Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Genesis
Book: Genesis
Chapter: 14
Overview:
The battle of the
Kings,
Lot is taken prisoner.
(1-12) Abram
rescues
Lot.
(13-16) Melchizedek blesses
Abram.
(17-20) Abram
restores the spoil.
(21-24)
1-12 The wars of nations make great figure in history, but we
should not have had the record of this
War if
Abram and
Lot had
not been concerned. Out of
Covetousness,
Lot had settled in
fruitful, but wicked
Sodom. Its inhabitants were the most ripe
for vengeance of all the descendants of
Canaan. The invaders
were from
Chaldea and
Persia, then only small kingdoms. They
took
Lot among the
Rest, and his goods. Though he was righteous,
and
Abram's
Brother's son, yet he was with the
Rest in this
trouble. Neither our own
Piety, nor our relation to the
favourites of
Heaven, will be our security when
God's judgments
are abroad. Many an honest
Man fares the worse for his wicked
neighbours: it is our
Wisdom to separate, or at least to
distinguish ourselves from them, 2Co 6:17.
So near a relation
of
Abram should have been a companion and a
Disciple of
Abram.
If he chose to
Dwell in
Sodom, he must thank himself if he share
in
Sodom's losses. When we go out of the way of our duty, we
Put
ourselves from under
God's protection, and cannot expect that
the choice made
By our lusts, should
End to our comfort. They
took
Lot's goods; it is just with
God to deprive us of
enjoyments,
By which we suffer ourselves to be deprived of the
enjoyment of him.
13-16 Abram takes this opportunity to give a real proof of his
being truly friendly to
Lot. We ought to be ready to succour
those in distress, especially relations and friends. And though
others may have been wanting in their duty to us, yet we must
not neglect our duty to them.
Abram rescued the captives. As we
have opportunity, we must do good to all.
17-20 Melchizedek is spoken of as a
King of
Salem, supposed to
be the place afterwards called
Jerusalem, and it is generally
thought that he was only a
Man. The words of the
Apostle, Heb
7:3, state only, that the sacred history has said nothing of
his ancestors. The silence of the Scriptures
On this, is to
raise our thoughts to Him, whose
Generation cannot be declared.
Bread and
Wine were suitable refreshment for the weary followers
of
Abram; and it is remarkable that
Christ appointed the same as
the memorials of his body and
Blood, which are meat and
Drink
indeed to the soul.
Melchizedek blessed
Abram from
God. He
blessed
God from
Abram. We ought to give thanks for other's
mercies as for our own.
Jesus Christ, our great High
Priest, is
the
Mediator both of our prayers and praises, and not only
offers up ours, but his own for us.
Abram gave him the tenth of
the spoils, Heb 7:4. When we have received some great
Mercy
from
God, it is very fit we should express our thankfulness
By
some special act of pious
Charity.
Jesus Christ, our great
Melchizedek, is to have homage done him, and to be humbly
acknowledged as our
King and
Priest; not only the
Tithe of all,
but all we have, must be given up to him.
21-24 Observe the
King of
Sodom's grateful offer to
Abram, Give
me the souls, and take thou the substance. Gratitude teaches us
to recompense to the utmost of our power, those that have
undergone fatigues, run hazards, and been at expense for our
service and benefit.
Abram generously refused this offer. He
accompanies his refusal with a good reason, Lest thou shouldest
say, I have made
Abram rich: which would reflect upon the
promise and
Covenant of
God, as if He would not have
enriched
Abraham without the spoils of
Sodom. The people of
God
must, for their credit's sake, take heed of doing any thing that
looks mean or mercenary, or that savours of
Covetousness and
self-seeking.
Abraham can trust the Possessor of
Heaven and
Earth to provide for him.