that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich.' that I will not acceptThis phrase underscores Abram's firm resolve and integrity. The Hebrew root for "accept" is "laqach," which means to take or receive. Abram's refusal to take anything from the king of Sodom highlights his desire to rely solely on God's provision rather than human generosity. This decision reflects a deep trust in God's promises and a commitment to maintaining his witness and testimony before others. even a thread
The mention of a "thread" signifies the smallest and most insignificant item. In the ancient Near Eastern context, this hyperbolic expression emphasizes Abram's determination to avoid any appearance of impropriety or indebtedness. It illustrates his commitment to purity and independence, ensuring that his wealth and success are attributed solely to God's blessing. or a strap of a sandal
A "strap of a sandal" further emphasizes the minimal value of what Abram refuses to accept. Sandals were common footwear in the ancient world, and their straps were essential yet mundane components. By refusing even this, Abram demonstrates his complete rejection of any association with the king of Sodom's wealth, reinforcing his reliance on divine provision. or anything that belongs to you
This phrase broadens the scope of Abram's refusal, indicating that he will not take anything from the king of Sodom. The Hebrew word "kol" (anything) signifies totality, underscoring Abram's comprehensive rejection of any potential claim the king might have over him. This decision reflects Abram's desire to maintain his integrity and independence. lest you should say
Abram anticipates the potential for the king of Sodom to claim credit for his prosperity. The phrase "lest you should say" reveals Abram's foresight and wisdom in avoiding any situation that might compromise his testimony. It highlights the importance of maintaining a clear and unblemished witness before others, ensuring that God alone receives the glory. ‘I have made Abram rich.’
This statement encapsulates the potential boast of the king of Sodom. Abram's refusal to accept anything ensures that his wealth and success are attributed solely to God's blessing. This decision reflects a profound understanding of God's sovereignty and a commitment to giving God the glory for all achievements. Abram's actions serve as an example of faithfulness and reliance on God's promises, inspiring believers to trust in God's provision and maintain their integrity in all circumstances. Persons / Places / Events 1. Abram (Abraham)The central figure in this passage, Abram is a man of faith and the recipient of God's promises. Here, he demonstrates integrity and reliance on God rather than human wealth. 2. King of SodomRepresents worldly wealth and temptation. He offers Abram the spoils of war, which Abram refuses to accept. 3. MelchizedekAlthough not directly mentioned in this verse, he is a key figure in the preceding verses, blessing Abram and offering bread and wine, symbolizing spiritual provision. 4. SodomA city known for its wickedness, representing worldly temptation and moral compromise. 5. The Spoils of WarThe material wealth offered to Abram by the King of Sodom, which Abram refuses to accept to maintain his testimony and reliance on God. Teaching Points Integrity and TestimonyAbram's refusal to accept wealth from the King of Sodom highlights the importance of maintaining integrity and a clear testimony before others. Believers should prioritize their witness over material gain. Dependence on GodAbram's actions demonstrate a profound trust in God's provision. Christians are encouraged to rely on God's promises rather than seeking security in worldly wealth. Avoiding CompromiseBy refusing the spoils, Abram avoids any association with the wickedness of Sodom. Believers should be cautious of compromising their values for temporary gains. Spiritual vs. Material WealthAbram's encounter with Melchizedek and his refusal of the King of Sodom's offer illustrate the priority of spiritual blessings over material wealth. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Abram's refusal of the King of Sodom's offer reflect his faith in God's promises, and how can we apply this principle in our own lives? 2. In what ways does the account of Abram and the King of Sodom challenge us to evaluate our own sources of security and provision? 3. How can Abram's decision to refuse the spoils of war serve as a model for maintaining integrity in our personal and professional lives? 4. What are some modern-day "spoils" that might tempt us to compromise our values, and how can we resist these temptations? 5. How does the interaction between Abram and Melchizedek in the broader context of Genesis 14 inform our understanding of spiritual versus material wealth? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 12:1-3God's promise to Abram to make him a great nation and bless him, highlighting Abram's reliance on God's provision rather than human wealth. Hebrews 7:1-10Discusses Melchizedek's role and Abram's tithe to him, emphasizing spiritual over material wealth. Matthew 6:19-21Jesus' teaching on storing treasures in heaven rather than on earth, paralleling Abram's choice to refuse earthly riches. 1 Timothy 6:10Warns against the love of money, which aligns with Abram's refusal to be enriched by the King of Sodom. People Abram, Amalekites, Amorites, Amraphel, Aner, Arioch, Bela, Bera, Birsha, Chedorlaomer, Dan, Elam, Emites, Eshcol, Ham, Horites, Lot, Mamre, Melchisedec, Melchizedek, Rephaites, Seir, Shemeber, Shinab, Tamar, Tidal, Zoar, Zuzims, ZuzitesPlaces Admah, Ashteroth-karnaim, Bela, Damascus, Dan, Elam, Ellasar, El-paran, En-mishpat, Gomorrah, Ham, Hazazon-tamar, Kadesh-barnea, King's Valley, Oaks of Mamre, Salem, Salt Sea, Seir, Shaveh-kiriathaim, Shinar, Sodom, Valley of Shaveh, Valley of Siddim, Zeboiim, ZoarTopics Able, Abram, Anything, Aught, Belonging, Cord, Fear, Hast, Lest, Mayest, Nothing, Rich, Sandal, Sandal-thong, Shoe, Shoelatchet, Shoe-latchet, Shouldest, Strap, Thong, Thread, Wealth, Yes, YoursDictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 14:23 8780 materialism, and sin Genesis 14:1-24 4224 cities of the plain Genesis 14:18-23 4055 heaven and earth Genesis 14:22-23 5414 money, stewardship
8650 hands, lifting up Genesis 14:22-24 5077 Abraham, character
5468 promises, human Genesis 14:23-24 6604 acceptance, human Library An Example of Faith
'Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureJerusalem
The first name of this city was Shalem, Genesis 14:18, Psalm 76:2, and it is still retained in the writing, however it is read Jerushalaim. "The name of that place is Jehovah-jireh. Abraham called the place Jireh; Shem called it Shalem. Saith God, If I shall call it Jireh, it will displease Shem the Just; if I shall call it Shalem, it will displease Abraham the Just. I will therefore put that name upon it which was put upon it by both, Jireh, Shalem,--Jerusalem."--"We do not, therefore, put Jod between …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Meditations for Household Piety.
1. If thou be called to the government of a family, thou must not hold it sufficient to serve God and live uprightly in thy own person, unless thou cause all under thy charge to do the same with thee. For the performance of this duty God was so well pleased with Abraham, that he would not hide from him his counsel: "For," saith God, "I know him that he will command his sons and his household after him that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Tithing
"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Mal. 3:10). Down deep in the heart of every Christian there is undoubtedly the conviction that he ought to tithe. There is an uneasy feeling that this is a duty which has been neglected, or, if you prefer it, a privilege that has not been …
Arthur W. Pink—Tithing Bethphage
There is very frequent mention of this place in the Talmudists: and, certainly, a more careful comparison of the maps with those things which are said by them of the situation of this place is worthy to be made; when they place it in mount Olivet, these make it contiguous to the buildings of Jerusalem. I. In the place cited in the margin, the case "of a stubborn judge" (or elder) is handling. For when, by the prescript of the law, difficult matters, and such things as concerning which the lower councils …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
SYRIA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE EGYPTIAN CONQUEST NINEVEH AND THE FIRST COSSAEAN KINGS-THE PEOPLES OF SYRIA, THEIR TOWNS, THEIR CIVILIZATION, THEIR RELIGION-PHOENICIA. The dynasty of Uruazagga-The Cossseans: their country, their gods, their conquest of Chaldaea-The first sovereigns of Assyria, and the first Cossaean Icings: Agumhakrime. The Egyptian names for Syria: Khara, Zahi, Lotanu, Kefatiu-The military highway from the Nile to the Euphrates: first section from Zalu to Gaza-The Canaanites: …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 4 Moses and his Writings
[Illustration: (drop cap W) Clay letter tablet of Moses' time.] We now begin to understand a little of the very beginning of God's Book--of the times in which it was written, the materials used by its first author, and the different kinds of writing from which he had to choose; but we must go a step farther. How much did Moses know about the history of his forefathers, Abraham and Jacob, and of all the old nations and kings mentioned in Genesis, before God called him to the great work of writing …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making The Pioneer's Influence Upon a Nation's Ideals.
ABRAHAM, THE TRADITIONAL FATHER OF HIS RACE.--Gen. 12:1-8; 13:1-13; 16; 18, 19; 21:7; 22:1-19. Parallel Readings. Hist. Bible I, 73-94. Prin of Pol., 160-175. Jehovah said to Abraham, Go forth from thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, to the land that I will show thee, that I may make of thee a great nation; and I will surely bless thee, and make thy name great, so that thou shalt be a blessing, I will also bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will …
Charles Foster Kent—The Making of a Nation The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
Syria: the part played by it in the ancient world--Babylon and the first Chaldaean empire--The dominion of the Hyksos: Ahmosis. Some countries seem destined from their origin to become the battle-fields of the contending nations which environ them. Into such regions, and to their cost, neighbouring peoples come from century to century to settle their quarrels and bring to an issue the questions of supremacy which disturb their little corner of the world. The nations around are eager for the possession …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 4 The Gospel Feast
"When Jesus then lifted up His eyes, and saw a great company come unto Him, He saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat?"--John vi. 5. After these words the Evangelist adds, "And this He said to prove him, for He Himself knew what He would do." Thus, you see, our Lord had secret meanings when He spoke, and did not bring forth openly all His divine sense at once. He knew what He was about to do from the first, but He wished to lead forward His disciples, and to arrest and …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII The Promise to the Patriarchs.
A great epoch is, in Genesis, ushered in with the history of the time of the Patriarchs. Luther says: "This is the third period in which Holy Scripture begins the history of the Church with a new family." In a befitting manner, the representation is opened in Gen. xii. 1-3 by an account of the first revelation of God, given to Abraham at Haran, in which the way is opened up for all that follows, and in which the dispensations of God are brought before us in a rapid survey. Abraham is to forsake …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Tithing
There are few subjects on which the Lord's own people are more astray than on the subject of giving. They profess to take the Bible as their own rule of faith and practice, and yet in the matter of Christian finance, the vast majority have utterly ignored its plain teachings and have tried every substitute the carnal mind could devise; therefore it is no wonder that the majority of Christian enterprises in the world today are handicapped and crippled through the lack of funds. Is our giving to be …
Arthur W. Pink—Tithing The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
WHEREIN ITS GOODLY LIGHT, WALLS, GATES, ANGELS, AND THE MANNER OF THEIR STANDING, ARE EXPOUNDED: ALSO HER LENGTH AND BREADTH, TOGETHER WITH THE GOLDEN MEASURING-REED EXPLAINED: AND THE GLORY OF ALL UNFOLDED. AS ALSO THE NUMEROUSNESS OF ITS INHABITANTS; AND WHAT THE TREE AND WATER OF LIFE ARE, BY WHICH THEY ARE SUSTAINED. 'Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.'-Psalm 87:3 'And the name of the city from that day shall be, THE LORD IS THERE.'-Ezekiel 48:35 London: Printed in the year 1665 …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Genesis 14:23 NIVGenesis 14:23 NLTGenesis 14:23 ESVGenesis 14:23 NASBGenesis 14:23 KJV
Genesis 14:23 Commentaries
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