and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything. And blessed be God Most HighThe phrase "blessed be" is a form of praise and acknowledgment of God's supreme authority and benevolence. The Hebrew word for "blessed" is "barak," which means to kneel or to bless. This indicates a posture of reverence and worship. "God Most High" translates to "El Elyon" in Hebrew, emphasizing God's sovereignty and supremacy over all creation. This title is significant as it acknowledges God's ultimate authority and power, setting the stage for understanding His role in the events that unfold. who has delivered your enemies into your hand
The word "delivered" comes from the Hebrew "magan," meaning to shield or protect. This implies that God actively intervened to ensure Abram's victory. The phrase "your enemies into your hand" signifies a complete and decisive victory, orchestrated by divine intervention. Historically, this reflects the belief that God is actively involved in the affairs of His people, providing protection and victory over adversaries. It underscores the theme of divine providence and the belief that God fights on behalf of His chosen ones. Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything
The act of giving "a tenth" is the first recorded instance of tithing in the Bible. The Hebrew word for "tenth" is "ma'aser," which later becomes a foundational practice in the Israelite community as a form of worship and acknowledgment of God's provision. "Everything" indicates that Abram's offering was comprehensive, not limited to specific items, reflecting a heart of gratitude and recognition of God's role in his success. This act of giving to Melchizedek, a priest of God Most High, symbolizes Abram's acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and his submission to divine authority. It sets a precedent for the practice of tithing as an expression of faith and gratitude. Persons / Places / Events 1. Abram (Abraham)The central figure in this passage, Abram is blessed by Melchizedek and responds by giving a tithe. He is a patriarch of the faith, known for his obedience and faithfulness to God. 2. MelchizedekKing of Salem and priest of God Most High, Melchizedek blesses Abram. His dual role as king and priest is significant and foreshadows Christ's own role. 3. God Most High (El Elyon)This title for God emphasizes His supreme authority and sovereignty over all creation. It is used by Melchizedek to bless Abram. 4. Enemies DeliveredRefers to the kings defeated by Abram, highlighting God's intervention and support in Abram's victory. 5. TitheAbram's act of giving a tenth of everything to Melchizedek is an early example of tithing, demonstrating gratitude and acknowledgment of God's provision. Teaching Points Acknowledgment of God's SovereigntyRecognize that victories and successes are ultimately delivered by God Most High. This acknowledgment should lead to humility and gratitude. The Principle of TithingAbram's giving of a tenth is a model for believers to follow, demonstrating trust in God's provision and a heart of worship. Christ as Our High PriestMelchizedek's role as both king and priest points to Jesus, who fulfills both roles perfectly. Believers can find assurance in Christ's eternal priesthood. Blessing OthersJust as Melchizedek blessed Abram, believers are called to be a blessing to others, sharing God's love and truth. Faith in ActionAbram's response to God's deliverance was immediate and generous. Our faith should be active, leading to tangible expressions of gratitude and worship. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Abram's response to Melchizedek's blessing challenge your current understanding of gratitude and giving? 2. In what ways can you acknowledge God's sovereignty in your daily life, especially in times of success or victory? 3. How does the connection between Melchizedek and Jesus enhance your understanding of Christ's role as our High Priest? 4. What practical steps can you take to ensure that your giving reflects a heart of worship and trust in God's provision? 5. How can you be a blessing to others in your community, following the example of Melchizedek's blessing to Abram? Connections to Other Scriptures Hebrews 7This chapter discusses Melchizedek's priesthood and its connection to Jesus Christ, emphasizing the eternal and superior priesthood of Christ. Psalm 110:4This verse prophesies about the Messiah being a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek, linking the Old Testament figure to Jesus. Malachi 3:10Discusses the principle of tithing and God's promise of blessing for those who faithfully give. 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, ZuzitesPlaces 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, ZoarTopics Abram, Adversaries, Blessed, Delivered, Enemies, Giveth, Goods, Hands, Praised, Tenth, TithesDictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 14:20 1335 blessing
1657 numbers, fractions
5577 taxation
7402 offerings
8665 praise, reasons Genesis 14:1-24 4224 cities of the plain Genesis 14:13-21 5077 Abraham, character Genesis 14:17-20 1680 types
5328 greeting Genesis 14:18-20 1205 God, titles of
5042 name of God, significance
8488 tithing Genesis 14:18-23 4055 heaven and earth 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 ScriptureJerusalem
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 Links Genesis 14:20 NIVGenesis 14:20 NLTGenesis 14:20 ESVGenesis 14:20 NASBGenesis 14:20 KJV
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