Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 14

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 Nations .

i. e. Of a People which came to him out of several Nations, being allured possibly by his Fame or by Promises and Priviledges granted to them, and put themselves under his Government. Or Goii[illegible: 1+ letters] is the name of a certain place, or Countrey so called from the confluence of divers People or Nations thither, as Tyrus is called the M[illegible: 1+ letters]t of Nations, [illegible: 1 word] ▪ 23. 3. upon the same account.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1+ letters]osh. 12. 23.

2. That these 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 which is Zoar.

Once for all observe that the name of Kings is here and elsewhere given by Moses to the Chief Governours of Cities or little Provinces. Compare I[illegible: 1+ letters]. 12.

Marginal references: Chap. 1[illegible: 1+ letters]. [illegible: 1 word].

3. All these were joyned together in the Vale of Siddim, which is the salt Sea.

Which now is, though when this Battle was fought it was not so.

4. Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer , and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

Who was their Lord either 1. By Inheritance, as the issue of Elam, S[illegible: 1+ letters]ms Son, Gen. 10. 22. Or, 2. By Conquest, having subdued those People in a former War, which Iosephus speaks of.

5. And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the Kings that were with him , and smote the Rephaims in Ashtaroth-Karnaim , and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims , in Shaveh-Kiriathaim .

(i. e.) Confederate with him for the recovery of his right, expecting the same assistance from him upon the like occasion.

A fierce and warlike People of Ca[illegible: 1+ letters]an. See G[illegible: 1+ letters]n. 15. 20. Or the Giants, as this word is taken, Deut. 2. 11.

A place in B[illegible: 1+ letters]san called [illegible: 1 word], Deut. 1. 4. Ios. 9. 10. and 13. 31. It is surnamed Ca[illegible: 1+ letters]aim, q. d. Two hor[illegible: 1+ letters]d, like a half Moon, either from the situation and form of the place, or from the Goddess Diana or the Moon, which usually was painted with two horns, whom they Worshipped.

A People in [illegible: 1 word] of Giant-like stature, Deut. 2 10, 11.

Kiriathaim is a noted City in Gilead, and Shav[illegible: 1+ letters] may be either the antient name of that City, or the present name of the Country adjoyning and belonging to it.

Marginal references: Or, the plain of Kiriathaim.

6. And the Horites in the Mount Seir, unto El-paran , which is by the wilderness.

The antient Inhabitants of Seir, of whom see Gen. 36. 20. and Deut. 2. 12.

El signi[illegible: 1+ letters]ies a Plain, and Paran is the name of a known City and Mountain. See N[illegible: 1+ letters]. 13. 3. Deut. 33. 2. 1 Sam. 25. 1. &c.

Marginal references: Or, the plain of Paran.

7. And they returned and came to En-mishpat, which is Kadesh , and smote all the Countrey of the Amalekites , and also the Amorites that dwelt in Hazezon-tamar.

(i. e.) Which after that time was called Kades[illegible: 1+ letters], of which see Num. 20. 1, 14. &c.

(i. e.) Which afterwards was possessed by the Amalekites, Gen. 26. 12. A known figure called Prolepsis.

10. And the Vale of Siddim was full of slimepits : And the Kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled and fell there: And they that remained, fled to the Mountain.

And therefore chosen by those five Kings for the place of Battle, that their Adver[illegible: 1+ letters]ries being ignorant of the place might unawares fall into those pits, which they by their knowledge of it, thought to escape.

(i. e.) Their Armies: a figurative speech frequent in Scripture and other Authours: For their persons escaped, see ver. 17.

Either 1. Fell into the pits which they designed for others. Or rather 2. Were slain; as this word is oft used, as Ios. 8. 24, 25. Iudg. 8. 10. and 12. 6. and here too, for those that fell are here opposed to those that remained.

Marginal references: Heb. pits pits.

12 And they took Lot , Abrams brothers Son (who dwelt in Sodom) and his Goods, and departed.

Who now suffered for his co-habitation with bad Neighbours.

13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew , for he dwelt in the Plain of Mamre the Amorite, Brother of Eshcol, and Brother of Aner: And these were confederate with Abram .

So called, either, 1. From his great and good Predecessour Eber, Gen. 10. 24. and 11. 14. in and by whom the primitive Language and true Religion were preserved, and therefore, though Abram had five other Progenitors between Eber and him, which were persons of less note, he is rightly denominated from Eber, the Hebrew, because he was the first that revived the memory and the work of Eber, that kept up the same Language, and eminently propagated the same true Religion. Or 2. As others think from his passing over the River Euphrates, from beyond which he came into Canaan.

i. e. Had entred into a League for their mutual defence against common Enemies. Whence we learn that it is not simply and universally unlawful to make a League, with persons of a false Religion.

14 And when Abram heard that his Brother was taken Captive; he armed his trained Servants born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan .

(i. e.) Whom he had disciplined and instructed both in Religion and in the Military Art too, both which were necessary to make them good Souldiers, that they might both fight with skill and courage, and also rely upon God and engage his assistance; which was now especially necessary, when so small a party were to engage against so numerous an Army.

This is commonly thought to be a Town then called Leshem, Ios. 19. 47. or Laish, Iudg. 18. 7. and afterwards Dan. See Iudg. 18. 7, 29. So it is an anticipation. But it may be doubted whether this was a City, or if it were, whether it were not another Town called by the same name, which was frequent in those parts. And some think this is not a Town, but the very Fountain of Dan, whence Iordan had its Name.

Marginal references: Or, led forth.; Or, instructed.

15 And he divided himself against them, he and his Servants by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hoba, which is on the left hand of Damascus:

(i. e.) His forces into several parties, that coming upon them from several quarters he might strike them with greater terrour, whilst they thought his Army far more numerous than it was.

16 And he brought back all the goods , and also brought again his Brother Lot, and his goods, and the Women also, and the People.

Which the victorious Kings had taken from the Princes and People mentioned before in this Chapter.

17 And the King of Sodom went out to meet him (after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the Kings that were with him) at the Valley of Shaveh, which is the Kings dale .

So called either upon this occasion of the meeting of divers Kings here: Or because King Melchizedek either had his Habitation, or was much delighted with it, and conversant in it. See 2 Sam. 18. 18.

Marginal references: 2 Sam. 18. 18.

18 And Melchizedek King of Salem brought forth Bread and Wine . And he was the Priest of the most High God .

Quest. Who was this? Answ. 1. Sem, as the Jews and many others think, who probably was alive at this time, and, no doubt, a great Prince. But neither is it probable that Sem should be a King among the cursed race of Ham; nor will this agree with the Apostles description of Melchizedek▪ Heb. 7. 3. Without Father and Mother, &c. Whereas Sems Parents and the beginning and end of his days are as expresly mentioned by Moses as any other. 2, A Canaanitish King by the Divine Providence made both a King over men, and Priest unto the true God, brought in here in this unusual manner, without any mention of his Parents Birth or Death, for this end, that he might be an illustrious Type of Christ. Of this matter see more upon Heb. 7. 3.

(i. e.) Of Ierusalem, called elsewhere Iebus, and Salem, Psal. 76. 2.

Not for Sacrifice to God; for then he had brought forth Beasts to be slain, which were the usual and best Sacrifices: But partly to shew the respect which he bore to Abram, and principally to refresh his weary and hungry Army, according to the manner of those times. See Deut. 23. 3, 4. and 25. 18. Iudg. 8. 5, 6, 15. 1 Sam. 17. 17.

Thus in succeeding Ages the same perso[illegible: 1+ letters]s were often both Kings and Priests, as the learned note out of Virgil and other Authours. And this clause is here added as the cause and reason, not for his bringing forth or offering Bread and Wine, as some would have it, (for that is ascribed to him as a King, as an act of Royal munificence) but of the following benediction and decimation.

For in those times God had his remnant scattered here and there even in the worst Places and Nations.

Marginal references: Heb, 7. 1.

19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the Most High God, possessour of Heaven and Earth.

Or, Therefore (as the particle is oft taken, (i. e.) because he was a Priest of God) he (i. e.) Melchizedek) blessed him, (Abraham) which was one act of the Priestly Office. See on Heb. 7. 6, 7.

So it is a prayer for him that God would confirm and increase the blessing which he had given him. Or, Blessea is: So it is an acknowledgement of Gods blessing conferred upon Abraham both formerly and in this late and great victory. Or, blessed shall be: So it is a prediction concerning his future and further blessedness, whereof this was only an earnest.

20 And blessed be the Most High God, which hath delivered thine Enemies into thy hand: And he gave him Tithes of all .

Not Melchizedek gave to Abram, as some Jews foolishly understand it; for Abram swears that he would not keep nor take any of the recovered Goods of the Kings of Sodom or his Brethren, ver. 23. But Abram gave to Melchizedek, as appears both from Heb. 4. 7. and from the nature of the thing: For the Tithes confessedly belong to the Priest, such as Melchizedek and not Abram, as is here described to be.

Not of all the recovered Goods, but of all the spoils taken from the Enemies.

Marginal references: Heb. 7. 4.

22 And Abram said to the King of Sodom, I have lift up my hand unto the LORD, the Most High God, the possessour of Heaven and Earth.

(i. e.) Swore; for this was the antient manner of swearing. See Exod. 6. 8. Numb. 14. 30. Deut. 32. 40. Ezek. 20. 5, 6.

23 That I will not take from a thred even to a shoe-latchet , and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldst say, I have made Abram rich .

Heb. If I shall take. Understand, God do so and so to me, which is expressed 1 Sam. 14. 44. A defective manner of Swearing used amongst the Hebrews, either to maintain the reverence of Oaths and the dread of Perjury, seeing they were afraid so much as to mention the Curse which they meant; or to shew that they were willing to submit to any punishment which God should inflict upon them without exception, if they violated their Oaths.

(i. e.) Any thing though never so small or mean.

(i. e.) Lest thou shouldst claim a share with God in the honour due to him, to whose blessing alone I do, and I will owe my riches. Or, lest thou shouldst say, Abraham is enriched with my spoiles, and however he pretended kindness and charity, yet indeed it was his covetousness that put him upon this work.

24 Save onely 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.

For as Abram had a right to spoils, so had they, whether they joyned with him in the Battle, as it is conceived they did, or, onely abode by the stuffe, 1 Sam. 30. 24. and therefore though he might and did give away his own right, he could not give away other mens.