14:1 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of a
Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam,
and Tidal king of b nations;
(a) That is, of Babylon: by kings here, meaning, them that
were governors of cities.
(b) Of a people gathered from various countries.
14:3 All these were c joined together in the vale of Siddim,
which is the d salt sea.
(c) Ambition is the chief cause of wars among princes.
(d) Called also the dead sea, or the lake Asphaltite, near
Sodom and Gomorrah.
14:10 And the e 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.
(e) And afterward was overwhelmed with water, and so was
called the salt sea.
14:12 And they f took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in
Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
(f) The godly are plagued many times with the wicked:
therefore their company is dangerous.
14:13 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]
g confederate with Abram.
(g) God removed them to join Abram, and preserves him from
their idolatry and superstitions.
14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem h brought forth bread and
wine: and he [was] the priest of the most high God.
(h) For Abram and his soldiers refreshment, not to offer
sacrifice.
14:19 And he i blessed him, and said, Blessed [be] Abram of
the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
(i) Melchizedek fed Abram, declared himself to represent a
king, and he blessed him as the high priest.
14:24k 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.
(k) He did not want his liberality to be hurtful to
others.
