Bible Commentaries

And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of ^a Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of ^b nations;

(a) That is, of Babylon: by kings here, meaning, them that were governors of cities.

(b) Of a people gathered from various countries.

All these were ^c joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the ^d salt sea.

(c) Ambition is the chief cause of wars among princes.

(d) Called also the dead sea, or the lake Asphaltite, near Sodom and Gomorrah.

And the ^e vale of Siddim [was full of] slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.

(e) And afterward was overwhelmed with water, and so was called the salt sea.

And they ^f took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

(f) The godly are plagued many times with the wicked: therefore their company is dangerous.

And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these [were] ^g confederate with Abram.

(g) God removed them to join Abram, and preserves him from their idolatry and superstitions.

And Melchizedek king of Salem ^h brought forth bread and wine: and he [was] the priest of the most high God.

(h) For Abram and his soldiers refreshment, not to offer sacrifice.

And he ⁱ blessed him, and said, Blessed [be] Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

(i) Melchizedek fed Abram, declared himself to represent a king, and he blessed him as the high priest.

^k 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.

(k) He did not want his liberality to be hurtful to others.