Genesis 14:14
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.
And when Abram heard
The name "Abram" means "exalted father" in Hebrew, reflecting his role as a patriarch. This phrase marks a pivotal moment where Abram transitions from a passive recipient of God's promises to an active participant in God's plan. His immediate response upon hearing the news demonstrates his leadership and commitment to family, embodying the biblical principle of taking decisive action in times of crisis.

that his relative had been taken captive
The term "relative" refers to Lot, Abram's nephew. This familial connection underscores the importance of kinship and loyalty in the ancient Near Eastern culture. The capture of Lot symbolizes the vulnerability of God's people in a fallen world, yet it also sets the stage for divine intervention through Abram's actions.

he mobilized the 318 trained men
The number "318" is specific and significant, indicating a well-prepared and organized household. These "trained men" were likely skilled in combat, reflecting Abram's foresight in preparing for potential conflicts. This preparation aligns with the biblical theme of being ready to act in faith when called upon by God.

born in his household
This phrase highlights the patriarchal structure of Abram's household, where loyalty and service were cultivated among those born into his care. It emphasizes the strength and unity within Abram's community, which is a microcosm of the larger community of faith that God is building through Abram.

and they set out in pursuit
Abram's decision to pursue the captors demonstrates his courage and determination. The act of pursuit is a metaphor for the Christian life, where believers are called to actively seek justice and righteousness, trusting in God's guidance and provision.

as far as Dan
"Dan" refers to a region in the northern part of ancient Israel. This geographical reference indicates the extent of Abram's pursuit, showcasing his commitment to rescuing Lot. It also foreshadows the future territorial boundaries of Israel, connecting Abram's actions to God's larger redemptive plan for His people.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Abram
Later known as Abraham, he is a key patriarch in the Bible, demonstrating faith and obedience to God. In this passage, he acts decisively to rescue his nephew Lot.

2. Lot
Abram's nephew, who was living in Sodom and was taken captive during a regional conflict involving several kings.

3. 318 Trained Men
These are the men born in Abram's household, indicating his wealth and ability to maintain a sizable group of trained servants.

4. Dan
A location in the northern part of Canaan, showing the extent of Abram's pursuit to rescue Lot.

5. The Kings' War
A conflict involving several kings, including those of Sodom and Gomorrah, which led to Lot's capture.
Teaching Points
Faith in Action
Abram's immediate response to Lot's capture demonstrates faith in action. He does not hesitate but trusts God to guide and protect him in the rescue mission.

Preparedness and Stewardship
The presence of 318 trained men in Abram's household shows the importance of being prepared and managing resources wisely. Believers are called to be good stewards of what God has entrusted to them.

Family and Responsibility
Abram's concern for Lot highlights the importance of family and taking responsibility for loved ones. Christians are encouraged to support and protect their families.

God's Sovereignty and Protection
Abram's successful pursuit and rescue of Lot underscore God's sovereignty and protection over His people. Believers can trust God to guide and protect them in challenging situations.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Abram's response to Lot's capture demonstrate his faith and trust in God? Reflect on a time when you had to act decisively in faith.

2. What does the presence of 318 trained men in Abram's household teach us about preparedness and stewardship in our own lives?

3. In what ways can we take responsibility for our family and loved ones, as Abram did for Lot?

4. How does this passage illustrate God's sovereignty and protection? Can you think of other biblical examples where God protected His people?

5. How can we apply the principles of faith, preparedness, and responsibility from this passage to our daily lives and challenges?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 12:1-3
God's promise to Abram, which includes blessings and protection, setting the stage for Abram's actions and God's faithfulness.

Hebrews 11:8-10
Highlights Abram's faith, which is evident in his decisive action to rescue Lot, trusting in God's provision and protection.

Psalm 144:1
Speaks of God training hands for battle, paralleling Abram's preparation and reliance on God for victory.
Abraham in the Path of Daily DutyW. M. Taylor, D. D.Genesis 14:13-16
Abraham's ConquestG. Gilfillan.Genesis 14:13-16
Abram as a WarriorT. H. Leale.Genesis 14:13-16
Abram's ConductJ. Parker, D. D.Genesis 14:13-16
Abram's Expedition a Sermon for the New Testament ChurchW. Roberts Genesis 14:13-16
LessonsG. Hughes, B. D.Genesis 14:13-16
LessonsG. Hughes, B. D.Genesis 14:13-16
Refreshment Between the BattlesF. B. Meyer, B. A.Genesis 14:13-16
The Blessed Life Illustrated in the History of AbrahamM. G. Pearse.Genesis 14:13-16
The Victorious WarriorCharles Jerdan, M. A. , LL. B.Genesis 14:13-16
To the RescueGenesis 14:13-16
The Kingdom of God in its Relation to the Contending Powers of the WorldR.A. Redford Genesis 14
People
Abram, Amalekites, Amorites, Amraphel, Aner, Arioch, Bela, Bera, Birsha, Chedorlaomer, Dan, Elam, Emites, Eshcol, Ham, Horites, Lot, Mamre, Melchisedec, Melchizedek, Rephaites, Seir, Shemeber, Shinab, Tamar, Tidal, Zoar, Zuzims, Zuzites
Places
Admah, Ashteroth-karnaim, Bela, Damascus, Dan, Elam, Ellasar, El-paran, En-mishpat, Gomorrah, Ham, Hazazon-tamar, Kadesh-barnea, King's Valley, Oaks of Mamre, Salem, Salt Sea, Seir, Shaveh-kiriathaim, Shinar, Sodom, Valley of Shaveh, Valley of Siddim, Zeboiim, Zoar
Topics
318, Armed, Band, Born, Brother, Brother's, Captive, Dan, Domestics, Draweth, Eighteen, Forth, Heareth, Hearing, Household, Hundred, Kinsman, Led, Prisoner, Pursued, Pursueth, Pursuit, Relative, Servants, Sons, Trained
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Genesis 14:14

     5531   skill
     5975   violence

Genesis 14:1-24

     4224   cities of the plain

Genesis 14:8-16

     5076   Abraham, life of

Genesis 14:11-14

     5246   captivity

Genesis 14:13-21

     5077   Abraham, character

Genesis 14:14-15

     5608   warfare, strategies

Genesis 14:14-16

     5214   attack
     5776   achievement
     6634   deliverance
     8298   love, for one another

Library
An Example of Faith
'Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Jerusalem
The first name of this city was Shalem, Genesis 14:18, Psalm 76:2, and it is still retained in the writing, however it is read Jerushalaim. "The name of that place is Jehovah-jireh. Abraham called the place Jireh; Shem called it Shalem. Saith God, If I shall call it Jireh, it will displease Shem the Just; if I shall call it Shalem, it will displease Abraham the Just. I will therefore put that name upon it which was put upon it by both, Jireh, Shalem,--Jerusalem."--"We do not, therefore, put Jod between
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Meditations for Household Piety.
1. If thou be called to the government of a family, thou must not hold it sufficient to serve God and live uprightly in thy own person, unless thou cause all under thy charge to do the same with thee. For the performance of this duty God was so well pleased with Abraham, that he would not hide from him his counsel: "For," saith God, "I know him that he will command his sons and his household after him that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Tithing
"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Mal. 3:10). Down deep in the heart of every Christian there is undoubtedly the conviction that he ought to tithe. There is an uneasy feeling that this is a duty which has been neglected, or, if you prefer it, a privilege that has not been
Arthur W. Pink—Tithing

Bethphage
There is very frequent mention of this place in the Talmudists: and, certainly, a more careful comparison of the maps with those things which are said by them of the situation of this place is worthy to be made; when they place it in mount Olivet, these make it contiguous to the buildings of Jerusalem. I. In the place cited in the margin, the case "of a stubborn judge" (or elder) is handling. For when, by the prescript of the law, difficult matters, and such things as concerning which the lower councils
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
SYRIA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE EGYPTIAN CONQUEST NINEVEH AND THE FIRST COSSAEAN KINGS-THE PEOPLES OF SYRIA, THEIR TOWNS, THEIR CIVILIZATION, THEIR RELIGION-PHOENICIA. The dynasty of Uruazagga-The Cossseans: their country, their gods, their conquest of Chaldaea-The first sovereigns of Assyria, and the first Cossaean Icings: Agumhakrime. The Egyptian names for Syria: Khara, Zahi, Lotanu, Kefatiu-The military highway from the Nile to the Euphrates: first section from Zalu to Gaza-The Canaanites:
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 4

Moses and his Writings
[Illustration: (drop cap W) Clay letter tablet of Moses' time.] We now begin to understand a little of the very beginning of God's Book--of the times in which it was written, the materials used by its first author, and the different kinds of writing from which he had to choose; but we must go a step farther. How much did Moses know about the history of his forefathers, Abraham and Jacob, and of all the old nations and kings mentioned in Genesis, before God called him to the great work of writing
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

The Pioneer's Influence Upon a Nation's Ideals.
ABRAHAM, THE TRADITIONAL FATHER OF HIS RACE.--Gen. 12:1-8; 13:1-13; 16; 18, 19; 21:7; 22:1-19. Parallel Readings. Hist. Bible I, 73-94. Prin of Pol., 160-175. Jehovah said to Abraham, Go forth from thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, to the land that I will show thee, that I may make of thee a great nation; and I will surely bless thee, and make thy name great, so that thou shalt be a blessing, I will also bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will
Charles Foster Kent—The Making of a Nation

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
Syria: the part played by it in the ancient world--Babylon and the first Chaldaean empire--The dominion of the Hyksos: Ahmosis. Some countries seem destined from their origin to become the battle-fields of the contending nations which environ them. Into such regions, and to their cost, neighbouring peoples come from century to century to settle their quarrels and bring to an issue the questions of supremacy which disturb their little corner of the world. The nations around are eager for the possession
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 4

The Gospel Feast
"When Jesus then lifted up His eyes, and saw a great company come unto Him, He saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat?"--John vi. 5. After these words the Evangelist adds, "And this He said to prove him, for He Himself knew what He would do." Thus, you see, our Lord had secret meanings when He spoke, and did not bring forth openly all His divine sense at once. He knew what He was about to do from the first, but He wished to lead forward His disciples, and to arrest and
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

The Promise to the Patriarchs.
A great epoch is, in Genesis, ushered in with the history of the time of the Patriarchs. Luther says: "This is the third period in which Holy Scripture begins the history of the Church with a new family." In a befitting manner, the representation is opened in Gen. xii. 1-3 by an account of the first revelation of God, given to Abraham at Haran, in which the way is opened up for all that follows, and in which the dispensations of God are brought before us in a rapid survey. Abraham is to forsake
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Tithing
There are few subjects on which the Lord's own people are more astray than on the subject of giving. They profess to take the Bible as their own rule of faith and practice, and yet in the matter of Christian finance, the vast majority have utterly ignored its plain teachings and have tried every substitute the carnal mind could devise; therefore it is no wonder that the majority of Christian enterprises in the world today are handicapped and crippled through the lack of funds. Is our giving to be
Arthur W. Pink—Tithing

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
WHEREIN ITS GOODLY LIGHT, WALLS, GATES, ANGELS, AND THE MANNER OF THEIR STANDING, ARE EXPOUNDED: ALSO HER LENGTH AND BREADTH, TOGETHER WITH THE GOLDEN MEASURING-REED EXPLAINED: AND THE GLORY OF ALL UNFOLDED. AS ALSO THE NUMEROUSNESS OF ITS INHABITANTS; AND WHAT THE TREE AND WATER OF LIFE ARE, BY WHICH THEY ARE SUSTAINED. 'Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.'-Psalm 87:3 'And the name of the city from that day shall be, THE LORD IS THERE.'-Ezekiel 48:35 London: Printed in the year 1665
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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