Catholic Commentary on Genesis 14

"Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." (Genesis 14:19-20)

Melchizedek

A coalition of four kings defeats five kings in the valley of Siddim, including the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. Among the captives is Lot. When Abram hears that his nephew has been taken, he musters 318 trained men from his household and pursues the coalition north to Dan, routing them at night and recovering Lot and all the goods. On his return, two kings come out to meet him. The king of Sodom offers him the goods; Abram refuses, having sworn to the LORD that he will not take even a sandal thong from the king of Sodom.

But first there is Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High, who brings bread and wine and blesses Abram: Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand. Abram gives him a tenth of everything. The significance of Melchizedek, which the Letter to the Hebrews explores at length, is that a priesthood exists before and independent of the Levitical order, a priesthood of peace and blessing that foreshadows the eternal priesthood of Christ. The bread and wine he brings are the types of the Eucharist. The Catechism identifies Melchizedek as the first to offer a sacrifice of bread and wine, making his priesthood the type of the new covenant sacrifice (CCC 1333).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, Melchizedek appears from nowhere, blesses Abram, receives his tithe, and disappears. He has no genealogy, no beginning, no end in the narrative. He is the stranger who is priest, the unexpected encounter that is holy. Be alert to the Melchizedek moments in your life: the unexpected person who brings bread and wine, who speaks blessing over you at precisely the moment you need it. The priesthood of God is not confined to the expected places.

Prayer

Lord God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, you sent Melchizedek with bread and wine to bless your servant. You are present in every unexpected encounter. Give us eyes to recognise your priests when they appear, and hearts to give our tithes to the God who delivers our enemies into our hands. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

14
The War of the Kings
1 In those days Amraphel king of Shinar,* 14:1 That is, Babylonia; also in verse 9 Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim 2 went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).
 
3 The latter five came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea † 14:3 That is, the Dead Sea). 4 For twelve years they had been subject to Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
 
5 In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in the area of Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is near the desert. 7 Then they turned back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.
 
8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and arrayed themselves for battle in the Valley of Siddim ‡ 14:8 That is, the Valley of the Dead Sea 9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.
Abram Rescues Lot
 
10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some men fell into the pits, but the survivors fled to the hill country.
 
11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food, and they went on their way. 12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since Lot was living in Sodom.
 
13 Then an escapee came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the Oaks § 14:13 Or Terebinths or Great Trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were bound by treaty * 14:13 Forms of the Hebrew berit are translated in most passages as covenant. to Abram. 14 And when Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household, and they set out in pursuit as far as Dan.
 
15 During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer’s army, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He retrieved all the goods, as well as his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the rest of the people.
Melchizedek Blesses Abram
(Psalms 110:1–7; Hebrews 7:1–10)
 
17 After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).
 
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High † 14:18 Hebrew El-Elyon; also in verses 19, 20, and 22; cited in Hebrews 7:1— 19 and he blessed Abram and said:
 
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth,
20 and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
 
Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.
 
21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the goods for yourself.”
 
22 But Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 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.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share for the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. They may take their portion.”

*14:1 14:1 That is, Babylonia; also in verse 9

†14:3 14:3 That is, the Dead Sea

‡14:8 14:8 That is, the Valley of the Dead Sea

§14:13 14:13 Or Terebinths or Great Trees

*14:13 14:13 Forms of the Hebrew berit are translated in most passages as covenant.

†14:18 14:18 Hebrew El-Elyon; also in verses 19, 20, and 22; cited in Hebrews 7:1

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