Genesis 14:21

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

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 and said, "Blessed be Abram of the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth;

20 and blessed be the Most High God, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand." And he gave him tithes of all.

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

22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have lifted up mine hand unto the LORD, the Most High God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

23 that I will not take from a thread even to a shoe strap, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say,`I have made Abram rich'"