Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 1 · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV.
1. The battell of foure foraine Kings, against five Kings of Canaan. 10, Sodom and Gomorrhe are spoiled; 12, Lot is taken prisoner: 14, Abram pursueth and smiteth the conquerors, 16, bringeth backe the spoyles, the captives, and his br…iber Lot. 17, The King of Sodom goeth out to meet Abram; 18, The King of Salem (Melchisedek) brings him forth bread and wine, and blesseth him. 20, Akram giveth him tithe of all. 22, The rest of the spoiles, (his partners having had their portions,) hee restoreth to the King of Sodom.
ANd it was, in the dayes of Amraphel King of Shinar; Arjoch, king of Ellasar; Chedor-laomer, king of Elam; and Thidal, king of nations. They made warre with Bera, king of Sodom; and with Birsha, king of Gomorrha: Shinab, king of Admah; and Shemeber, king of Zebojim; and the king of Bela, that is Zoar. All these were joyned together, in the valley of Siddim: that is the sea of salt. Twelve yeeres they served Chedor-laomer: and the thirteenth yeere they rebelled. And in the fourteenth yeere came Chedor-laomer, and the kings which were with him; and they smote the Rephaims, in Ashteroth Karnaim; and the Zuzims, in Ham: and the Emims in Shaveh Kirjathaim. And the Chorites in their mount-Seir: unto El-pharan, which is by the wildernesse. And they returned, and came to En-mishpat, that is Kadesh; and they smote all the field of the Amalekite: and also the Amorite, that dwelt in Hazezonthamar. And there went out the King of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrha, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zebojim, and the king of Belah, that is Zoar: and they joyned battell with them, in the valley of Siddim. With Chedor-laomer, king of Elam; and Thidal, king of nations: and Amraphel, king of Shinar; and Arjoch, king of Ellasar: foure Kings, with five. And the valley of Siddim, had many pits of slime; and the King of Sodom and of Gomorrha, they fled, and fell there: and the residue fled to the mountaine. And they tooke all the substance of Sodom and Gomorrha, and al their victuals, and went away. And they tooke Lot, the sonne of Abrams brother, and his substance, and they went away: and hee dwelt in Sodom. And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew: and he dwelt in the Okes of Mamree the Amorite, the brother of Escol, and brother of Aner, and they were confederates with Abram. And Abram heard that his brother was taken captive: and he armed his trained servants, the children of his house, three hundred, and eighteene, and hee pursued them unto Dan. And hee divided himselfe against them by night, he and his servants, and he smote them: and pursued them unto Chobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. And he brought againe all the substance: and also brought-againe his brother Lot, and his substance; and the women also, and the people. And the King of Sodom went out to meet him; after his returne from smiting Chedor-laomer, and the kings which were with him: unto the valley of Shaveh, that is the valley of the King. And Melchisedek, king of Salem; brought-forth bread and wine: and he a Priest of God most-hye. And he blessed him, and said; Blessed be Abram, of God most-hie; possessor of heavens and earth. And blessed be God most-hye; who hath delivered thy enemies into thy hand: and he gave him the tenth of all. And the King of Sodom said unto Abram: give me the soules; and the substance take thou. And Abram said unto the King of Sodom: I have lift-up my hand unto Iehovah, God most hie; the possessor of heavens and earth. If (I take) from a threed even to a shoe latchet, and if I take of any thing that is thine: that thou say not, I have made Abram rich. Save onelyonly that which the young-men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me: Aner, Eshchol and Mamree; let them take their portion.
Annotations.
IN the dayes] the Greeke saith, in the reigne. of Shinar] that is, Chaldea: or (as the Chaldee turneth it) Babylon: see Gen. 10. 10. Thargum Ierusalemy interpreteth it, Pontus. Ellasar] this is thought to be Syria. Chedor-laomer] written in Greeke, Chodollogomor. Elam] that is, the Elamites or Persians, named of Elam sonne of Sem: Gen. 10. 22. Thidal] or Thidgnal; which the Greek writeth Thargal, d changed into r: see Gen. 10. 3. of nations] Hebr. Gojim, which may bee kept unchanged: but the Greeke and Chaldee translate it nations, or peoples. It seemeth they were of sundry families, or populous: as Galilee of the nations, Es. 9. 1. Their country is thought to be after named Pamphilia.
Vers. 2. Zebojim] in Greeke Seboeim: it is written by the letters in the line Zebiim, of Zebi, which signifieth glory, pleasantnesse, and a Roe; by which name the pleasant and glorious land of Israel is called, in Ezek. 20. 6. but by the vowels, and in the margine noted to bee read Zebojim, as being unworthy the pleasant name. So in vers. 8. that is Zoar] or Zogar, so called after, upon Lots request, Gen. 19. 20. 22. These five Cities stood neere together in the land of Canaan, in the plaine of Iordan, and were all (except Zoar) butned with fire and brimstone from heaven, Gen. 19. Deut. 29. 23. Here they are fore-chastned of God by warres. sea of salt] or salt sea: so Ios. 3. 16. meaning, that this goodly valley, after it was burnt from heaven, became a salt sea; and so barren and fruitlesse, that no living thing, fish or other, was found therein. For so all histories testifie of that salt and dead sea, as it was also called. And the holy Scripture useth saltnesse for barrennesse, Deut. 29. 23. Psal. 107. 34. This judgement of God brought upon one of the goodliest places in all Canaany; signifying, how that land and inhabitants should for their sinnes be deprived and made barren of all spirituall graces. But by the Gospell and spirit of Christ, graces are restored: as was figured in a vision of waters issuing out of Gods house, running into this sea, healing the waters of it, storing it with live fishes, &c. Ezek. 47. 1.—8. 9. 11.
Vers. 4. served Chedor. laomer] herein God shewed the truth of Noes prophesie, that Canaan should be Sems servant, Gen. 9. 26. Chedorlaomer of Sems progeny, was chiefe of all these Kings, and Lord of the Canaanites.
Vers. 5. smote] that is, killed: see vers. 17. Rephaims] or Raphaeans, called of the Greeke and Chaldee paraphrast, Giants: and the Hebrew word is after used for such, Deut. 2. 11. and Rapha was the name of a Giant that had foure sonnes Giants, in Davids dayes, 2 Sam. 21. 16. 22. But these Rephaims were now a people in Canaan, Gen. 15. 20. Ashteroth] a City in Basan, where Og after reigned, Ios. 13. 31. Zuzims] these the Greeks call, strong nations; and the Chaldee, Mighties. Of them we reade not else-where: unlesse their name was after changed by the Ammonites into Zamzummims. Deut. 2. 20. Emims▪] or according to the Greeke Ommeans, these the Caldee calleth Terrible ones: and so the Hebrue name signifieth. They were a people great and many, and tall as the Anakims, accounted Giants; and by the Moabites were called (Terrible) Emims, Deut. 2. 10. 11. Shaveh] or, the plaine (as the word signifieth) of Kirjathaim, which was a citie in the Land of Sihon, afterwards King of Hesbon; see Ios. 13. 19.
Vers. 6. Chorites] or Chorreans, or Chorims, a people that dwelt in Seir, till Esau and his sonns drove them thence, Deut. 2. 22. Gen. 36. 20. &c. El-pharan] by interpretation, the Oke (or plaine) of Pharan, (or Paran;) which was a City by the wildernesse of that name; see Gen. 21. 21.
Vers. 7. En-mishpat] that is by interpretation the Well of judgement; and so the Greeke here calleth it: the Chaldee nameth it, the plaine of the division of judgement. So called, as it seemeth, of Gods judgement or sentence given against Moses and Aaron, for sinning at that place; see Num. 20. 1. 10. 12. 13. the field] that is, the country or region: so the field of Edom, Gen. 32. 3. the field of Moab, Gen. 36. 35. the field of Soan, Psal. 78. 12. the field of Syria, Hos. 12. 12. wherby those countries are meant. the Amalekite] so called afterward, of Amalek son of Esau, Gen. 36. 12. Hazezon▪thamar] which the Chaldee calleth Engedi, as it is also named in 2 Chron. 20. 2. a Citie in the Land of Canaan, which fell to the tribe of Iudah, Ios. 15. 62. a fruitfull place of vines: Song 1. 13.
Vers. 10. had many pits] Hebr. pits pits, which meaneth many, or diuers pits: so heapet heapes, is many heapes, Exod. 8. 14. rankes rankes, Mar. 5. 40. for, by many rankes. fell] that is, were slaine there; as the word also signifieth in Ios. 8. 24. 25. Iudg. 8. 10. and 12. 6. and many other places: So, there fell of Israel, 1 Chron. 21. 14. for which in 2 Sam. 24. 15. is written, there dyed. See after, Gen. 25. 18.
Vers. 11. the substance] or the goods, cattell, mony, &c. see Gen. 12. 5. their victuals] or, their meat; the fruits of the land; which were both sweet and plentifull, made now a prey to the hungry souldiers. The like judgements God threatned to the Israelites, when they entred this land to possesse it, if they brake his covenant, Deuteron. 28. 30. 31. 33. 51.
Vers. 12. dwelt] or, was dwelling: and so became partaker of their calamitie: God thus chastening Lots former affectation of this pleasant country, Gen. 13. 10. 11.
Vers. 13. the Hebrew] so named of his father Heber, Gen. 11. 16. and hee and his children were commonly knowne by this title, as in Gen. 39. 14. Numb. 24. 24. Ier. 34. 9. Some thinke hee was so called of passing over the River, when God called him from Chaldea, Ios. 24. 2. but by Gen. 10. 21. it appeareth rather to bee of Heber the Patriarch: and as this name of Hebrewes was the first title given to Abram and his seed: so it indureth one of the last, 2 Cor. 11. 22. Phil. 3. 5. the Okes] or plaines: see Gen. 13. 18. confederates] Hebr. men (or masters) of league, or covenant: sworn-friends, as the Greeke importeth.
Vers. 14. brother] that is, his kinsman: see Gen. 13. 8. armed] or drew out, that is, ledforth of his house. Greeke, numbred, mustered. trained] or instructed: we may understand it both of civill affaires, and religion, wherein hee had trained them: the Chaldee calleth them young men: and so doth Moses, in vers. 24. children] that is, servants borne in his house, and to it belonging. See after in Gen. 15. 3. pursued] to weet, after them, as the Greeke saith: meaning those kings fore-mentioned. Dan] a place in the north parts of Canaan, called of old Leshem, and being won by the Danites, it was named Dan, Ios. 19. 47. After, it was called Caesarea: so the Ierusalemy paraphrase calleth it, Dan de Kasarjon.
Vers. 15. the left hand of Damascus] called in Hebrew Dammesek. (and sometime Darmesek, as 1 Chron. 18. 5.) which was the head of Aram, (or Syria) Es. 7. 8. and for the left hand, both the Chaldee paraphrasts say, north of Damascus; and that rightly: for the east is counted the formost part of the world, and the west the hindmost; Esay 9. 12. and the South is called the rightside, opposed to the North, Psal. 89. 13. Thus Abram pursued them, passed in peace, by a way that hee had not gone with his feet, Esay 41. 3.
Vers. 16. the substance] or, goods, to weet, of the S…do…ites, as the Greeke version addeth. Thus God gave the nations before Abram, and made him rule ever Kings: gave them as dust to his sword, as driven stubble to his bow, Esay 41. 2. A like victory God gave to David over the Amalekites, 1 Sam. 30. 18. 19. &c. And as the Hebrew have a saying, that whatsoever befell unto the fathers, is asigne unto the children; so of this victory they write, that it befell unto Abraham, to teach, that foure kingdomes should stand up to rule over the world, and that in the end, his children should rule over them, and they should all fall by their hand, and they should bring againe all their captives, and all their substance. Which are the foure kingdomes spoken of in Daniel. R. Menachem, on Gen. 14.
Vers. 17. from smiting] or from the slaughter, as the Greeke turneth it, and the Apostle hath the same word in Hebr. 7. 1. So in the Hebrew where one Prophet saith, he smote, 2 King. 14. 5. another saith, he killed, 2 Chron. 25. 3. of the King] a valley not farre from Ierusalem, there Absolom set up his pillar, 2 Sam. 18. 18.
Vers. 18. Melchisedek] the Ierusalemy Thargum saith, hu Shem rabba, this was Sem the great: and in Breshith rabba upon this place, it is said, this Melchisedek was Sem the sonne of Noe. Hee was called Melchisedek, that is by interpretation, King of justice, Heb. 7. 2. and therein, was a figure of Christ, the King that reigneth in justice, Esay 32. 1. (as all Kings should be, 2 Sam. 23. 3. Psalm. 72. 1. 2. &c.) Other the best and most ancient Hebrew Doctors, doe also hold Melchisedek to bee Sem: so Pirke R. Eliezer, chapt. 8. and Thalmud Babyl. in Treatise of vowes, at the end of Chap. 3. and Ben Syraoh saith, Sem and Seth were glorious among men, Ecclus. 49. 16. of Salem] both the Chaldee paraphrasts say, of Ierusalem: which is also called Salem, in Psalm. 76. 3. and it signifieth Peace, Heb. 7. 2 which was the summe and end of Christs administration; (whom Melchisedek figured) Ephes. 2. 14 15. 17. So in him, justice and peace have kissed, Psal. 85. 11. for the worke of justice is peace, Esay 32. 17. and he is called the Prince of Peace, Esay 9. 6. And the Hebrew Doctors in Echah rabbethi (or Comment on the Lamentations) say from Esay 9. 6 the name of the Messias is called Salom, (Peace.) And Melchisedek his figure, here hath nothing to doe with the warres of the nine Kings, but governed his realme in peace. brought forth bread, &c.] comming to meet Abram that returned from the slaughter of the Kings, Heb. 7. 1. so that the bread and wine, was to refresh Abram and his men after their travell; as David and his people were refreshed in the wildernesse, by good men that brought them victuals: 2 Sam. 17. 27. 28. 29. and as on the contrary, the Ammonites and Moabites might not enter into the congregation of the Lord for ever, because they met not Israel with bread and water in the way, when they came out of Aegypt, Deut. 23. 3. 4. that is, because they refreshed them not when they were faint and weary, Deut. 25. 18. Melchisedek doing this as he was King, the Apostle being to treat of Christs Priesthood in speciall, therefore passeth it over, Heb. 7. 1. Albeit even in this action, Melchisedek may be minded as a figure of Christ, who taketh away the hunger and thirst of all that beleeve in him, Ioh: 6. 35. … he a Priest] or as the Greeke addeth, he was a Priest: but the word he, sometime signifieth a continuance in the same estate, as in Psal. 102. 2…. thou he, that is, thou art the same, Heb. 1. 12. and of Melchisedek it is said; that being made like to the Sonne of God, he abideth a Priest continually, Heb. 7. 3. And the Iew Doctors (in Thalmud. treat. of vowes, chap. 3.) scan the text thus, He a Priest, and not his seed. A Priest or Sacrificer, in Hebrew, Cohen, hath the name of Ministration; Esay 61. 6. 10. and so the Chaldee paraphrast calleth him here (Meshamesh, that is) a Minister before God most-hye) but a principall minister or officer next under God: as in 2 Sam. 8. 18. Davids sonnes are called Cohens, for which is written in 1. Chron. 18. 17. that they were the first at the Kings hand, that is, the chiefe about the King. The Greek word Hiercus (which the Apostle useth in Heb. 7.) hath the name of sacrificing, or doing sacred (that is, holy) workes. This Priesthood of Melchisedek, was a figure of Christs, as David saith, Psal. 110. 4. Iehovah sware, and will not repent; thou art a Priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedek. Which words of David, are applyed unto Christ, both by our Apostle, in Heb. 7. and by the Hebrew Doctors; as in Breshith rabba, upon Gen. 14. alledging that in Psal. 110. 4. it is said, Who is he? He is the King Christ, of whom it is written, (Zach. 9. 9.) behold thy King commeth unto thee, he is just, and having salvation. It was also the ancient manner in other nations, for Kings to be sacrificers, as Aristotle sheweth, in Polit. b. 3. c. 10. & b. 7. c. 9. and Plutarch in Quest. Rom. of God] le Ael eljon, to the Mighty the High: which the Apostle (following the Greeke version) translateth, of God most high, Heb. 7. 1. And here the name Ael, the mighty God, is first used in the history of Abrams victory: see Gen. 1. 1. By this title the true God is distinguished from the false gods of the nations, who then were worshipped, Esay 41. 5. 7. 29. The Hebrewes observe, that this word Ael, in many places signifieth the property of mercy, as Eli, Eli, &c. (Psal. 22. 2.) The Lord is Ael (God) and hath given light unto us, (Psal. 118. 27.) and the like: R. Menachem on Gen. 14.
Vers. 19. he blessed] this was a worke of the Priests office, to blesse in the name of God for ever: 1 Chron. 23. 13. Num. 6. 23. 27. and being done with authority in that name, without all contradiction, the lesse is blessed of the better, though Abram had the promises, Heb. 7. 6. 7. and herein he figured Christ, sent of God to blesse us, in turning every one of us from our iniquities, Act. 3. 26. Luke 24. 50. Blessed be, &c.] This manner of blessing, though uttered prayer wise, implyeth an assured promise, as being done by an holy person in the name of God. To teach this, where one Prophet expresseth Davids words thus, bee thou pleased and blesse; and, let the house of thy servant be blessed, 2 Sam. 7. 29. another recordeth them thus, it hath pleased thee to blesse, &c. 1 Chron. 17. 2. of God] or, to God, as also the Greek saith: but the Chaldee translateth it, before God: it meaneth, great, spirituall and heavenly blessings, from God, and making us acceptable to God in Christ, Ephes. 1. 3. 6. Alike blessing is on all Gods people, Psal. 115. 15. See also Gen. 1. 22. and 2. 3. and 12. 2.
Vers. 20. blessed be God] that is, thanked, or praised: for blessing upon men from God, signifieth good things powerfully bestowed on them, Deut. 28. 2. 3. 4. but blessing of God from men is reverend thankesgiving: so where one Evangelist saith, that Iesus blessed, Mat. 26. 26. another saith, hee gave thankes, Luke 22. 19. enemies] or, distressers. Melchisedek (or Sem) respected the injury done to Abram the blessed of the Lord, and was not offended at the slaughter of his owne children the Elamites, that had captived Lot; vers. 1. 14. 17. he gave] that is, Abram gave: whereupon the Apostle biddeth us consider how great [Melchisedek] was, to whom even the Patriarch Abram gave the tenth, Heb. 7. 4. Hee being partaker of Melchisedeks spirituall things, his duty was also to minister unto him in carnall things, Rom. 15. 27. tenth] or tithe, one of ten, saith the Chaldee paraphrast. This was a signe of homage and thankfulnesse to God: for as tribute is payed to Kings for their attendance to the affaires of the commonwealth, Rom. 13. 6. 7. so tithes in the law are called body, and an heave-offering to the Lord, Levit. 27. 30. Numb 18. 24. and before the law, Iaakob payed them to the Lord, Gen. 28. 22. and hee appointed his tithes to the Priests, Num. 28. 8. 21. And Abram the tenth generation from Sem, here payeth to the Priest Melchisedek, (who is generally thought to be Sem) the tenth of all. The Priests also and Levites of the Law, who now were in Abrams Ioines, did in him pay tithes to Melchisedek: wherefore his Priesthood was greater then theirs, Heb. 7. 9. 10. 11. This service was also kept among the heathens: Pisistratus tyrant of Athens, writeth to Solon thus; All the Athenians doe separate the tithe of their fruits, not to be spent unto our use, but for publicke sacrifices, and common profits, &c. D. Laert. in vita Solonis. So among the Latines, they were wont to pay tithes to their god Hercules, Pomp. L…tus de Sacerdot. Macrob. Saturn. l. 3. c. 12. of all] the Apostle saith, the tithe of the spoyles: and so it was a speciall thankfulnesse for the victory God had given him. So of the spoyles which Israel got from Madian, a tribute was levied unto the Lord, and given to the Priest, Num. 31. 28. 29. 41. A like custome continued among the Gentiles, for King Cyrus his souldiers, (by the advice of Crasas) were stayed from spoyling the Lydians City, that the tithes might first be payed to Iupiter, Herodot. inClio. And here endeth the History of Melchisedek, who is spoken of, and left, (as the Apostle observeth) without father, without mother, without rehearsall of genealogie, having neither beginning of dayes, nor end of life; but made like unto the sonne of God, abideth a Priest perpetually, Heb 7. 3.
Vers. 21. the soules] Hebr. soule: one put for many; and soules, for persons, the men and women of Sodom, whom Abram had brought backe from the enemy. See Gen. 12. 5. and 3. 2. So the Greek translateth, the men.
Vers. 22. lift up my hand] So they were wont, when they did sweare, Dan. 12. 7. Rev. 10. 5. 6. The Chaldee expoundeth it of lifting up in prayer: it seemeth to be a vow that Abram made when he went to the warre, wherein hee both prayed for victorie, and sware this oath: for these are joyned together, Psal. 132. 2. Iudg. 11. 30. &c.
Vers. 23. If from a threed] An unperfect speech, used in othes: for, If I take from a threed, that is, I will not take so much as a threed, or a shoe-latchet. So God sware, if they shall enter into my rest, Psal. 95. 11. which is expounded by the Apostle, that they should not enter, Heb. 3 11. 18. and Christ saith, if a signe be given to this generation, Mark 8. 12. which another Evangelist explaineth thus, a signe shall not be given, Mat. 16. 4. See after in Gen. 21. 23. and thou shalt not] or, as the Greek translateth, that thou maist not say.
Vers. 24. Save,] or, Except; So the Greeke and Chaldee also translateth. Some expound it: It shall not be with me; or, Far be it from me. young men] those trained souldiers, vers. 14. This word is not alwayes meant of age, but often of service and ministery, though they be men of ripe yeares: as Est. 2. 2. Exod. 24. 5. and 33. 11. So such as one Evangelist calleth young men and young maids, Luke 12. 45. another calleth fellow-servants, Mat. 24. 49.