Genesis 14:18-23

18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High,
19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,
23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’

Genesis 14:18-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 14

This chapter gives an account of a war that was waged, and a battle fought between four kings on one side, and five on the other, and of the occasion and issue of it, who were the first kings, and this the first battle the Scriptures speak of, Ge 14:1-11; Lot and his goods being taken and carried off, with those of Sodom, by the conquerors, Abram hearing of it armed his men, and pursued after them, and overtook and overcame them, and rescued Lot and his goods, with others, and returned, Ge 14:12-16; when he was met by the kings of Sodom and Salem, who congratulated him on his victory, Ge 14:17-19; and what passed between him, and those great personages, is related, Ge 14:20-24.

Cross References 17

  • 1. Psalms 110:4; Hebrews 5:6; Hebrews 7:17,21
  • 2. Psalms 76:2; Hebrews 7:2
  • 3. S Genesis 3:19
  • 4. Judges 9:13; Judges 19:19; Esther 1:10; Psalms 104:15; Proverbs 31:6; Ecclesiastes 10:19; Song of Songs 1:2
  • 5. ver 22; Psalms 7:8,17; Daniel 7:27
  • 6. Hebrews 7:6
  • 7. ver 18
  • 8. ver 22; S Genesis 1:1; Genesis 24:3; Joshua 2:11; Psalms 148:5; Matthew 11:25
  • 9. S Genesis 9:26; S Genesis 24:27
  • 10. Genesis 28:22; Deuteronomy 14:22; Deuteronomy 26:12; Luke 18:12; Hebrews 7:4
  • 11. S ver 10
  • 12. S ver 11
  • 13. S ver 10
  • 14. Exodus 6:8; Numbers 14:30; Deuteronomy 32:40; Nehemiah 9:15; Ezekiel 20:5; Daniel 12:7; Revelation 10:5-6
  • 15. S ver 18
  • 16. S ver 19
  • 17. 1 Samuel 15:3,19; 2 Kings 5:16; Esther 8:11; Esther 9:10,15
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