace," 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

In the Scriptures, a man’s name stands for what he is—and so we can learn a lot about Melchizedek from his name and title.

His name means “king of righteousness” and his title “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”

But we further learn that Melchizedek was not only a king—he was also the priest of the Most High God (El Elyon)

Melchizedek was both a king and a priest—that was forbidden under the old covenant—no man could be both king and priest—2Chronicles 26:16-21 (King Uzziah)

“…to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all” (v.2)

So Abraham gave a tithe of the spoil he had taken in battle to Melchizedek—a tithe means a tenth part.

Hebrews 7:4-7 (NKJV) 4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. 5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; 6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.

Now in v.3 the puzzle as to who Melchizedek is deepens—

Hebrews 7:3 (NKJV) 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

Now we have to be careful here because if we divorce this verse from its context it would lead us to conclude that:

1. Melchizedek was either an angel from heaven;

2. A special creation of God who had no earthly parents, whom God zapped into existence and then removed from the earth like Enoch or Elijah without dying; or

3. That Melchizedek was actually an O.T. appearance of Jesus Christ.

Let me just say that I don’t believe Melchizedek was an angel or a special creation of God like Adam who had no earthly father or mother.

I don’t even believe that Melchizedek was an O.T. appearance of Jesus Christ because the writer says he was “made like the Son of God”.

The Greek word translated “made like” in Hebrews 7:3 is a word used that means a “facsimile copy” or “model”.

In other words Melchizedek wasn’t actually Jesus but was a model or a type of Christ.

I believe that Melchizedek was a real man, a real king, and a real priest in a real city—but as far as the record is concerned, there is no genealogy of his life.

Under the old covenant, when it came to being a priest—genealogy was everything.

(Talk about the exiles coming back to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity and how some of the Levites were forbidden from serving the Lord as priests because they couldn’t produce their genealogies)

In fact when it came to being a priest it didn’t even matter if a man was godly—it was expected by not required—but as long as he was born of the tribe of Levi and a member of the family of Aaron—he was qualified to be a priest.

Melchizedek’s priesthood was very much different in that he didn’t inherit the priesthood by being born into a priestly family—God simply chose him and appointed him to be the high priest of El Elyon (the Most High God).

And as far as his priesthood was concerned, there is no record of his father or mother or genealogy and no mention is made of his birth or death—therefore his priesthood continues, in a sense, indefinitely.

In this way, he is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God whose priesthood continues to this day without interruption.

The application is clear: neither Aaron nor any of his descendants could claim to be “without genealogy”.

They could not claim to have an endless ministry—nor could they claim to be both kings and priests, like Jesus Christ.

In the Jewish mind the older was better than the newer—so the writer wants to show that, before God established the Aaronic priesthood, He established the Melchizedekan priesthood—a better priesthood than the Aaronic priesthood—the priesthood that Jesus belongs to.

Genesis 14:21 (NKJV) 21 Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself."

The king of Sodom was named ‘Bera’ (burning). The word persons in Hebrew means “souls”.

And so the king of burning said to Abram, “Give me the souls and take the goods for yourself”— who does that sound like?

Genesis 14:22-24 (NKJV) 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand [with an oath] to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich'-- 24 except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion."

Abram was a man of conviction—but he didn’t force his convictions on others.