Genesis-Chap-14-1-24

-hebraicstudies.net-

Please do NOT visit this site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts!

Re Tanakh versions:

Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF), three brilliant versions, although JPS-1917 is my preferred version!

Colour coded details of our beloved TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

YYYYYYY

Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

YYYYYYY

“Genesis Chapter 14:1-24”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction:

Genesis 14 presents Avram (Abram) not as a nomadic shepherd, but as a Chieftain and a warrior. It depicts the first “world war” recorded in Scripture, a conflict between two powerful coalitions of kings. The narrative serves to show that the “blessing given to Avram carries with it a responsibility to seek justice and the protection of kin, specifically his nephew Lot, while maintaining a strict boundary between the holy and the profane.

YYYYYYY

Let us now read Genesis Chapter 14:1-24: (JPS-1917 version of the Torah).

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 Goiim, 2. that they 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 the same is Zoar. 3. All these came as allies unto the vale of Siddim, the same is the Salt Sea. 4. Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5. And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6. and the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-paran, which is by the wilderness. 7. And they turned back, and came to En-mishpat--the same is Kadesh and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazazon-tamar. 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 set the battle in array against them in the vale of Siddim; 9. against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five. 10. Now the vale of Siddim was full of slime pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell there, and they that remained fled to the mountain. 11. And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. 12. And they took Lot, Avram’s (Avram’s) brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. 13. And there came one that had escaped, and told Avram the Hebrew, now he dwelt by the terebinths of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner; and these were confederate with Avram. 14. And when Avram heard that his brother was taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan. 15. And he divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. 17. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him, after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, at the vale of Shaveh--the same is the King's Vale. 18. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine; and he was priest of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim the Most High. 19. And he blessed him, and said: ‘Blessed be Avram of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim Most High, Maker of heaven and earth; 20. and blessed be אֱלֹהִים - Elohim the Most High, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand’. And he gave him a tenth of all. 21. And the king of Sodom said unto Avram: ‘Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself’. 22. And Avram said to the king of Sodom: ‘I have lifted up my hand unto יְהוָה - the LORD, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim Most High, Maker of heaven and earth, 23. that I will not take a thread nor a shoe-latchet nor aught that is thine, lest thou shouldest say: I have made Avram rich; 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’”.

YYYYYYY

Let us now look at the commentary re verses 1 to 24:

Verses 1-4: (The Rebellion): Four Eastern kings, led by Chedorlaomer of Elam, hold five Canaanite city-states (including Sodom and Gomorrah) in tribute for twelve years. In the thirteenth year, the local kings rebel.

Verses 5-7: (The Campaign): Chedorlaomer and his allies launch a sweeping military campaign, crushing several nations (Rephaim, Zuzim, Emim, Horites) before turning toward the En-mishpat (Kadesh) and the Amorites.

Verses 8-12: (The Battle of Siddim): The kings of the five cities meet the Eastern four in the Vale of Siddim. The valley is full of “slime pits” (bitumen), causing the local forces to flee and fall. Sodom is plundered, and Lot, Avram’s nephew, is taken captive.

Verses 13-16: (Avram’s Rescue): A fugitive brings word to “Avram the Hebrew”, then dwelling by the terebinths of Mamre. Avram mobilizes his trained men (318 in number) born in his house. In a night attack at Dan, he routs the kings, pursues them to Hobah, and recovers Lot, the people, and all the goods.

Verses 17-20: (The Meeting of Two Kings): Upon his return, Avram is met by the King of Sodom and Melchizedek, King of Salem. Melchizedek, a “priest of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim the Most High”, brings out bread and wine and blesses Avram. Avram, in turn, gives him a tenth of all.

Verses 21-24: (The Refusal of Spoil): The King of Sodom offers Avram the goods if he will only return the people. Avram refuses, having lifted his hand in an oath to “ יְהוָה- the LORD, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim the Most High”. He declines even a “thread or a shoe-latchet”, ensuring that no pagan king can claim, “I have made Avram rich”.

YYYYYYY

My Concluding Message:

Genesis 14 reveals the character of a man who is “in the world but not of it”. Avram engages in the necessary violence of the age to rescue his brother, yet he remains untainted by the greed of the victors. By breaking bread with Melchizedek and rejecting the wealth of Sodom, Avram demonstrates that his provision and his loyalty belong solely to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim the Most High. It is a lesson in maintaining spiritual integrity while navigating the complex and often corrupting influences of external powers!

YYYYYYY

Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links are located down the page!

This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...

“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).

YYYYYYY

“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”,

For Elohim is the One who gave us our ... “Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts, be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Enter ...

http://www.hebraicstudies.net/Site-Index.htm

Enter ...

https://www.hebraicstudies.net

-hebraicstudies.net-

Email the Rabbi

RBA@hebraicstudies.net

If the email link does not open - You can also copy the link and use it.

Although the author does not believe in having to copyright “Hebraic Studies” commenced in the mid 1980’,

but there have been occasions where there parts of his studies have been taken and quoted out of context

under my name, and thus he has been misquoted by those who have their own reasons for doing so.

Thus, it is only for this reason these works are fully covered under strict ...