Genesis 14:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself."

NIV: The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself."

NASB: Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, 'Give the people to me and take the possessions for yourself.'

CSB: Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people, but take the possessions for yourself."

NLT: The king of Sodom said to Abram, 'Give back my people who were captured. But you may keep for yourself all the goods you have recovered.'

KJV: And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

NKJV: Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.”

Both Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18) and Bera, the king of Sodom (Genesis 14:2) have come out to meet Abram on his way home from defeating the enemy and rescuing all that had been taken by the four kings of the east. The structure of this passage is meant to compare Bera, the King of Sodom, to Melchizedek, the King of Salem, and their interaction with Abram. At this time, Sodom was already known for its extreme wickedness (Genesis 13:13).

The demand given here from the king of Sodom stands in stark contrast to the exchange which just took place between Abram and Melchizedek. Melchizedek greeted Abram with a royal meal of wine and bread and a blessing from God. Abram responded by giving ten percent of all of the plunder to this priest and king.

Bera has witnessed this, but only offers a curt order to Abram: "Give me the people; keep the material possessions." This might have been the beginning of negotiations to recover from Abram some of what was taken by the enemy. The people likely would have included both the citizens of Sodom, as well as the slaves and servants of the king. Bera's lack of humility seems all the more rude considering that he had been conquered and sent running by the very enemy Abram—really, Abram's God—had so quickly defeated. The next verse contains Abram's humble, faithful response.

Genesis 14:17–24 tells the story of a meeting between Abram and two kings. Returning as the victor after having defeated the eastern kings and recapturing all their plunder, Abram is met by the king of Sodom and by Melchizedek, the mysterious king of Salem. Melchizedek, also known as a priest of God Most High, gives Abram bread, wine, and a blessing from God. Abram gives this priest ten percent of all the plunder. Sodom's king demands his people back, but offers to let Abram keep the riches. Abram refuses to keep anything. He doesn't want to be associated, in any way, with such an ungodly ruler.

This short chapter is packed with action, adventure, and war. An army from the east comes to reestablish its rule over the kings of the city-states of Canaan. Five kings from the Dead Sea region rebel, are defeated, and Sodom is looted. Abram's nephew Lot is captured and taken away. Abram and his own small army chase down the eastern kings, defeating them and recapturing all that was lost. Returning home, Abram is met by a mysterious king and priest of God Most High called Melchizedek.

At first, Genesis 14 seems unrelated to the previous chapter. Four kings from the east come to wage war against the kings and people groups of Canaan, including five kings from cities around the Dead Sea. The eastern kings defeat all challengers, looting Sodom and carrying off Lot and his entire family. Now Abram reappears in the story to chase down the departing army, defeat them in a single night, and retrieve all that was lost. On the way home, he is met by a mysterious king and priest of God Most High known as Melchizedek.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.