Abraham (Genesis 14)

By Mary Jane Chaignot

Categories: Patriarchs

Abraham got involved in a battle between two groups of kings.
Five kings from southern cities (including Sodom and Gemorrah) stopped paying tribute to the kings in the north, who then marched against them.
The southern kings lost the battle, and their citizens were captured.
None of this involved Abraham's community.
Because Lot was living in Sodom, he was among those captured.
One man managed to escape and told Abraham about Lot's capture.
When Abraham heard about Lot, he took 318 trained men from his household and headed north to Dan, one of the northernmost cities of Israel.
Upon arrival they waited until nightfall, split their forces in two, and routed the unsuspecting army.
Abraham chased after them until they abandoned Lot and all the booty they had taken.
This was a great victory for Abraham, and he headed home.
News traveled fast, and the southern kings went out to meet him.
Before they could say anything, the king of Salem (Melchizedek) brought out bread and wine.
He was a priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abraham.
Melchizedek appeared out of nowhere, speaks, acts, and immediately disappear. His part lasts for exactly three verses.
But he made a huge impression; writers would forever speak in awe of the Priesthood of Melchizedek.
In this story, he acted like a true spiritual brother for Abraham.
He also believed in the one God who created all, gave Abraham the victory, and promised him land, descendants, and blessings.
His gifts of bread and wine changed a military celebration into a spiritual experience.
The effect of this moment upon Abraham cannot be overstated.
He had just experienced the joy of victory and was the local hero.
He had the right to keep all the spoils he brought back from the enemy. Might this be God's blessing? Would he become great through military victories?
Melchizedek said, "no." Melchizedek appeared as a divine messenger, reminding Abraham of the real source of his safety and success.
This message was effective.
Abraham's thoughts were changed from gaining a kingdom based on military victories to a kingdom of peace.
He gave a tenth of everything to Melchizedek. That was the common way to thank him.
Only after this did the King of Sodom speak.
Unlike Melchizedek, who brought an offering of bread and wine, this king arrived empty handed and shouted, "Give me the people..."
It was an outrageous demand. This king had no right to anything and tried to bully his way into cutting a deal with Abraham.
In exchange for the people, the king said Abraham could keep all the spoils of war – stuff that already belonged to Abraham because he won the battle. (What a deal!)
Abraham said no. He said he had already sworn an oath not to accept anything— not a thread or a sandal thong—from the king. Otherwise, one day the king might say that he had made Abraham rich.
Abraham knew that God would provide for his needs.
His expression—not a thread or a sandal thong, which would have been a thick strap—is called a merism. It's a statement that uses opposites to express the whole gamut of meanings.
He didn't want to accept anything from the king of Sodom, not even the tiniest item, from that place of evil.
But he gave his allies some of the spoils.
At the end of this chapter, Abraham has made a clear choice between divine blessings and worldly honors or possessions.
He went back to Hebron; Lot went back to Sodom.

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