Sermon Tone Analysis

Thursday December 1, 2005

Genesis: Genesis 14:13-16-Abram Defeats Eastern Kings and Rescues Lot

Lesson # 70

Please turn in your Bibles to Genesis 14:1.

This evening we will study Genesis 14:13-16, which records Abram’s defeat of the Eastern Mesopotamian Kings and the subsequent rescue of his nephew, Lot.

We pick it up in context at Genesis 14:1.

Genesis 14:1, “And it came about in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim.”

Genesis 14:2, “that they (Eastern kings: Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim) 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 (that is, Zoar).”

Genesis 14:3, “All these came as allies to the valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).”

Genesis 14:4, “Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but the thirteenth year they rebelled.”

Genesis 14:5, “In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, came and defeated the Rephaim (“giants”) in Ashteroth-karnaim and the Zuzim (“roving creatures”) in Ham and the Emim (“terrors”) in Shaveh-kiriathaim.”

Genesis 14:6, “and the Horites in their Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is by the wilderness.”

Genesis 14:7, “Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and conquered all the country of the Amalekites (“dwellers in a valley”), and also the Amorites (“mountaineers”), who lived in Hazazon-tamar.”

Genesis 14:8, “And the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah and the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they arrayed for battle against them in the valley of Siddim.”

Genesis 14:9, “against Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim and Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar -- four kings against five.”

Genesis 14:10, “Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell into them.

But those who survived fled to the hill country.”

Genesis 14:11, “Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply, and departed.”

Genesis 14:12, “They also took Lot, Abram's nephew, and his possessions and departed, for he was living in Sodom.”

Genesis 14:13, “Then a fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew.

Now he was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner, and these were allies with Abram.”

“A fugitive” is the noun palit (fyl!P*) (paw-leet), which refers to one who escaped capture by the Eastern Mesopotamian Kings.

“Told” is the verb naghadh (dg^n*) (naw-gad), which in the hiphil (causative) stem means that this particular person who escaped capture, “caused” Abram to be informed concerning the details of the battle between the two coalitions and more importantly, he gave him the details concerning the capture of his nephew, Lot.

The fact that this particular individual knew Lot and went directly to Abram to inform him of Lot’s capture indicates that both Lot and Abram were famous in the Dead Sea region.

“The Hebrew” is the articular form of the proper noun ‘ivri (yr!b+u!) (iv-ree), which designates that Abram was a legitimate and well-known descendant of Shem through Eber and was therefore, in the Messianic line, or the Promised Seed of Genesis 3:15.

The term “Hebrew” denotes Abram’s nationality in contrast with other nationalities in the land of Canaan (cf.

Gen. 43:32; Ex. 1:15; 2:11; 21:2) and the contrast in Genesis 14:13 is with the Amorites who are about to named who inhabited in the land of Canaan.

“He was living” is the qal active participle form of the verb shakhan (/k^v*) (shaw-kan), which refers to occupying a location on a temporary basis, thus indicating that Abram was “temporarily” pitching his tents by the oaks of Mamre, which is where we last saw Abram in Genesis 13:18 after Lot left him.

“Mamre” was located in “Hebron” as indicated by the phrase “which are in Hebron” in Genesis 13:18 and received its name from its owner, Mamre, who was a chief of the Amorites who sought security in an alliance with Abram and was blessed because of Abram (cf.

Gen. 14:13, 24).

The “oaks of Mamre” evidently were a grove of terebinth trees that was owned by Mamre, which was the location of Abram’s encampment when he came up from Egypt according to Genesis 13:18, 14:13 and 18:1.

The three brothers “Mamre, Eshcol” and “Aner” were the heads of aristocratic families in Hebron and were bound by treaty with Abram as indicated by the phrase “these (Mamre, Eshcol, Aner) were allies.”

Genesis 14:14, “When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men (in war), born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan (“a judge”).”

There were two reasons why Abram was willing to risk a war with the Eastern Coalition of Mesopotamia Kings and retaliation from them.

The first is that he loved his nephew Lot and the second was that he trusted in the promises that the Lord made to him in Genesis 12:1-3 and 13:14-17 and thus knew without a doubt that the Lord who controls history would give him the victory on the battlefield.

2 Chronicles 20:15, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the LORD to you, "Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's.”

Because of these promises, Abram had a personal sense of destiny meaning he was confident that the Lord was with him and would prosper him, giving him the victory over the Eastern Mesopotamian Coalition.

Abram and his 318 night rangers and Amorite allies employ all the elements and display all the characteristics that are essential to achieve victory in a military campaign: (1) Strategy (2) Boldness (3) Surprise (4) Economy of force (5) Organization (6) Speed (7) Courage (8) Intelligence (9) Determination (10) Initiative.

“Relative” is the noun `ach (ja*) (awkh), which denotes the biological relationship between males and is ascribed to Lot and denotes the biological relationship that he has with Abram and according to Genesis 11:27, Lot was Abram’s nephew.

Abram chose those servants who were born in his house rather than those who were purchased since the former would rank close enough to family members to be entrusted with great responsibilities (Unger’s Commentary on the Old Testament, page 59).

The 318 men that Abram deployed to fight the Four Eastern Mesopotamian Kings and their armies is reminiscent of Gideon and his three hundred night rangers who defeated 135,000 Midianites in a night raid as recorded in Judges 7-8.

Notice, that Abram is prepared for this battle since his men are “trained” for military combat, thus revealing an essential principle for victory in both the military and spiritual realm, which is preparation.

In the same way, the soldier of Christ Jesus must be aware of the fact that he is in enemy territory, i.e., the devil’s world and must be prepared for spiritual combat at any time and any place.

1 Peter 5:8, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.

Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

Napoleon Bonaparte, “An army should be ready every day, every night, and at all times of the day and night, to oppose all resistance of which it is capable” (The Military Maxims of Napoleon, page 57).

Genesis 14:14, “When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men (in war), born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan (“a judge”).”

Also, notice the phrase “he (Abram) went in pursuit (of the enemy),” indicating that Abram goes immediately on the offensive against the enemy, which is another important principle for victory in both the military and spiritual realm.

Just as the soldier in the natural realm must go on the offensive to accomplish victory over the enemy by utilizing his weapons and tactics so the soldier of Christ must utilize the Word of God and prayer and the spiritual tactics listed by Paul in Ephesians 6:10-18.

“Dan” was located in Gilead south of Damascus, Syria (Deut.

34:1) and is a odernization of the earlier name, Laish (Judg.

18:29), having extensive fortifications, representing the northern extremity of Palestine (Judg.

20:1; 1 Sam.

3:20).

Genesis 14:15, “He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.”

Also, Abram is employing another sound military tactic in that since his army is inferior in numbers to the Eastern Coalition, he avoids general action and employs a surprise attack.

Napoleon Bonaparte, “When an army is inferior in number, inferior in cavalry and in artillery, it is essential to avoid general action” (The Military Maxims of Napoleon, page 58).

“Divided” is the verb chalaq (ql^j*) (khaw-lak), which in the niphal (reflexive) stem means that Abram divided his forces into military units, demonstrating he is organized in his plan of attack.

Just as the military commander in the natural realm must be organized in his thinking in formulating a plan of attack on the enemy to achieve victory so the soldier of Christ Jesus must be organized in his thinking, applying the appropriate doctrinal rationales in the Word of God against the enemy to achieve victory over them.

More than, likely, as in the case with Gideon’s confrontation with the Midianites, Abram divided his 318 men and the army of the three Amorite princes and deployed them so that they surrounded the armies of the Eastern Coalition under the cover of darkness, making for a perfect surprise attack.

The armies of the Eastern Mesopotamian Coalition undoubtedly were enjoying the spoils of their resounding and complete victory over the armies of the Dead Sea Coalition and were in no way prepared for a surprise attack.

Once Abram’s night rangers attacked these armies, there would be total and complete confusion in the ranks of the Eastern Coalition armies, resulting in a disorganized retreat from the region.

Genesis 14:15 records that Abram’s 318 night rangers and the army of the three Amorites princes routed the armies of the Eastern Coalition of Mesopotamia, as indicated by the “defeated,” driving them completely out of the Dead Sea region and Canaan, as far as north of Damascus, Syria.

Though possessing inferior numbers to the Eastern Coalition of Mesopotamian Kings, Abram courageously and boldly and cunningly attacks them, routing them, even pushing them out of the region of Canaan, to the north of Damascus, Syria.

Abram’s faith in the Lord produced courage and boldness in the face of great danger, which are essential characteristics to possess for both military and spiritual victory.

Ephesians 6:19, “and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.”

Abram is walking by faith and not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7, “for we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Abram’s military victory is preceded by his spiritual victory in his soul where he overcomes fear and trusts in the Lord despite his fears.

Psalm 56:3, “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.”

Genesis 14:16, “He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the people.”

The Lord rewarded Abram’s faith in Him by giving him a total and complete victory and the restoration of his nephew Lot, his possessions, the women and the rest of the prisoners of war.

This military victory over a numerically superior force brought great increased Abram’s stature and reputation in the land of Canaan and among the surrounding heathen nations and brought glory not only to Abram but also to the Lord who gave him the victory.

Abram’s faith appropriated the omnipotence of the Lord, which gave him the victory on the battlefield and the recovery of his nephew Lot in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds.

Matthew 17:20, “And He said to them, ‘Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.’”

Abram’s victory by appropriating the Lord’s power through his faith in the Lord reveals a principle that is true in both the natural and spiritual realms:

Victory or defeat in warfare is gained by the application of power and the withdrawal of the inferior force.

1 John 4:4, “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He (God) who is in you than he (Satan) who is in the world.”

Although the Lord was not visible in this battle, it was He that gave Abram this great victory against overwhelming odds.

Proverbs 21:31, “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the LORD.”