Genesis 14

Genesis 14

1. Genesis 14:8–12 (KJV) – “And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim; With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five. And the 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. And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.”
   • (possible) Lot being taken captive by foreign kings portrays mankind enslaved under sin and hostile powers. Abram’s later rescue of Lot foreshadows Christ delivering His people from bondage.
   • Cross-references: John 8:34–36; Colossians 1:13–14; Hebrews 2:14–15.
2. Genesis 14:14–16 (KJV) – “And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.”
   • Abram’s rescue of Lot by defeating mighty kings prefigures Christ’s victory over sin, death, and the devil to rescue His people.
   • Cross-references: Luke 11:21–22; Colossians 2:15; Revelation 17:14.
3. Genesis 14:17–18 (KJV) – “And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.”
   • Melchizedek is a direct type of Christ. He is both king and priest, and he brings bread and wine, which prefigure Christ’s body and blood in the Lord’s Supper. Salem means “peace,” pointing to Christ, the King of Peace.
   • Cross-references: Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:1–3; Matthew 26:26–28.
4. Genesis 14:19–20 (KJV) – “And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.”
   • Melchizedek’s blessing shows Christ’s role as the eternal priest who blesses His people and mediates God’s favor. Abram giving tithes prefigures believers offering themselves to Christ.
   • Cross-references: Hebrews 7:6–8; Ephesians 1:3; 1 Peter 2:9.
5. Genesis 14:21–23 (KJV) – “And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich.”
   • Abram’s refusal of reward from the king of Sodom reflects Christ’s refusal to accept worldly glory from Satan (Matthew 4:8–10). The victory belongs to God alone, not to men.
   • Cross-references: John 6:15; Matthew 4:10; 1 Corinthians 1:29–31.

Genesis 14 Christ-Pointers (KJV)

1. Genesis 14:18-20 KJV: And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. Explanation: Melchizedek, priest of the most high God, is a type of Christ, the divine Word, who is the eternal priest and king (Hebrews 7:1-3). The bread and wine prefigure Christ’s sacrifice in the Lord’s Supper, and Melchizedek’s blessing of Abram points to Christ’s role in blessing the nations through Abraham’s seed. Conservative scholarship widely sees Melchizedek as a preincarnate appearance or type of Christ. Cross-references: Hebrews 7:1-3 (“…Melchisedec… who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life”), John 1:3 (“All things were made by him…”), Matthew 26:26-28 (bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper), Psalm 110:4 (“Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek”).
2. Genesis 14:22-23 KJV: And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: Explanation: The LORD, as Christ, the divine Word, is identified as the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth, reflecting His role as creator (John 1:1-3). Abram’s oath to the LORD underscores his faith in Christ’s provision, prefiguring reliance on Christ for spiritual riches rather than worldly gain. Cross-references: Colossians 1:16-17 (“For by him were all things created… and by him all things consist”), Hebrews 11:10 (Abraham looking for a city whose builder is God), Revelation 4:11 (Christ worthy as creator), Deuteronomy 10:14 (God’s ownership of heaven and earth).