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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<A NAME="Page94"> </A>
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>G E N E S I S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XIV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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We have four things in the story of this chapter.
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I. A war with
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the king of Sodom and his allies,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:1-11">ver. 1-11</A>.
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II. The captivity
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of Lot in that war,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:12">ver. 12</A>.
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III. Abram's rescue of Lot from
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that captivity, with the victory he obtained over the conquerors,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:13-16">ver. 13-16</A>.
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IV. Abram's return from the expedition,
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:17">ver. 17</A>),
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with an account of what passed,
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1. Between him and the king
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of Salem,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:18-20">ver. 18-20</A>.
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2. Between him and the king of Sodom,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:21-24">ver. 21-24</A>.
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So that here we have that promise to Abram in part
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fulfilled, that God would make his name great.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ge14_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge14_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge14_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge14_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge14_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge14_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge14_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge14_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge14_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge14_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge14_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge14_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Lot Taken Captive.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1913.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And it came to pass in the days
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of Amraphel king of Shinar,
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Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer
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king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;
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2 <I>That these</I> made war with
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Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha
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king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of
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Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim,
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and the king of Bela, which is
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Zoar.
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3 All these were joined together
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in the vale of Siddim, which is
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the salt sea.
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4 Twelve years they
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served Chedorlaomer, and in the
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thirteenth year they rebelled.
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5 And
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in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer,
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and the kings that <I>were</I> with
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him, and smote the Rephaims in
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Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims
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in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh
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Kiriathaim,
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6 And the Horites in
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their mount Seir, unto El-paran,
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which <I>is</I> by the wilderness.
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7 And
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they returned, and came to En-mishpat,
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which <I>is</I> Kadesh, and smote all the
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country of the Amalekites, and also the
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Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar.
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8 And there went out the
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king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah,
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and the king of Admah, and
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the king of Zeboiim, and the king of
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Bela (the same <I>is</I> Zoar;) and they
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joined battle with them in the vale of
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Siddim;
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9 With Chedorlaomer the
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king of Elam, and with Tidal king of
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nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar,
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and Arioch king of Ellasar; four
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kings with five.
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10 And the vale of
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Siddim <I>was full of</I> slimepits; and
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the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah
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fled, and fell there; and they that remained
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fled to the mountain.
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11 And
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they took all the goods of Sodom and
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Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and
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went their way.
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12 And they took Lot,
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Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in
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Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here an account of the first war
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that ever we read of in scripture, which
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(though the wars of the nations make the
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greatest figure in history) we should not have
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had the history of if Abram and Lot had not
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been concerned in it. Now, concerning this
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war, we may observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. The parties engaged in it. The invaders
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were four kings, two of them no less
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than kings of Shinar and Elam (that is,
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Chaldea and Persia), yet probably not the
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sovereign princes of those great kingdoms in
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their own persons, but either officers under
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them, or rather the heads and leaders of some
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colonies which came out of those great nations,
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and settled themselves near Sodom, but retained
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the names of the countries from which
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they had their origin. The invaded were the
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kings of five cities that lay near together in
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the plain of Jordan, namely, Sodom, Gomorrah,
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Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar. Four of
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them are named, but not the fifth, the king
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of Zoar or Bela, either because he was much
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more mean and inconsiderable or because he
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was much more wicked and inglorious than
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the rest, and worthy to be forgotten.</P>
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<P>
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II. The occasion of this war was the revolt
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of the five kings from under the government
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of Chedorlaomer. Twelve years they served
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him. Small joy they had of their fruitful
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land, while thus they were tributaries to a
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foreign power, and could not call what they
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had their own. Rich countries are a desirable
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prey, and idle luxurious countries are
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an easy prey, to growing greatness. The
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Sodomites were the posterity of Canaan whom
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Noah had pronounced a servant to Shem,
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from whom Elam descended; thus soon did
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that prophecy begin to e fulfilled. In the
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thirteenth year, beginning to be weary of
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their subjection, they rebelled, denied their
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tribute, and attempted to shake off the yoke
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and retrieve their ancient liberties. In the
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fourteenth year, after some pause and preparation,
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Chedorlaomer, in conjunction with
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his allies, set himself to chastise and reduce
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the rebels, and, since he could not have it
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otherwise, to fetch his tribute from them on
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the point of his sword. Note, Pride, covetousness,
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and ambition, are the lusts from
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which wars and fightings come. To these
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insatiable idols the blood of thousands has
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been sacrificed.</P>
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<P>
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III. The progress and success of the war.
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The four kings laid the neighbouring countries
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waste and enriched themselves with the
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spoil of them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:5-7"><I>v.</I> 5-7</A>),
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upon the alarm of
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which it had been the wisdom of the king of
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Sodom to submit, and desire conditions of
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peace; for how could he grapple with an
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enemy thus flushed with victory? But he
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would rather venture the utmost extremity
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than yield, and it sped accordingly. <I>Quos
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Deus destruet eos dementat--Those whom God
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means to destroy he delivers up to infatuation.</I>
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1. The forces of the king of Sodom and his
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allies were routed; and, it should seem, many
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of them perished in the slime-pits who had
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escaped the sword,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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In all places we
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<A NAME="Page95"> </A>
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are surrounded with deaths of various kinds,
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especially in the field of battle.
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2. The cities
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were plundered,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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All the goods of
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Sodom, and particularly their stores and provisions
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of victuals, were carried off by the
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conquerors. Note, When men abuse the
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gifts of a bountiful providence to gluttony
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and excess, it is just with God, and his usual
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way, by some judgment or other to strip
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them of that which they have so abused,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+2:8,9">Hos. ii. 8, 9</A>.
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3. Lot was carried captive,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
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They took Lot among the rest, and his goods.
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Now Lot may here be considered,
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(1.) As
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sharing with his neighbours in this common
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calamity. Though he was himself a righteous
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man, and (which is here expressly noticed)
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Abram's brother's son, yet he was involved
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with the rest in all this trouble. Note, <I>All things
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come alike to all,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+9:2">Eccl. ix. 2</A>.
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The best of
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men cannot promise themselves an exemption
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from the greatest troubles in this life; neither
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from our own piety nor our relation to those that
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are the favourites of heaven will be our security,
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when God's judgments are abroad.
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Note, further, Many an honest man fares the
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worse for his wicked neighbours. It is therefore
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our wisdom to separate ourselves, or at
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least to distinguish ourselves, from them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:17">2 Cor. vi. 17</A>),
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and so deliver ourselves,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+18:4">Rev. xviii. 4</A>.
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(2.) As smarting for the foolish
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choice he made of a settlement here. This
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is plainly intimated when it is said, <I>They took
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Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom.</I>
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So near a relation of Abram should have
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been a companion and disciple of Abram, and
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should have abode by his tents; but, if he
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choose to dwell in Sodom, he must thank
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himself if he share in Sodom's calamities.
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Note, When we go out of the way of our
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duty we put ourselves from under God's protection,
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and cannot expect that the choices
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which are made by our lusts should issue to
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our comfort. Particular mention is made of
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their taking Lot's <I>goods,</I> those goods which
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had occasioned his contest with Abram and
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his separation from him. Note, It is just
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with God to deprive us of those enjoyments
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by which we have suffered ourselves to be
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deprived of our enjoyment of him.</P>
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<A NAME="Ge14_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge14_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge14_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge14_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Lot Taken Captive, and Rescued.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1913.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
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</TABLE>
|
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>13 And there came one that had
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escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew;
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for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre
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the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and
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brother of Aner: and these <I>were</I> confederate
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with Abram.
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14 And when
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Abram heard that his brother was
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taken captive, he armed his trained
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<I>servants,</I> born in his own house, three
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hundred and eighteen, and pursued
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<I>them</I> unto Dan.
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15 And he divided
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himself against them, he and his servants,
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by night, and smote them, and
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pursued them unto Hobah, which <I>is</I>
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on the left hand of Damascus.
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16 And he brought back all the goods,
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and also brought again his brother
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Lot, and his goods, and the women
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also, and the people.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here an account of the only military
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action we ever find Abram engaged in,
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and this he was prompted to, not by his
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avarice or ambition, but purely by a principle
|
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of charity; it was not to enrich himself, but
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to help his friend. Never was any military
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expedition undertaken, prosecuted, and finished,
|
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more honourably than this of Abram's. Here
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we have,</P>
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<P>
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I. The tidings brought him of his kinsman's
|
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distress. Providence so ordered it
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that he now sojourned not far off, that he
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might be a very present help.
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1. He is here
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called <I>Abram the Hebrew,</I> that is, the son and
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follower of Heber, in whose family the profession
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of the true religion was kept up in
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that degenerate age. Abram herein acted
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like a Hebrew--in a manner not unworthy
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of the name and character of a religious professor.
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2. The tidings were brought by one
|
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that had escaped with his life for a prey.
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Probably he was a Sodomite, and as bad as
|
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the worst of them; yet knowing Abram's
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relation to Lot, and concern for him, he implores
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his help, and hopes to speed for Lot's
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sake. Note, The worst of men, in the day
|
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of their trouble, will be glad to claim
|
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acquaintance with those that are wise and
|
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good, and so get an interest in them. The
|
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rich man in hell called Abram <I>Father;</I> and
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the foolish virgins made court to the wise for
|
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a share of their oil.</P>
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<P>
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II. The preparations he made for this expedition.
|
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The cause was plainly good, his
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call to engage in it was clear, and therefore,
|
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with all speed, he <I>armed his trained servants,
|
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born in his house,</I> to the number of <I>three hundred
|
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and eighteen</I>--a great family, but a small
|
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army, about as many as Gideon's that routed
|
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the Midianites,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+7:7">Judg. vii. 7</A>.
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He drew out
|
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his <I>trained</I> servants, or his <I>catechised</I> servants,
|
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not only instructed in the art of war, which
|
|
was then far short of the perfection which
|
|
later and worse ages have improved it to, but
|
|
instructed in the principles of religion; for
|
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Abram commanded his household to keep
|
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the way of the Lord. This shows that Abram
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was,
|
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1. A great man, who had so many servants
|
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depending upon him, and employed by
|
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him, which was not only his strength and
|
|
honour, but gave him a great opportunity of
|
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doing good, which is all that is truly valuable
|
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and desirable in great places and great estates.
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2. A good man, who not only served God
|
|
himself, but instructed all about him in the
|
|
service of God. Note, Those that have great
|
|
families have not only many bodies, but many
|
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souls besides their own, to take care of and
|
|
provide for. Those that would be found the
|
|
followers of Abram must see that their servants
|
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be catechised servants.
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3. A wise man
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Page96"> </A>
|
|
|
|
for, though he was a man of peace, yet he
|
|
disciplined his servants for war, not knowing
|
|
what occasion he might have, some time or
|
|
other, so to employ them. Note, Though our
|
|
holy religion teaches us to be for peace, yet
|
|
it does not forbid us to provide for war.</P>
|
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<P>
|
|
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|
III. His allies and confederates in this expedition.
|
|
He prevailed with his neighbours,
|
|
<I>Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre</I> (with whom he
|
|
kept up a fair correspondence) to go along
|
|
with him. It was his prudence thus to
|
|
strengthen his own troops with their auxiliary
|
|
forces; and probably they saw themselves
|
|
concerned, in interest, to act, as they could,
|
|
against this formidable power, lest their own
|
|
turn should be next. Note,
|
|
|
|
1. It is our wisdom
|
|
and duty to behave ourselves so respectfully
|
|
and obligingly towards all men as that,
|
|
whenever there is occasion, they may be willing
|
|
and ready to do us a kindness.
|
|
|
|
2. Those
|
|
who depend on God's help, yet, in times of
|
|
distress, ought to make use of men's help, as
|
|
Providence offers it; else they tempt God.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. His courage and conduct were very
|
|
remarkable.
|
|
|
|
1. There was a great deal of
|
|
bravery in the enterprise itself, considering
|
|
the disadvantages he lay under. What could
|
|
one family of husbandmen and shepherds do
|
|
against the armies of four princes, who now
|
|
came fresh from blood and victory? It was
|
|
not a vanquished, but a victorious army, that
|
|
he was to pursue; nor was he constrained
|
|
by necessity to this daring attempt, but
|
|
moved to it by generosity; so that, all things
|
|
considered, it was, for aught I know, as great
|
|
an instance of true courage as ever Alexander
|
|
or Caesar was celebrated for. Note, Religion
|
|
tends to make men, not cowardly, but truly
|
|
valiant. The righteous is bold as a lion.
|
|
The true Christian is the true hero.
|
|
|
|
2. There
|
|
was a great deal of policy in the management
|
|
of it. Abram was no stranger to the stratagems
|
|
of war: He <I>divided himself,</I> as Gideon
|
|
did his little army
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+7:16">Judg. vii. 16</A>),
|
|
that he
|
|
might come upon the enemy from several
|
|
quarters at once, and so make his few seem
|
|
a great many; he made his attack by night,
|
|
that he might surprise them. Note, Honest
|
|
policy is a good friend both to our safety and
|
|
to our usefulness. The serpent's head (provided
|
|
it be nothing akin to the old serpent) may
|
|
well become a good Christian's body, especially
|
|
if it have a dove's eye in it,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+10:16">Matt. x. 16</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. His success was very considerable,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:15,16"><I>v.</I> 15, 16</A>.
|
|
He defeated his enemies, and
|
|
rescued his friends; and we do not find that
|
|
he sustained any loss. Note, Those that
|
|
venture in a good cause, with a good heart,
|
|
are under the special protection of a good
|
|
God, and have reason to hope for a good issue.
|
|
Again, It is all one with the Lord <I>to
|
|
save by many or by few,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+14:6">1 Sam. xiv. 6</A>.
|
|
Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. He rescued his kinsman; twice here he
|
|
is called his <I>brother Lot.</I> The remembrance
|
|
of the relation that was between them, both
|
|
by nature and grace, made him forget the
|
|
little quarrel that had been between them, in
|
|
which Lot had by no means acted well towards
|
|
Abram. Justly might Abram have
|
|
upbraided Lot with his folly in quarrelling
|
|
with him and removing from him, and have
|
|
told him that he was well enough served, he
|
|
might have known when he was well off;
|
|
but, in the charitable breast of pious Abram,
|
|
it is all forgiven and forgotten, and he takes
|
|
this opportunity to give a real proof of the
|
|
sincerity of his reconciliation. Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) We ought to be ready, whenever it is in the
|
|
power of our hands, to succour and relieve
|
|
those that are in distress, especially our relations
|
|
and friends. <I>A brother is born for adversity,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+17:17">Prov. xvii. 17</A>.
|
|
A friend in need is a
|
|
friend indeed.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Though others have been
|
|
wanting in their duty to us, yet we must not
|
|
therefore deny our duty to them. Some have
|
|
said that they can more easily forgive their
|
|
enemies than their friends; but we shall see
|
|
ourselves obliged to forgive both if we consider,
|
|
not only that our God, when we were enemies,
|
|
reconciled us, but also that he
|
|
<I>passeth by the transgression of the remnant of
|
|
his heritage,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+7:18">Mic. vii. 18</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He rescued the rest of the captives, for
|
|
Lot's sake, though they were strangers to
|
|
him and such as he was under no obligation
|
|
to at all; nay, though they were Sodomites,
|
|
sinners before the Lord exceedingly, and
|
|
though, probably, he might have recovered
|
|
Lot alone by ransom, yet he brought back
|
|
all the women, and the people, and their goods,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
Note, As we have opportunity we
|
|
must do good to all men. Our charity must
|
|
be extensive, as opportunity offers itself.
|
|
Wherever God gives life, we must not grudge
|
|
the help we can give to support it. God does
|
|
good to the just and unjust, and so must we,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+5:45">Matt. v. 45</A>.
|
|
This victory which Abram obtained
|
|
over the kings the prophet seems to
|
|
refer to,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+41:2">Isa. xli. 2</A>,
|
|
<I>Who raised up the righteous
|
|
man from the east, and made him rule over
|
|
kings?</I> And some suggest that, as before he
|
|
had a title to this land by grant, so now by
|
|
conquest.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ge14_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge14_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge14_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge14_20"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Abram's Interview with Melchizedek.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1913.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>17 And the king of Sodom went
|
|
out to meet him after his return from
|
|
the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of
|
|
the kings that <I>were</I> with him, at the
|
|
valley of Shaveh, which <I>is</I> the king's
|
|
dale.
|
|
18 And Melchizedek king of
|
|
Salem brought forth bread and wine:
|
|
and he <I>was</I> the priest of the most
|
|
high God.
|
|
19 And he blessed him,
|
|
and said, Blessed <I>be</I> Abram of the
|
|
most high God, possessor of heaven
|
|
and earth:
|
|
20 And blessed be the
|
|
most high God, which hath delivered
|
|
thine enemies into thy hand. And
|
|
he gave him tithes of all.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
This paragraph begins with the mention of
|
|
the respect which the king of Sodom paid to
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Page97"> </A>
|
|
|
|
Abram at his return from the slaughter of
|
|
the kings; but, before a particular account is
|
|
given of this, the story of Melchizedek is
|
|
briefly related, concerning whom observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Who he was. He was <I>king of Salem</I>
|
|
and <I>priest of the most high God;</I> and other
|
|
glorious things are said of him,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+7:1-10">Heb. vii. 1</A>,
|
|
&c.
|
|
|
|
1. The rabbin, and most of our rabbinical
|
|
writers, conclude that Melchizedek
|
|
was Shem the son of Noah, who was king
|
|
and priest to those that descended from him,
|
|
according to the patriarchal model. But this
|
|
is not at all probable; for why should his
|
|
name be changed? And how came he to
|
|
settle in Canaan?
|
|
|
|
2. 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 this name,
|
|
as, afterwards, Hagar called him by another
|
|
name,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+16:13"><I>ch.</I> xvi. 13</A>.
|
|
He appeared to him as a
|
|
righteous king, owning a righteous cause,
|
|
and giving peace. It is difficult to imagine
|
|
that any mere man should be said to <I>be without
|
|
father, without mother, and without descent,
|
|
having neither beginning of days nor end of
|
|
life,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+7:3">Heb. vii. 3</A>.
|
|
It is witnessed of Melchizedek
|
|
that he liveth, and that he abideth a
|
|
priest continually
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+7:3,8"><I>v.</I> 3, 8</A>);
|
|
nay
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+7:13,14"><I>v.</I> 13, 14</A>),
|
|
the apostle makes him of whom these things
|
|
are spoken to be our Lord who sprang out
|
|
of Judah. It is likewise difficult to think
|
|
that any mere man should, at this time, be
|
|
greater than Abram in the things of God,
|
|
that Christ should be a priest after the order
|
|
of any mere man, and that any human priesthood
|
|
should so far excel that of Aaron as it
|
|
is certain that Melchizedek's did.
|
|
|
|
3. The
|
|
most commonly received opinion is that Melchizedek
|
|
was a Canaanitish prince, that
|
|
reigned in Salem, and kept up the true religion
|
|
there; but, if so, why his name should
|
|
occur here only in all the story of Abram,
|
|
and why Abram should have altars of his
|
|
own and not attend the altars of his neighbour
|
|
Melchizedek who was greater than he,
|
|
seem unaccountable. Mr. Gregory of Oxford
|
|
tells us that the <I>Arabic Catena,</I> which he builds
|
|
much upon the authority of, gives this account
|
|
of Melchizedek, That he was the son of Heraclim,
|
|
the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, and that
|
|
his mother's name was Salathiel, the daughter
|
|
of Gomer, the son of Japheth, the son of Noah.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. What he did. 1. He <I>brought forth
|
|
bread and wine,</I> for the refreshment of Abram
|
|
and his soldiers, and in congratulation of
|
|
their victory. This he did as a king, teaching
|
|
us to do good and to communicate, and
|
|
to be given to hospitality, according to our
|
|
ability; and representing the spiritual provisions
|
|
of strength and comfort which Christ
|
|
has laid up for us in the covenant of
|
|
grace for our refreshment, when we are wearied
|
|
with our spiritual conflicts.
|
|
|
|
2. As priest of
|
|
the most high God, he blessed Abram, which
|
|
we may suppose a greater refreshment to
|
|
Abram than his bread and wine were. Thus
|
|
God, having raised up his Son Jesus, has
|
|
sent him to bless us, as one having authority;
|
|
and those whom he blesses are blessed indeed.
|
|
Christ went to heaven when he was
|
|
blessing his disciples
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+24:51">Luke xxiv. 51</A>);
|
|
for this is what he ever lives to do.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. What he said,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:19,20"><I>v.</I> 19, 20</A>.
|
|
Two things were said by him:--
|
|
|
|
1. He blessed Abram
|
|
from God: <I>Blessed be Abram, blessed of the
|
|
most high God,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
Observe the titles he
|
|
here gives to God, which are very glorious.
|
|
|
|
(1.) <I>The most high God,</I> which bespeaks his
|
|
absolute perfections in himself and his sovereign
|
|
dominion over all the creatures; he is
|
|
King of kings. Note, It will greatly help
|
|
both our faith and our reverence in prayer
|
|
to eye God as the most high God, and to call
|
|
him so.
|
|
|
|
(2.) <I>Possessor of heaven and earth,</I>
|
|
that is, rightful owner, and sovereign Lord,
|
|
of all the creatures, because he made them.
|
|
This bespeaks him a great God, and greatly
|
|
to be praised
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+24:1">Ps. xxiv. 1</A>),
|
|
and those a happy
|
|
people who have an interest in his favour and
|
|
love.
|
|
|
|
2. He blessed God for Abram
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>):
|
|
and <I>blessed be the most high God.</I> Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) In all our prayers, we must praise God, and
|
|
join hallelujahs with all our hosannahs. These
|
|
are the spiritual sacrifices we must offer up
|
|
daily, and upon particular occasions.
|
|
|
|
(2.) God, as the most high God, must have the
|
|
glory of all our victories,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+17:15,1Sa+7:10,12,Jdg+5:1,2,2Ch+20:21">Exod. xvii. 15; 1 Sam. vii. 10, 12; Judg. v. 1, 2; 2 Chron. xx. 21</A>.
|
|
In them he shows himself higher
|
|
than our enemies
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:11">Exod. xviii. 11</A>),
|
|
and higher
|
|
than we; for without him we could do nothing.
|
|
|
|
(3.) We ought to give thanks for
|
|
others' mercies as for our own, triumphing
|
|
with those that triumph.
|
|
|
|
(4.) Jesus Christ,
|
|
our great high priest, is the Mediator both of
|
|
our prayers and praises, and not only offers
|
|
up ours, but his own for us. See
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+10:21">Luke x. 21</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. What was done to him: <I>Abram gave
|
|
him tithes of all,</I> that is, of the spoils,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+7:4">Heb. vii. 4</A>.
|
|
This may be looked upon,
|
|
|
|
1. As a
|
|
gratuity presented to Melchizedek, by way
|
|
of return for his tokens of respect. Note,
|
|
Those that receive kindness should show
|
|
kindness. Gratitude is one of nature's laws.
|
|
|
|
2. As an offering vowed and dedicated to
|
|
the most high God, and therefore put into
|
|
the hands of Melchizedek his priest. Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) When we have received some signal
|
|
mercy from God, it is very fit that we should
|
|
express our thankfulness by some special
|
|
act of pious charity. God must always have
|
|
his dues out of our substance, especially
|
|
when, by any particular providence, he has
|
|
either preserved or increased it to us.
|
|
|
|
(2.) That the tenth of our increase is a very fit
|
|
proportion to be set apart for the honour of
|
|
God and the service of his sanctuary.
|
|
|
|
(3.) That Jesus Christ, our great Melchizedek, is
|
|
to have homage done him, and to be humbly
|
|
acknowledged by every one of us as our
|
|
king and priest; and not only the tithe of
|
|
all, but all we have, must be surrendered
|
|
and given up to him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ge14_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge14_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge14_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge14_24"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Abram's Disinterestedness.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1913.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>21 And the king of Sodom said unto
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Page98"> </A>
|
|
|
|
Abram, Give me the persons, and take
|
|
the goods to thyself.
|
|
22 And Abram
|
|
said to the king of Sodom, I have
|
|
lift up mine hand unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>,
|
|
the most high God, the possessor
|
|
of heaven and earth,
|
|
23 That I will
|
|
not <I>take</I> from a thread even to a
|
|
shoelatchet, and that I will not take
|
|
any thing that <I>is</I> thine, lest thou
|
|
shouldest say, I have made Abram
|
|
rich:
|
|
24 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.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here an account of what passed
|
|
between Abram and the king of Sodom, who
|
|
succeeded him that fell in the battle
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
|
|
and thought himself obliged to do this honour
|
|
to Abram, in return for the good services
|
|
he had done him. Here is,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The king of Sodom's grateful offer to
|
|
Abram
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>):
|
|
<I>Give me the soul, and take
|
|
thou the substance;</I> so the Hebrew reads it.
|
|
Here he fairly begs the persons, but as freely
|
|
bestows the goods on Abram. Note,
|
|
|
|
1. Where a right is dubious and divided, it is
|
|
wisdom to compound the matter by mutual
|
|
concessions rather than to contend. The
|
|
king of Sodom had an original right both to
|
|
the persons and to the goods, and it would
|
|
bear a debate whether Abram's acquired
|
|
right by rescue would supersede his title and
|
|
extinguish it; but, to prevent all quarrels,
|
|
the king of Sodom makes this fair proposal.
|
|
|
|
2. Gratitude teaches us to recompense to
|
|
the utmost of our power those that have undergone
|
|
fatigues, run hazards, and been at
|
|
expense for our service and benefit. <I>Who
|
|
goes a warfare at his own charges?</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+9:7">1 Cor. ix. 7</A>.
|
|
Soldiers purchase their pay dearer
|
|
than any labourers, and are well worthy of
|
|
it, because they expose their lives.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Abram's generous refusal of this offer.
|
|
He not only resigned the persons to him,
|
|
who, being delivered out of the hand of their
|
|
enemies, ought to have served Abram, but
|
|
he restored all the goods too. He would not
|
|
take <I>from a thread to a shoe-latchet,</I> not the
|
|
least thing that had ever belonged to the
|
|
king of Sodom or any of his. Note, A
|
|
lively faith enables a man to look upon the
|
|
wealth of this world with a holy contempt,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+5:4">1 John v. 4</A>.
|
|
What are all the ornaments
|
|
and delights of sense to one that has God
|
|
and heaven ever in his eye? He resolves
|
|
even to a thread and a shoe-latchet; for a
|
|
tender conscience fears offending in a small
|
|
matter. Now,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Abram ratifies this resolution with a
|
|
solemn oath: <I>I have lifted up my hand to the
|
|
Lord that I will not take any thing,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
Here observe,
|
|
|
|
(1.) The titles he gives to God,
|
|
<I>The most high God, the possessor of heaven
|
|
and earth,</I> the same that Melchizedek had
|
|
just now used,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
Note, It is good to
|
|
learn of others how to order our speech concerning
|
|
God, and to imitate those who speak
|
|
well in divine things. This improvement we
|
|
are to make of the conversation of devout
|
|
good men, we must learn to speak after them.
|
|
|
|
(2.) The ceremony used in this oath: <I>I have
|
|
lifted up my hand.</I> In religious swearing we
|
|
appeal to God's knowledge of our truth and
|
|
sincerity and imprecate his wrath if we swear
|
|
falsely, and the <I>lifting up of the hand</I> is very
|
|
significant and expressive of both.
|
|
|
|
(3.) The
|
|
matter of the oath, namely, that he would
|
|
not take any reward from the king of Sodom,
|
|
was lawful, but what he was not antecedently
|
|
obliged to.
|
|
|
|
[1.] Probably Abram vowed,
|
|
before he went to the battle, that, if God
|
|
would give him success, he would, for the
|
|
glory of God and the credit of his profession,
|
|
so far deny himself and his own right as to
|
|
take nothing of the spoils to himself. Note,
|
|
the vows we have made when we are in
|
|
pursuit of a mercy must be carefully and
|
|
conscientiously kept when we have obtained
|
|
the mercy, though they were made against
|
|
our interest. A citizen of Zion, if he has
|
|
sworn, whether it be to God or man, though
|
|
it prove to <I>his own hurt, yet he changeth not,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+15:4">Ps. xv. 4</A>.
|
|
Or,
|
|
|
|
[2.] Perhaps Abram, now
|
|
when he saw cause to refuse the offer made
|
|
him, at the same time confirmed his refusal
|
|
with this oath, to prevent further importunity.
|
|
Note, <I>First,</I> There may be good reason
|
|
sometimes why we should debar ourselves of
|
|
that which is our undoubted right, as St.
|
|
Paul,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+8:13,1Co+9:12">1 Cor. viii. 13; ix. 12</A>.
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> That
|
|
strong resolutions are of good use to put by
|
|
the force of temptations.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He backs his refusal with a good reason:
|
|
<I>Lest thou shouldest say, I have made
|
|
Abram rich,</I> which would reflect reproach,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Upon the promise and covenant of God,
|
|
as if they would not have enriched Abram
|
|
without the spoils of Sodom. And,
|
|
|
|
(2.) Upon the piety and charity of Abram, as if
|
|
all he had in his eye, when he undertook
|
|
that hazardous expedition, was to enrich
|
|
himself. Note,
|
|
|
|
[1.] We must be very careful
|
|
that we give no occasion to others to
|
|
say things which they ought not.
|
|
|
|
[2.] The
|
|
people of God must, for their credit's sake,
|
|
take heed of doing any thing that looks mean
|
|
or mercenary, or that savours of covetousness
|
|
and self-seeking. Probably Abram knew
|
|
the king of Sodom to be a proud and scornful
|
|
man, and one that would be apt to turn
|
|
such a thing as this to his reproach afterwards,
|
|
though most unreasonably. When
|
|
we have to do with such men, we have need
|
|
to act with particular caution.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. He limits his refusal with a double proviso,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
|
In making vows, we ought carefully
|
|
to insert the necessary exceptions, that
|
|
we may not afterwards say before the angel,
|
|
<I>It was an error,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+5:6">Eccl. v. 6</A>.
|
|
Abram here
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Page99"> </A>
|
|
|
|
excepts, (1.) The food of his soldiers; they
|
|
were worthy of their meat while they trod
|
|
out the corn. This would give no colour to
|
|
the king of Sodom to say that he had enriched
|
|
Abram.
|
|
|
|
(2.) The shares of his allies
|
|
and confederates: <I>Let them take their portion.</I>
|
|
Note, Those who are strict in restraining
|
|
their own liberty yet ought not to impose
|
|
those restraints upon the liberties of others,
|
|
nor to judge of them accordingly. We
|
|
must not make ourselves the standard to
|
|
measure others by. A good man will deny
|
|
himself that liberty which he will not deny
|
|
another, contrary to the practice of the Pharisees,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+23:4">Matt. xxiii. 4</A>.
|
|
There was not the
|
|
same reason why Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre,
|
|
should quit their right, that there was why
|
|
Abram should. They did not make the
|
|
profession that he made, nor were they, as
|
|
he was, under the obligation of a vow. They
|
|
had not the hopes that Abram had of a portion
|
|
in the other world, and therefore, by all
|
|
means, <I>let them take their portion</I> of this.</P>
|
|
|
|
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