Genesis 14:21

21 Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people and take the property for yourself."

Genesis 14:21 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 14:21

And the king of Sodom said unto Abram
After the conversation between him and Melchizedek was over: give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself;
meaning by "persons" or "souls", as in the original, his own subjects that had been taken and carried away by the four kings, and were now brought back by Abram; and by "the goods", those of his own and his subjects, which their conquerors had spoiled them of, but were now recovered, and which he was very willing Abram should have as his right, according to the laws of war, and as a reward of his labours; and very modestly asks for the other, which he did not deny but he might claim as the fruits of his victory: and this also shows, that the king of Sodom, though a Heathen prince, and perhaps a wicked man, yet had more regard to the persons of his subjects than to his own or their goods: the word for "goods" includes all the substance and possession of a man, gold, silver, cattle, and all movables ^F23.

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FOOTNOTES:

F23 R. Sol. Urbin. Ohel Moed, fol. 21. 2.

Genesis 14:21 In-Context

19 and he blessed him, "Bless Abram by El Elyon, creator of heaven and earth;

20 bless El Elyon, who gave you the victory over your enemies." Abram gave Melchizedek one-tenth of everything.

21 Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people and take the property for yourself."

22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I promised the LORD, El Elyon, creator of heaven and earth,

23 that I wouldn't take even a thread or a sandal strap from anything that was yours so that you couldn't say, ‘I'm the one who made Abram rich.'