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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Who is giving the tenth? | Gen 14:20 | BradK | 154929 | ||
Hi mommapbs, It can be a little confusing:-) I believe the text is referring to Abram. The New Bible Commentary offers this: "Melchizedek, the priest-king of Salem (probably Jerusalem), on the other hand, received Abram royally and laid on a banquet for him. Melchizedek then blessed Abram in the name of God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. Responding to this kindly reception, Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the booty he had taken (20)." I hope this helps, BradK |
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2 | Who is giving the tenth? | Gen 14:20 | Mommapbs | 154931 | ||
Hi BradK - I was wondering about the original wording, if it identifies the pronoun "he" with Abram in some way. Reading in Gen 14. In v 21 the King of Sodom (who is this now, as earlier - v 10 it appears that the Kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fell into tar pits?) seems to demand that Abram give him the people he has recovered. This is interesting to me for it suggests the unseen battle between Satan and The LORD for the hearts and minds of the lost. I note that Abram went to rescue his nephew Lot from among those who were taken captive - but this is not to say that the King of Sodom was any less evil than those aligned with Cherdolaomer v. 5 - see also Gen 13:13. It appears in v 23 that since the goods recovered in v 16 were taken from Sodom and Gomorrah, perhaps the new King of Sodom had a right to ask for them? (I also wonder if the new King of Sodom consolidated the two kingdoms of Sodom and Gomorrah at this point? We hear no mention of the King of Gomorrah after v 10) It is interesting to note that this is the first time that Abram is identified as a Hebrew (v 13)in contrast to his allies,Mamre, Aner and Eshcol (vv 12,24). Abram advocates before the King of Sodom for these non-Hebrew allies to receive their share. From the text it appears that Abram has control of the recovered goods of Sodom and Gommorah and gives a tenth to the King of Salem (Melchizedek); now it is confusing. The King of Sodom just wants the people; he offers the goods recovered to stay with Abram, so perhaps this is what is distributed between his allies? Why did the King of Sodom want people over goods? Immediately following this account we read that the Lord says to Abram not to fear, for He is his shield and Abram's reward will be great Note Gen 15:15. What is Abram's promised reward? People. Interesting. And we still pursue things instead of people today . . . There must be a reason that the King of Sodom asked for people; are we willing to pursue these people from out of his hand - to take up the shield of Christ and join the Conquerer in their rescue from the kingdom of darkness? What do we care more about - lost things or lost souls? Just pondering this . . . Blessings, mommapbs |
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