v.1-12
1. R.W.
king...went to war against...king...they had served, but...they rebelled...the kings who were his allies...defeated the ...then they attacked...and they conquered all the territory...11 The four victorious kings took all the possessions and food of Sodom and Gomorrah and left.
Summary:
Between the nations, they fought against each others, sometimes for territory. In the case of the 5 kings, they were in a contract to serve one of the 4 kings. When the 5 kings rebelled and were defeated, what the 4 kings desired was their possessions and food.
(NET) The conflict here reflects international warfare in the Early and Middle Bronze periods. The countries operated with overlords and vassals. Kings ruled over city states, or sometimes a number of city states (i.e., nations). Due to their treaties, when one went to war, those confederate with him joined him in battle. It appears here that it is Kedorlaomer’s war, because the western city states have rebelled against him (meaning they did not send products as tribute to keep him from invading them).
2. The relationship of the wars and the main line of Genesis.
12 They also took Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions when they left, for Lot was living in Sodom.
When Lot was last mentioned in 13: 12 (Abram settled in the land of Canaan, but Lot settled among the cities of the Jordan plain and pitched his tents next to Sodom) Lot chose Sodom because it was located in the fertile soil of the region of Jordan.
Conclusion: Lot moved to Sodom because of material possession and he was captured for the same reason, but now he himself became a possession of others.
Reflection: What is so important to us that we are rather to ignore God's preference to get it? It will turn out to be something that will cause us pain and agony.
v.13-24
1. R.W.-retrieved, brought back; defeated
15 Then, during the night, Abram divided his forces against them and defeated them. He chased them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. 16 He retrieved all the stolen property. He also brought back his nephew Lot and his possessions, as well as the women and the rest of the people. 17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings who were with him,
Summary: not only the 75-85 (Gen 12:4, 16:16) y.o. Abram was able to retrieve back a large sum of people and possession after he defeated the victorious kings in the recent battle, he did that at night and he was able to chase his enemies all the way to Damascus (BKC-another 100 miles north of Dan). All these indicate that the victory was highly usual.
2. R.W. the Most High God
v.18b Now he was the priest of the Most High God
19 He blessed Abram, saying,
“Blessed be Abram by the Most High God,
Creator of heaven and earth.
20 Worthy of praise is the Most High God,
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
22 But Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I raise my hand to the LORD, the Most High God, Creator of heaven and earth, and vow
Summary: (1)The usual victory was an indicator of the God who delivered Abram's enemies into his hands. In other words, Abram was the channel whom people will see God's glory. The Most high God, who is the one who possesses (created) the heaven and earth was the One who is behind Abram's victory.
(2) Both Abram and Melchizedek served, and believed in the same God. M blessed A in the name of God and he brought him food and drink when he returned. On the other hand, A gave tithe to M.
Both of these action showed that "(BKC) Melchizedek is the only person whom Abram recognized as his spiritual superior. Abram accepted blessing from him (v. 19), and Abram paid him a 10th (a tithe) of all he had (v. 20)."
3. R.W.-I will take nothing belonging to you v.23, I will take nothing v.24
23 that I will take nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal. That way you can never say, ‘It is I who made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing except compensation
Summary: The king of Sodom also went out to meet A, but A treated him drastically different than how he treated M. He refused the offered of the king of Sodom with a very strong sense of separation.
Conclusion and Reflection: When Abram knew very well that his victory was not his, but God, he also knew that he was blessed by God and he was a reflection of God's glory. This, he gave tithe to God and he made drastic choice of whom he should associated with. When I know that God has provided me protection over and over again what changes have I made? How much shall I give back to Him in offering and in serving? Whom (or what) shall I associate with and whom (or what) shall I separate from? Am I closely associated with God? Is God my dearest of all?
4. Questions:
1) v.12 Lot was living in Sodom
2) you will become one of them sooner or later
3) His priority of live made him a captive. He must felt remorse, but not sure did he feel that.
4) He is the priest of the Most High God. He knew God by general revelation? Or through Abram??
5) The Bible did not say they are strangers to each other. Abram saw his as his superior
6)?? Some b/s, I see them as good friends, or even my best friends. But not all of them.
7) He took nothing for not wanting to associate with the k of Sodom
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