THE BATTLE OF THE KINGS, AND THE CAPTURE AND RESCUE OF LOT Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, had subdued the Canaanites of the Jordan valley some years before the events narrated in this chapter. The latter had rebelled, and a campaign for their fresh subjugation was undertaken, which included a general... [ Continue Reading ]
AMRAPHEL] king of Shinar or Babylonia. He eventually expelled the Elamites who had invaded his territory. Amraphel has by many authorities been identified with _Hammurabi_ of the inscriptions. A tablet of laws issued by this monarch was discovered at Susa in 1902, and has been translated: see art. '... [ Continue Reading ]
The five towns (Pentapolis) mentioned here lay round the Dead Sea. The kings were mere chieftains, tributaries of Chedorlaomer, who now threw off his yoke.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VALE OF SIDDIM WHICH IS THE SALT SEA] The words imply that what had been the fertile vale of Siddim was covered, in the author's time, by the Salt (Dead) Sea. It is a disputed question whether this vale in which were the 'cities of the plain,' was situated at its N. or S. end. 'For the N. end, i... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY] i.e. the Canaanite chieftains. They refused to pay tribute. 5F. The Campaign of Chedorlaomer. Passing Hamath in Syria, and Damascus, the invaders first attacked the REPHAIM, a race of great stature, who lived in the Bashan district, E. of Jordan. Their chief city was ASHTEROTH KARNAIM, meaning... [ Continue Reading ]
Proceeding S. the invaders smote the HORITES, cave-dwellers in the mountainous district of Seir, afterwards held by the Edomites, descendants of Esau. This district extends from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Akaba. The wonderful rock city Petra may have been hollowed out by them. Thence they proceeded... [ Continue Reading ]
SLIMEPITS] Wells of inflammable bitumen, a mineral pitch allied to naphtha. Masses of bitumen are still thrown up in the S. portion of the lake. The Canaanite armies seem to have been snared in the slimy substance. THE KING OF SODOM.. FELL THERE] This refers rather to his army, as we find him welcom... [ Continue Reading ]
LOT with his wealth would be a desirable prisoner.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEBREW] Abraham may have been so called from his ancestor Eber (Genesis 11:14). As the Heb. _ibrî_, however, means 'of the country beyond,' the title may have been given to him by the Canaanites because he had come from across the Euphrates. LXX renders, 'Abraham the crosser.' In OT. the word ge... [ Continue Reading ]
DAN] known in Abraham's day as Laish. It was near the sources of the Jordan, some 30 m. N. of the Sea of Galilee. In later days part of the tribe of Dan settled there (Judges 18:27). This number of able-bodied men in Abraham's household shows that he was now a chieftain of great importance. He also... [ Continue Reading ]
The Elamite army was doubtless much larger than Abraham's following, but the attack from different quarters in the darkness created a panic, similar to that caused by Gideon's men (Judges 7). HOBAH] N. of Damascus.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING OF SODOM] see on Genesis 14:10. THE KING'S DALE] unknown. Perhaps the place where Absalom set up a pillar: see 2 Samuel 18:18. Josephus says it was near Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]
MELCHIZEDEK] The word may mean 'Sidik' (a deity) 'is my king,' although in Hebrews 7 the Jewish writer in connexion with his argument explains it as 'King of righteousness.' In Joshua 10:3, five hundred years later, we find another king of Jerusalem whose name has the same termination, viz. Adonized... [ Continue Reading ]
Abraham, recognising in Melchizedek a priest of the true God, receives his blessing, and gives him as God's representative a tithe (tenth part) of the spoils he has just taken as a thank offering. Other instances of the payment of tithes are Genesis 28:22; Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 31:31.; 2 Samuel 8... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE ME THE PERSONS, AND TAKE THE GOODS TO THYSELF] The victor used to keep the whole booty, including prisoners who became his slaves. The king of Sodom proposes that Abraham should restore the captives but keep the spoil. 22-24. Abraham nobly refuses to keep anything for himself, but claims their... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE LIFT UP MINE HAND] a form of swearing: cp. Exodus 6:8. THE LORD, THE MOST HIGH GOD] _Jehovah El Elyon._ Note that Abraham prefixes Jehovah to the title used by Melchizedek, 'as if to claim for Him the exclusive right to supreme divinity.'... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOELATCHET] or 'sandal thong': i. e. a thing of the least value. Note. Melchizedek is referred to again twice in the Bible (Psalms 110:4; Hebrews 5-7), and each time as a type of the priesthood of Christ. 'The Melchizedek type of priesthood is, first, a _royal_ priesthood (_king_ of righteousness);... [ Continue Reading ]