20130803 Saturday, August 3 2013
Genesis 14: The Rescue Of Lot

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

Abram (see the entire study series for Abram/Abraham, beginning with A Biography Of Abraham: The Genealogy Of Abram) and his nephew Lot had parted company because of their great herds of livestock (see Genesis 13: The Parting of Abram and Lot). Lot unwisely chose the beautiful (in appearance, ugly and vile in behavior) area around Sodom, while Abram settled in the hill country to the west, around Hebron (see A Biography Of Abraham: Mamre in Hebron).

"13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 13:11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

13:14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 13:15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 13:16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 13:17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

13:18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD." (Genesis 13:10-18 KJV)

Abram, who the LORD (i.e. Jesus Christ; see Genesis 1: In The Beginning Was The Word and The Kingdom Of The LORD God) later renamed as Abraham, was a righteous man of peace - "peace," in that he was not malignant toward other people (see The Rise Of The Malignant Beast). Righteousness does however include, not only standing for what is right, but defending it, if necessary, by whatever means necessary. That righteous definition of whole peace was stated by the Messiah:

"11:21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace" (Luke 11:21 KJV)

"3:27 No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house." (Mark 3:21 KJV)

Abram lived his life as a foreigner in the land of Canaan (see Camped Out In Canaan), subject to the conflicts of the nations in the area.

"14:1 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; 14:2 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. 14:3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea. 14:4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled." (Genesis 14:1-4 KJV)

One such conflict began with an alliance of kings invading Canaan (see also What Does The Bible Really Say About Canaanites?).

"14:5 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, 14:6 And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness. 14:7 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." (Genesis 14:5-7 KJV)

The kings of the nations of Canaan ("king" originally meant the patriarch of a kin - a family or tribe) attempted to defend their territory but were overcome. Among them were the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, who were defeated and had their cities looted. The invaders "took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way." Among the booty was wealthy Lot and his property: "they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed."

"14:8 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; 14:9 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.

14:10 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. 14:11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. 14:12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed." (Genesis 14:8-12 KJV)

One of those who escaped, who was likely one of Lot's servants (why would he go to Abram if he was merely a citizen of Sodom?) told Abram of Lot's capture.

"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 confederate with Abram." (Genesis 14:13 KJV)

Abram then responded in a righteous manner: "he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan." Abram seems to have had a good understanding of military tactics; rather than a haphazard attempt to rescue Lot, Abram attacked, with the element of surprise, at night, from multiple directions.

"14:14 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.

14:15 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.

14:16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people." (Genesis 14:14-16 KJV)

Upon his return, Abram was met by two men - one extremely righteous, Melchizedek (see the Fact Finder question below) and one extremely vile, the weak and degenerate king of Sodom.

"14:17 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.

14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all." (Genesis 14:17-20 KJV)

The king of Sodom then attempted to make Abram a paid ally, but Abram refused any association with him.

"14:21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

14:22 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, 14:23 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: 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." (Genesis 14:21-24 KJV)

Fact Finder: Who was Melchizedek?
See A History Of Jerusalem: Melchizedek's Salem