Genesis 14:1-16
Lot’s Captivity and Rescue
1 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations, 2 that they made war with 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 All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him came and attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in their mountain of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is by the wilderness. 7 Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and attacked all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who dwelt in Hazezon Tamar.
8 And the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and joined together in battle in the Valley of Siddim 9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of asphalt pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled; some fell there, and the remainder fled to the mountains. 11 Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. 12 They also took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; and they were allies with Abram. 14 Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
15 He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. 16 So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.
Abram and Lot got caught in the middle of a great war between local kings and kingdoms. He must have wondered why he was there as he asked Lot why am I caught in the middle of this conflict with you. That thought was amplified when Lot and his lot were taken prisoner after the neighboring kings of Sodom and Gomorrah by Abram’s nephew were killed in the conflict between rebel forces. While those in these doomed cities ran from the onsla, many ended up in the hot asphalt pits or made it to freedom in the mountains. Sodom and Gomorrah were plundered along with Lot who was living in Sodom as they plundered all he possessed as well. Abram was dwelling nearby after he and Lot parted company (Genesis 13:11-12, 18) earlier in the area. He saw the carnage rage on and then heard from one who escaped what had happened to his nephew. He raised his version of an army as a sword from its sheath to assist his family. They were but three hundred and eighteen trained servants, but were highly trained and loyal to their lord and readily pursued the abductors all the way to Dan and routed the captors of this immense army in a surprise night attack. God was with him as with Gideon and his three hundred to demonstrate that the success was God’s and not his own. This small number, divided in half, was used to drive back the invaders out of the land and past Damascus to the north! Abram and his band of brothers brought back not only Lot, but also all his people to include the women who were often taken as wives and slaves by conquerors, and all their stolen goods as well. This was the hand of God. The following part of the chapter adds even more glory to the account as it sets in place a clear picture of the Messiah to come as our High Priest of peace.
No comments:
Post a Comment