Genesis Chapter 13-14
The Story of Abraham
Since the story of Abraham actually covers Genesis chapters 12-22, at this point we will stop and give an overview of where we are going before going through chapter 13 and 14.
I. Israel's understanding of God as a deity who reveals himself in history has far-reaching implications for ancient Israel.
A. Statements in Deuteronomy 32:7 and Psalms 78:5-6 command the people to recall their history. It is no surprise then that the biblical books developed as they did, especially the great narrative that commences with Genesis and continues through Kings presenting the entire story and history of Abraham through the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.
B. As indicated, that history begins with the personality of Abraham and it is to his story which commences at the end of Genesis 11 and the beginning of Genesis 12 to which we now turn.
II. According to Dr. Rendsburg, we now enter the section of the story that uses several literary devices.
A. The story begins with a conflict between the statement that Sarah was barren (11:30) and the promise by God that Abraham would be a great nation (12:2). All literature is driven by conflict in one way or another. Conflict creates drama! In this case the reader wishes to read on to see how the conflict between the promise from on high (12:2) and the facts on the ground (11:30) will be resolved.
B. Note the verbs predicated of Abraham in verses 4-5:"went forth" and "took." We should expect to find these two verses in reverse oder. But the story writer narrates the tale in a dis-chronological fashion in order to emphasize the point that Abraham immediately followed God's command. God told Abraham to "go forth" in verse 1 and Abraham immediately obeyed in verse 4 as indicated by the verb "went forth."
III. The Abraham story brings a host of potential heirs into the picture.
A. First, we are directed to focus attention on Lot, but he is a nephew. Thus, we ask ourselves: Can he count as offspring? Perhaps, but then Lot departs in Genesis 13.
B. We next are introduced to Eliezer, an adopted son (to be discussed further). Is he the one? The answer is no, because as soon as Eliezer is introduced in Genesis 15, We are told that he will not be Abraham's heir.
C. At last, after much travail, Abraham gains a natural born son-Ishmael, son of Hagar, a servant woman presented to Abraham by Sarah.
D. But wait, in Genesis 21 another son is born to Abraham. Isaac, son of Sarah, confirming the more specific promise made to Abraham in Genesis 17 that Sarah would bear him a son---especially noteworthy.
IV. God makes two interconnected promises to Abraham.
A. God promises Abraham the land of Canaan.
B. God also promises that Abraham shall have an offspring.
V. The stage is too crowded, with Abraham, Sarah, Ishmael, and Isaac all present: thus, there is a literary need to remove several characters.
A. Hagar and Ishmael depart in Genesis 21
B. Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac remain toward the story's end, though this scene will be challenged with God's command to sacrifice Isaac in Genesis 22.
Genesis 13
Abram and Lot
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1So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, he and his wife and all that belonged to him, and Lot with him. 2Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver and in gold. 3He went on his journeys from the Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4to the place of the altar which he had made there formerly; and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. 5Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6And the land could not sustain them while dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together. 7And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock Now the Canaanite and the Perizzite were dwelling then in the land. 8So Abram said to Lot, "Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. 9"Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left." 10Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere--this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah--like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. 11So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other. 12Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom. 13Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the LORD. 14The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; 15for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever. 16"I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered. 17"Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for Iwill give it to you." 18Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD. |
Genesis 13:5-19:38 and the Lot Narratives
13:5-18
I. This section of text is shaped around the idea of "separation" more so than earlier texts. (vv.9,11,14). Also, once again we have a sub-theme of "promise" (vv.14-17). In fact, promise goes with separation. Abraham was "separated from the nations" (10:32) and his father's house (12:1) and now from Lot and later from Isaac (22:15-18).
II. Now Abraham tries to give the promised land away. See v.9.
A. Later on, Lot is shown to be the father of the Ammonites and the Moabites (19:37-38). These people in the author's own day were obstacles to Israel and the promise (see Num.22-25 and Deut. 23:3).
B. But "Lot" chose to go East.
III. A preview of coming attractions. The land Abraham chose was like the "garden of the Lord" and "land of Egypt." The land chosen by Lot was "toward "Zoar." This is the city that Lot will flee to for safety (19:22).
A. Notice, this story was written "after the fact" (see v.10b.), "before the Lord destroyed Sodom." But this is on purpose. Those who separate from God (Abraham) will wander in wickedness.
B. Verses 12:1-9 show Abraham traveling throughout the land of Canaan and building an Altar.
C. Abraham receives it a second time (see vs.14-18).
Genesis 14
War of the Kings
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1And it came about in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, 2that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3All these came as allies to the valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 4Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim and the Zuzim in Ham and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6and the Horites in their Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is by the wilderness. 7Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and conquered all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, who lived in Hazazon-tamar. 8And the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah and the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they arrayed for battle against them in the valley of Siddim, 9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim and Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar--four kings against five. 10Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell into them But those who survived fled to the hill country. 11Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply, and departed. 12They also took Lot, Abram's nephew, and his possessions and departed, for he was living in Sodom. |
Genesis 14:1-12
I. Chapter 14:1-4, the first recorded Middle East War!
A. Amraphel (Sancript for keeper of the gods).
B. King of Shinar (Hebrew Babel) Aramaic (Bagdad) According to Pontus the successor of Nimrod.
C. Arioch (Sanscrit, Arjake means the venerated one).
D. King of Ellasar. A town in lower Babylon.
E. Chedorlaomer "a hand full of sheaves" or "the ravenger of the west."
F. King of Elam, East of Babylon, near Persian Gulf.
G. Tidal "fear and worship."
H. King of Nations, Nomadic Tribes.
II. Made War! ( V.2)
A. With Bera or place of lime? Sodom
B. And with Birsha means "son of wickedness" (Gomorrah).
C. Sinab "fathers tooth"
D. King of Admah "Fruit region or farm city"
E. Shemeber "soaring aloft"
F. King of Zeboiim "place of the hyenas" or wild place
G. And the king of Bela "Devoured"
H. Which is Zoar "The small."
III. All of these came to gather at the Dead Sea, V.3
A. V.4, there is a rebellion against Chedorlaomer
B. V.5 Now we are back to those giants. The Rephaims (LXX) Γΐγαντασ --a tribe of gigantic stature (from the Arabic root to be high) the iron bed of whose last King, Og measured nine yards in length and four in breadth (Duet. iii.11); also see chapter 2:20.
C. In Ashteroth Karnaim (between Two Horns). (v.5)
The Zuzims, mentioned again in Deut. ii.20)
In Ham----ancient name for the Ammonities
The Eminms---Fearful and terrible men also called Rephims, as being colossal stature.
Shaveh Kiriathaim---the plain between two cities.
D. And the Horites---literally the cave dwellers
III. Enmishpat---the well of judgment. (v.7) Now these kings are conquering all. Even the Amalekites (Amalek was a grandson of Esau (ch.36:12).
E.( 9-12) The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah join battle with the other kings and are routed. Sodom And Gomorrah are sacked and Lot is stolen on the way home.
Abraham to the Rescue 13-
I. Abraham gathers an army 13-16
A. Abraham rescues Lot and returns home.
1. vs. 17-20 Abraham is meet by two kings in the "Valley of Shaveh" (Valley of Kings).
2. At the moment we dwell on Melchizedek!
I. Hebrews chapter 7: 1-3
Melchizedek's Priesthood Like Christ's
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1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. 3Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually. |
III. Christ is a perpetual High Priest. See Melchizedek in Psalms 110.
A. What was the bread and wine brought forth by the Priest? (Gen. 14:18-20).
B. Cyprian, Epistle 62:4, bread and wine was a type Lord's supper (A.D. 246 cf.).
C. Verse 2, Melchizedek was the prince of peace and the prince of righteousness.
D. Verse 3, Melchizedek had no birth. Melchizdek had no death. He just suddenly appeared as a man. He as the King of Salem and the Priest of the Most High God. He has no beginning and no end.
E. Who is Melchizedek?
IV. Why do you think that God did not want Abraham to receive any property?
(The answer is found in Acts 7:5). Abraham was not to be viewed by later generations in a materialistic manner.
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13Then a fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew Now he was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner, and these were allies with Abram. 14When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. 16He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the people. |
God's Promise to Abram
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17Then
after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who
were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the
valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). 18AndMelchizedek
king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of
God Most High. 19He blessed him and said, 21The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give the people to me and take the goods for yourself." 22Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have sworn to the LORD God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, 23that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, 'I have made Abram rich.' 24"I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share."
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