In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, 2 these kings 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).
Before we read further, take a look at the map above. Understand that Shinar is in a familiar place at the northern ports of the Persian Gulf, Iraq. Elam would be in southwest modern Iran. Goiim to the north would be in modern day Turkey. Elasar may have spanned from ancient Haran in the east to modern Aleppo, Syria in the west. The Salt Sea (Dead Sea) is clearly visible west of Shaveh-Kiriathaim, Israel.
3 And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 4 Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness. 7 Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh) and defeated all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who were dwelling in Hazazon-tamar.
8 Then 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 they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim 9 with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five…
11 So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. 12 They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.
14 When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
15 And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.
Sheik Abram – a war in the promised land
Once again, Abraham is a prince in the promised land. He has riches. And Abraham has 318 trained men, men who are more than servants or family members; they are a guard or small army at the command of their sheik and prince. Abraham was called by the Living God to a journey – not an easy journey – to the promised land, to war, to the land of Egypt beyond and back.
Look once more at places familiar to us. Consider the extent, time and trouble of the journey of God’s calling. In a place where Abraham won a victory with allies of other princes he remembers the Most High God who sent him.
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.)
Remember, Salem is in the place of Jerusalem. (The Valley of Shaveh and meeting are the subject of the map for these three posts about Abraham and Melchizedek, who then blessed Abraham.)
19 And he blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
To the victor goes the spoils
Why would Abraham give a tribute to Melchizedek? Is it the same tribute these kings were forced to pay for the 13 years before their rebellion by the occupying king of Elam (that distant kingdom which would become Persia)? And reading on, why did the king of Sodom want to take the captives and give Abram the captured riches?
Abraham refuses to take his rightful spoil of the victory, “lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’”
Abraham walks away from this major battle with nothing. Furthermore, Abram gave a tenth to Melchizedek, a man who holds a distinction different from all the other kings.
And Melchizedek king of Salem… was priest of God Most High.
The faith of father Abraham
Abraham is held in high honor as a father of three faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Though these faiths differ in many important points, all have in common worship of the One True God.
This is the first mention in the Bible of a priest. The celebration of a priest with bread and wine occurs numerous times throughout history. Its significance cannot go unnoticed. Melchizedek was a king and priest.
Those who do not believe in the One True God have no concern about the Christ or a priest or a father of three faiths. May God have mercy on their souls at the judgment.
A Jew may hold Abraham or Moses in reverence. Yet they worship the One True God. A Muslim may hold Muhammad as a prophet, but it is the One True God to whom they bow down.
We do not worship the place of Jerusalem or Salem or Mecca or Nazareth. No place is more holy than the Living God! It is not the priest or king, the sheikh or prophet, the mother or ancestor who is to be worshipped. We worship the Living God!
The Lord God is One. Abraham worshiped the LORD. Jesus worshiped the Lord God our Father, with whom He IS One, with the Holy Spirit! Even more than Melchizedek or any priest, king or prophet, it is a great mystery of faith.
Do you worship the LORD? Have you given the LORD due tribute? Have you given the LORD your heart and soul – your life eternal?
I pray that by the mystery of the Holy Spirit the LORD will touch your heart and guide your journey, as with Abraham, who was: “Blessed by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth.”
Amen.
2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the Lord. 5 And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6 so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, 7 and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land.
