Genesis14:1 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,2 that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him came and attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in their mountain of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is by the wilderness. 7 Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and attacked all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who dwelt in Hazezon Tamar.
"The war of four confederate kings against the five kings of Canaan, Genesis 14:1-3. The confederate kings overrun and pillage the whole country, Genesis 14:4-7...” (Adam Clarke)
8 And the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and joined together in battle in the Valley of Siddim 9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations,Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of asphalt pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled; some fell there, and the remainder fled to the mountains. 11 Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. 12 They also took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
The kings of Canaan are defeated. “and the principal part of the armies of the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah slain, Genesis 14:10; on which these two cities are plundered, Genesis 14:11. Lot, his goods, and his family, are also taken and carried away, Genesis 14:12.” (Adam Clarke) "And the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled. Some expound that they had fallen into pits: but this is not probable, since they were by no means ignorant of the neighboring places: such an event would rather have happened to foreign enemies. Others say, that they went down into them for the sake of preserving their lives. I, however, understand them to have exchanged one kind of death for another, as is common in the moment of desperation; as if Moses had said, the swords of the enemy were so formidable to them, that, without hesitation, they threw themselves headlong into the pits. For he immediately afterwards subjoins, that they who escaped fled to the mountains. Whence we infer, that they who had rushed into the pits had perished. Only let us know, that they fell, not so much deceived through ignorance of the place, as disheartened by fear.” (John Calvin)
"And they took [righteous Lot- 2 Peter 2:7]..., Abram's brother's son,.... The son of Haran, his elder brother, who was now, as the Jews say, fifty years of age: who dwelt in Sodom, or near it, in the country adjacent to it, see Genesis 13:12; and so being a neighbour of the men of Sodom, and a sojourner among them, he partakes of their punishment; and this was a just correction of him for choosing to dwell among such a people: and they took his goods, and departed; as him and his family, so all his substance, his cattle, wealth, and riches of every sort, and went off with it: ...” (John Gill)
"How would the conscience of that young man now upbraid him for his selfish folly and ingratitude in withdrawing from his kind and pious relative! Whenever we go out of the path of duty, we put ourselves away from God‘s protection, and cannot expect that the choice we make will be for our lasting good.” (Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible)
"Perils arising from worldly choice and ungodly companions. Young people often suffer through their companions. Lot lost the property for the increase of which he was so anxious. He trusted more to the strong walls and untried friends in Sodom than in the living God. 'This their way is their folly.’.. A hopeless captivity and poverty are now before him. From what quarter could he expect deliverance?” (The Biblical Illustrator)“The man who had been willing to cast in his lot with Abram’s at the time of the latter’s departure from Haran was now certainly exposed to as wretched a fate as could befall men in ancient times, that of a prisoner of war.” (H. C. Leupold)
I know that Abram suggested the split but I imagine how Lot's life would've been different if he had spoken as Ruth spoke. "But Ruth replied, 'Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.'"(Ruth 1:16)
Genesis 14:13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; and they were allies with Abram. 14 Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. 16 So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.
told Abram the Hebrew ...Hebrew "comes from the name Eber, first mentioned in the table of the nations in ch. 10. The word is related to a verb meaning 'cross over' or 'pass through,' perhaps reminding us that Abram 'passed through' or 'crossed over' from another place in order to obey the Lord’s command. Abram had moved to Hebron at the terebinth trees of Mamre (13:18; see also v. 24)." (Nelson Study Notes) "This designation is given to Abram plainly for the purpose of connecting him with Lot.” (Albert Barnes) But perhaps it associates them together with the faith of their fathers. They served other gods on the other side of the river. (Josh 24:2)
"In Jewish tradition, Eber, the great-grandson of Shem, refused to help with the building of the Tower of Babel, so his language was not confused when it was abandoned. He and his family alone retained the original human language, Hebrew, a language named after Eber (Heber), also called lingua humana in Latin. (There are different religious positions on this issue; see also Adamic language.)" (wikipedia)
"Abram might have excused himself from taking any active concern in his ‘brother,' that is, nephew, who little deserved that he should incur trouble or danger on his account. But Abram, far from rendering evil for evil, resolved to take immediate measures for the rescue of Lot.” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary) He gives "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.” (Matthew Henry)
17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him. 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said:
“Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 And blessed be God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
And he gave him a tithe of all.
"It has been a great question among expositors, who Melchizedek was. The Jewish rabbins say that he was Shem, the son of Noah, who was king and priest to those that were descended from him, according to the patriarchal model. And it must be allowed to be probable that Shem was alive at this time, and that he was a great prince. But as Shem’s genealogy and birth are recorded in Scripture, and were well known, it could, with no propriety, be said of him, as the apostle says of Melchizedek, that he was 'without father (namely, mentioned in the sacred history) and without mother, without beginning of days or end of life:' nor is it at all probable that Moses should introduce Shem under the name of Melchizedek, without any apparent reason, or any the least intimation of his meaning. Many Christian writers have thought that this was an appearance of the Son of God himself, our Lord Jesus, known to Abram at this time by the name of Melchizedek. But this is not consistent with what the same apostle affirms in the same place, Hebrews 7:3, who says, not that he was the Son of God, but that he was 'made like him,' αφωμοιωμενος, that is, was made a type of him; nor is it consistent with his affirming that Christ was constituted 'a priest after the order of Melchizedek.' Besides, it is said that Melchizedek was 'king of Salem:' but we are sure Christ never reigned over any particular city as a temporal prince. It seems sufficiently evident that he was a mere man; but from whom he was descended, or who were his immediate parents or successors, God has not seen fit to inform us: nay, it is probable that God designedly concealed these things from us, that he might be the more perfect type of his eternal Son. He brought forth bread and wine — For the refreshment of Abram and his soldiers, and in congratulation of their victory. This he did as king. 'As priest of the most high God he blessed Abram,' which, no doubt, was a greater refreshment to Abram’s soul than the bread and wine were to his body.” (Benson Commentary) It is however noted that even the bread and wine might have spiritual meaning as the body and blood of Messiah.
Abrams gave Melchisedeck tithes of all… Think of how great Melchisedeck was. "These, being the customary offering to the Deity, were an acknowledgment of the Divine priesthood of Melchisedeck... The tithal law was afterwards incorporated among the Mosaic statutes (Lev 27:30-33; Num18:31-32)..." (Pulpit Commentary)
21 Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.”
"Here he fairly begs the persons, but as freely bestows the goods on Abram. Gratitude teaches us to recompense to the utmost of our power those that have undergone fatigues, or been at expense for our service.” (Benson Commentary)
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’— 24 except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”
Yahweh, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth— "Abram gives to God the same titles that Melchizedek had just now used. It is good to learn of others how to order our speech concerning God, and to imitate those who speak well in divine things. " (Benson Commentary). He adds His personal name-- Yahweh.
"And Abram said to the king of Sodom,....[who offered the goods] In reply to his request: I have lifted up mine hand unto the LORD; which was both a gesture of praying and of swearing, and both may be intended here; when he set out on his expedition, it is very probable he prayed to God for success, and swore that if he prospered him, that he would receive no profit or advantage from it to himself; or now in the presence of Melchizedek he lift up his hands and swore that he would take none of the goods he had recovered to his own line;....” (Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible)
Lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich—"lest he should upbraid him with it afterwards, and say, that all his riches were owing to him; whereas God had promised to bless him, and make him rich and great, as he had begun to do, and still would more and more; and in whom his trusted, and to whom he was desirous all the glory of his greatness and riches should be ascribed.” (Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible)
In the king of Sodom, we have a picture of the world's rulers, subject to fall. In Melchizedeck we have the unique priest and king. See Hebrew 7:20-28 concerning his priestly role, compared to that of Jesus. "In the venerable Melchizedek we have a striking figure of Jesus Christ. His name, the King of Righteousness, is highly expressive of the equity of our Saviour’s reign. His being King of Salem, or of peace, adumbrates the peaceful kingdom of Christ in the soul, and in all the earth. His parentage and death not being named, as is usual with other kings, indicates the eternal Godhead of Christ, having existed from everlasting, without beginning of days or end of life. No successor being named, Melchizedek’s priesthood prefigured the unchangeable priesthood of Christ at the right hand of God. Let us then approach him with all our sins and infirmities, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for us.” (Sutcliffe's Commentary)