The Choices of Lot and Abram

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Sunday August 14th 2022

Genesis 13:10 – 14:20 Part I

So, last week we read that there was some tension between the herdsmen caring for the flocks of Abram and Lot and Abram told Lot to pick the land he wanted and for them to part ways so to make peace.

So, let’s read starting with verse 10:

Genesis 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.

Lot's Selection

Alright, back to verse 10 where Moses gives some insights relative to that day and what Lot saw.

Genesis 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

The verse is pretty self-explanatory until we come to the last line where Moses wrote: “Like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.” There is some obscurity in this verse which is explained by one scholar in the following way: "But before the Lord had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, it was, as thou goest to Zoar, well watered, like the garden of the Lord, and like the land of Egypt."

In other words, as paradise was watered by the four neighboring streams, and as Egypt was watered by the annual overflowing of the Nile; so were the plains of the Jordan, and likewise all the land on the way to Zoar was well watered and fertilized by the overflowing of the Jordan. Zoar means small, and was a town on the east or south-east of the Dead Sea and where we will see where Lot and his daughters fled from Sodom. It was originally called Bela (Genesis 14:2,8) and it is referred to by the prophets Isaiah (Isaiah 15:5) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 48:34). Apparently, some of its ruins can still be seen.

Genesis 13:11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Apparently, given the choice Lot took the prime land at least according to the description given here. And what about Abram?

Genesis 13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

The Moral Decline of Sodom

Where it says that the men of Sodom were wicked the words best means “to break in pieces, to destroy, and to afflict,” and applied to them means they were a people who broke the established order of things, destroyed and confounded the distinctions between right and wrong, and who afflicted and tormented both themselves and others. I see our world today more and more like Sodom breaking in pieces the order of things established by God and supported by reason. Not only does Moses describe them as broken up but he adds to the description, “and sinners,” which best means “to miss the mark, to step wrong, to miscarry.” They aimed at their own will, ways and happiness and did not care to aim for what God desired for them.

It is believed because of his proximity to Sodom

Abram's Promised Land

that Lot may have employed those who lived or engaged with Sodom as proximity tends to lend to such things. These Sodomites were not just your typical sinners folks – they were neck deep in debauchery – which we will discuss later but again, which we can see around us in the world today.

14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: When we get to chapter 15 we will read that Abram is shown the stars at night and therefore it is believed that this event happened in the brightness of day, where Abram could see in every direction the place shown to him as well as the dust beneath his feet.

And the Lord said

15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

The Promise to Abram's Seed

This land was given to Abram, that it might lineally and legally descend to his posterity though Abram himself, according to Acts 7:5 and Stephens words about him he cannot be said to have possessed it. But it was the gift God gave to him in behalf of his seed; and this was always the design of God, not that Abram himself should possess it, but that his posterity should occupy that land – and here is the important part – at least until the manifestation of Christ in the flesh was made. Why until? Because this is the meaning of the words in the promise given Him by God – the words for ever, “Mlwe da ad olam,” best means, “to the end of the present dispensation,” and up until the commencement of the new heaven, the new earth and the new JerusalemThe spiritual reality of God's fulfilled presence with humanity—replacing Sheol after 70 A.D..

And YHWH continues and says

16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

Is this literal? No. It’s a Hebraism or representational language for a lot. Same with the reference to stars of the sky. To date it is believed that about 100 billion people have lived on earth – not all of Abrams seed either. The stars in the sky are estimated to be a septillion or 1 with 24 zeros after it. 100 billion has 11 zeros after it – which, as you math people know is an enormous difference.

So not literal. And God adds

17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.

Abram's Journey and Altar

So once again, Abram continued to travel and pitch a tent in different places, till at last he fixed his tent in the plain, or by the oak, of Mamre, which is in Hebron (in other words, the district in which Mamre was situated which was called Hebron). Now, Chapter 14 informs us that Mamre is an actual person, an Amorite with whom Abram made friends and the Oak was probably named after him. Interestingly, and in harmony with what Danny mentioned last week about sacrifices including animals when they built an altar in Abrams day, the Hebrew word here used for altar means, “to slay,” and so Abram was offering up animals to God. And it is supposed that this practice was carried on since Cain and Abel.

What is interesting in this story is that the inheritance Abram was shown was vast but far less inviting as Canaan was not as appealing to the eye as the Jordan Valley which was taken by Lot. Lot chose what appeared to be like the garden of Eden but the cost for choosing it was Lot lost almost everything along the way. There is a lesson in there somewhere, and one of them is historically speaking, rich and fertile countries are generally luxurious and therefore, in the hands of most civilizations, possess profligate inhabitants or people who live in luxury.

We see this in our world today as some of the most luxurious locations on earth house the indulgent and luxurious livers. As mentioned, the inhabitants of Sodom were sinners, and exceedingly wicked, and their profligacy was of that kind which luxury proverbially produces; they fed themselves without fear, and they

Lessons from Abram and Lot

acted without shame, God was not in their minds and their lives and attitudes reflected this. We see similar things in the people of impoverished countries too but for different reasons. We will see that in the end Lot will be saved through the mercy of God and preserved from this contagion. And while he will retain his faith which supports his soul and saved his life, his goods and his wife will be lost. We notice Moses mentioning that fact that everywhere Abram went he built an altar – we cannot say this is true of Lot whose tent now points to Sodom. Perhaps another understated message.

Abram's Rescue

So now on to chapter 14 and we are going to read through some names here and places gently, and without much elaboration on geography so as to come to the point of the story. So here goes:

Genesis 14:1 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 these 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, which is Zoar. 3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea. 4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, 6 And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness. 7 And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar. 8 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; 9 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.

10 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. 11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. 12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. 13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. 14 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. 15 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. 16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. 17 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. 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

Historical Context

Okay, let’s read through these passages again adding some explanation.

Genesis 14:1 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;

Who this king Amraphel was is not known; and yet, from the manner in which he is spoken of in the text, it would seem that he was a person well known, even so much that Moses knew of him when he wrote this account but he does not go on to explain him. But know this – relative to his identity,

• The Chaldee Targum of Onkelos makes Amraphel king of Babylon,
• others make him king of Assyria;
• some make him the same as Nimrod, which would be one bad guys
• and others name him as one of Nimrod’s descendants.

Historical Context of Chedorlaomer's Campaigns

“Of Ellasar” – Some think Syria is meant; but it's conjecture. And then “Chedorlaomer king of Elam” is believed ardently in Persia to be the first King of their dynasty. And then the addition of “Tidal king of nations” – this could refer to Chedorlaomer or another individual who is believed to have led a band of refugees from different countries.

2 That these made war (the ones I just listed) 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, which is Zoar.

Military Actions in the Vale of Siddim

From verse 4 it appears that these five Canaanitish kings had been subdued by Chedorlaomer, and were obliged to pay him tribute; and that, having been enslaved by him twelve years, and seeking to recover their liberty, they revolted in the thirteenth year. In response, Chedorlaomer, the following year, summoned to his assistance three of his vassals, and he invaded Canaan, fought with and discomfited the kings of the Pentapolis (or five cities-Sodom, Gomorrah, Zeboiim, Zoar, and Admah), which were situated in the fruitful plain of Siddim. Got all of that?

3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the Salt Sea (or also called the Dead Sea, or Lake Asphaltite, near Sodom and Gomorrah). 4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim.

This appears to be another conquest of Chedorlaomer first over the “Rephaims” (which Genesis 15 describes as “a people of Canaan”) then, Ashteroth, which was a city of Basan, where Og afterwards reigned (according to Joshua 13:31). Zuzims, which is nowhere else spoken of, unless they were the same with the Zamzummims, which Deuteronomy 2:20 mentions and as some imagine. Emims – who were a tall people great and many in the days of Moses, and tall as the Anakim. According to Deuteronomy 2:10-11 they dwelt among the Moabites, by whom they were reputed physical giants. And then the Shaveh Kiriathaim, or on the plain of Kiriathaim, which was a city afterwards belonging to Sihon king of Heshbon (according to Joshua 13:19).

Continued Conquests and Battles

And then also verse six

6 And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness. These were a people that dwelt in Mount Seir, till Esau and his sons drove them out; according to Deuteronomy 2:22. El-paran – which speaks to the plain or oak of Paran, was a city in the wilderness of Paran according to Genesis 21:21.

7 And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar. More places conquered is all I’m gonna say.

8 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; 9 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.

This appears to be another battle with these just mentioned groups, led by their respective Kings and taking on Chedorlaomer and his buddies.

10 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. Asphaltus or bitumen sprang out of the ground and was an abundant substance in that country.

When it says that they fell there this usually means “the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled and fell there, we aren’t sure if it means they died there or if it means that they were defeated at this place due to the abundance of pits filled with bitumen, which is tar and is what Noah covered the ark in outside and in. Because they were at least defeated there by the armies of Chedo we read at verse 11.

11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. This description of their actions lives on today where desert dwellers will pillage a city, town, or caravan and then escape with their spoils.

The Morality Tale of Lot

The proximity of Lot to Sodom is made more meaningful in the next verse (12).

12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

Like an Aesop's fable, the tale and lesson of Lot, from a believer's perspective could be this: When given a chance to choose, include the Lord and go as commanded. Don’t go by what appears best and most beneficial to you materially. And when you place your tent, don’t let it face what could lend to you or your families destruction – as his tent faced Sodom – which is believed to mean his land engaged with Sodom. Gotta be careful where we pitch our tents and with whom we closely relate. It could have a deleterious outcome on our families. So obviously we discover a morality tale going on here with Lot.

Sharing the Gospel with Caution

It can be a fine line in our lives when we seek to share the Gospel with others who are not of the faith. I would recommend making it abundantly clear that we are engaging with the lost to serve them in Jesus name, and help them in His cause, and share Him with them when able, but to never make the mistake of becoming intimate friends with the dark. It can lead to trouble, loss, and woe.

Here in this setting, it seems that God allowed the marauding kings to afflict the people of Sodom and Lot was apparently in and with them.

Verse 13

13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.

It is very likely that Abram had the title “the Hebrew” given to him because he came from beyond the river Euphrates to enter Canaan and that river was called yrbeh haibri, which we render “the Hebrew.” Many believe that he got this name from Eber or Heber, son of Salah, whom we read about in Genesis 11:15. But why he would get a name from Heber is not known, so it seems the name the Hebrew came from his entering Canaan from beyond a river by that name.

Verse 13 also tells us that he had friends in Mamre the Amorite and his brothers, who it is believed were chieftains living nearby.

Abram's Courage and Success

14 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.

Where it describes Lot as Abram's brother, we are introduced to a practice that carries forward in the Apostolic Record and that is why it can be very difficult to know who are actual brothers in scripture and who are cousins or nephews. The number of three hundred and eighteen trained servants does not seem to include those from the tribes of Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner because Moses names 318 as coming from Abram's own house.

15 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.

In this story, we see Abram’s love for his nephew Lot and his courage to go out and fight for his freedom – a picture of Christ in my mind – especially in light of the fact that Lot appears to have made relations with a sordid group of people and suffered as a result.

16 And he (Abram) brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

In other words, Abram had great success in saving both Lot and all that he had, including the goods and all the woman folk who were also taken captive.

17 ¶ 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.

Because we have read that the king of Sodom “fell” along with the King of Gomorrah, it is possible that this was a newly appointed king of Sodom. And here Moses adds a passage that speaks volumes amidst the telling of this tale – ready?

18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

Whoa

Introduction to Melchizedek

nelly. What? Who? A priest unto the Most High God? Bearing gifts which are the very elements of Christian communion introduced by Christ at the last supper?

What is going on here? Let’s read the next two verses to include in this introduction of Melchizedek where it says:

18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

Melchizedek: King and Priest

Alright, back to verse 18.

And Melchizedek, king of Salem. These three passages are so huge that we are going to spend three MORE weeks on the topic – but first, let’s just look at what is written here only.

We see how this man is called a king, and then a priest and then “to the most high God.” So much so that countless conjectures have come forth to explain his person and actions toward Abram and then Abram’s response.

We will have to consult Hebrews chapter 7 next week to get a full picture of him but let’s cover the basics now. From what we have here Melchizedek appears to have been as real a person as Bera, Birsha, or Shinab who are mentioned above, though we have no more of his genealogy than we have of theirs.

He brought forth bread and wine which appears on the surface to be a means to refresh Abram and his men, exhausted with the late battle and fatigues of the journey. And as stated we read that He was the priest of the most high God. Now in the primitive history we have covered – about 2000 years before now and predating the priesthood of the Nation of Israel, every home had a their own priest in the father and if dead or unworthy in the first Son.

The Role of Melchizedek in Worship

Apparently, and just from what we are reading, Melchizedek preserved that role perfectly in his family and among his subjects and maintained proper worship of the true God in this role along the way. Because Melchizedek was also a king, like the other mysterious kings mentioned above, and because he was also dedicated to true worship, he was perhaps considered the priest to his Kingdom as well.

What was Melchizedek king of? Here he is called “king of Salem,” and stepping forward, when we look at the city Jerusalem we discover part of Melchizedek’s kingdom mentioned – salem – which means peace.

Historical and Biblical Insights

Psalm 76:1-2 says
"In Judah is God known; his name is great in Israel. In SALEM also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion."

This gives us some historical insight. Turning to Psalm 110:4 we also read David prophetically saying about Our Lord

Psalm 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

And then when we combine what the writer of Hebrews says in chapter 7 about Melchizedek, we step into an arena of huge postulations – but important ones.

And right off the bat we can say that there is something super mysterious about the appearance of Melchizedek. Even if he was a regular old shepherd kind and priest, there is something really important about his person relative to all of Christianity. His name is really a compound of “Malkiy and Tsedeq” With malkie meaning King and tsedeq meaning the right, as in righteous.

So right out the gate we have all the way back in the 14th chapter of the Tanakh we come to the appearance of a being called, “the righteous king.” Or KING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

We also note that he is called “a priest of the most high God.” The Hebrew word translated to priest here is Kho-hane, and it means “one who officiates.” So, by title from Moses, he is one who officiated for or on behalf of the MOST high God. Interestingly, the Hebrew word Kho-hane is very similar to the Arabic word, kahana, and in Arabic that means “to approach, to draw near to and/or to have intimate access to” (what?). “the most high God.”

Note the already existing parallels of course to Jesus and His being the Righteous King and Him having access to – whom? That’s right, the Most High God. Also note that Melchizedek is not called the Most High God, but is automatically seen as the one who draws us to

The Role of Melchizedek

The most High God. Keep that in mind. And then we see that he was (all the way back then) king of a place we are introduced to called, Salem. Because of the way this is written in Hebrew it describes him as being King of what makes whole, complete, or perfect; and it therefore means peace. He is the King of a place that means peace because it is whole and perfect and complete.

The Blessing of Abram

Then we read at verse 19:

19 And he (Melchizedek) blessed him (Abram), and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

So, we have blessings from one to another going on here in the name of the Lord. Thus far we have seen cursings (by Noah) for instance, upon Canaan and cursings upon Cain by God, but now we have a righteous King of Peace blessing the father of faith, Abram! And then Moses has Melchizedek say:

20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he (Abram) gave him tithes of all.

Upcoming Study on Melchizedek

We will stop here and enter into a three part study beginning next week on these verses, and what we might make of this person named Melchizedek.

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