In chapter 14, the narrative shifts from the peace that comes from the parting of ways between Abram and Lot and zooms out to a conflict between 4 Mesopotamian kings, ring-led by Chedorlaomer, king of Elam (henceforth known as Cheddar and the Gang) and the 5 king alliance (henceforth known as the Dead Sea Alliance) that make up the various city-states that surround the Dead Sea. Fed up with these foreign rulers, the Dead Sea Alliance (kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar) decide to rebel. This works for a year until Cheddar and the Gang come rolling in from the east to put things back in order (always ominous action from the east.)
A massive battle takes place in the Valley of Siddim, located just south of the Dead Sea. In what certainly is an embarrassing turn of events, this battle ensues and the Dead Sea Alliance breaks apart, the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah bail and their men follow. They stink even at retreat and a good number of them fall into tar pits. In reaction, Cheddar and the Gang easily haul off with the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Now, generally speaking, we don’t care about any of this. These types of alliances of kings are pretty common and it’s a bit of the way of the world where strong kings from foreign lands dominate those who are weaker. None of this has anything to do with God’s selected line of focus, Abram, as the land that belongs to the kings of the Dead Sea Alliance are not part of Abram’s promised land, this fight isn’t his business. However, Cheddar and the Gang take more than just the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, they take Abram’s nephew Lot. And this brings the trouble. (It’s certainly intentional that this story follows directly after Lot’s choice of land where he and Abram part ways.)
Abram is told the news that Cheddar and the Gang have stolen Lot. Although we see that Abram has some buddies in the area (Mamre, Eshcol and Aner), he seems to be able to supply his own men for the mission of retrieving Lot, 318 of them to be exact. And these aren’t run of the mill herdsmen or general laborers who Abram has convinced to join, we’re told they’re trained men. Gotta appreciate Abram’s style here.
So Abram and his continental army head out and chase Cheddar and the Gang north all the way up to the city of Dan (about 175 miles, give or take a mile.) Then he splits his forces, they attack at night, and Cheddar and the Gang are defeated and are chased even further out of the area, all the way north of Damascus (another 30 miles.) This is no small feat. Although we don’t have a sense of how many men were involved in the Dead Sea Alliance, it certainly is crazy to see Abram’s boys haul up north and over the course of a single night evict Cheddar and the Gang not only out of the Dead Sea area but completely out of the land promised to his heirs. (There’s no indication in the story that that was a motivation, but it’s interesting.)
Not only that, but Abram returns with Lot and all of his possessions as well as the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah (which includes other folks besides Lot.) This wasn’t just chasing a raccoon away with a broomstick, Abram cleaned house, took names, and road home with heavier carts than when he arrived.
Upon Abram’s return, he encounters one of the most enigmatic folk in Scripture, Melchizedek, king of Salem. He also runs into the king of Sodom, who seems to have made his way back home after literally heading for the hills when he was supposed to be defending his own land. We’re likely supposed to contrast these two fellas and their reaction to Abram.
Up until now, we don’t know anything of this Melchizedek. He is not part of the Dead Sea Alliance and his land (Salem, possibly Jerusalem, possibly not) is not part of the disputed territory. His name means “My king is righteous” and he is described as a “priest of God Most High” as well as a king. This is one interesting dude, especially to show up out of the blue as having an office of sorts in service to YAHWEH. He greets Abram bearing gifts, bread and wine to be exact. He also becomes the first human in Scripture to recognize the blessing upon Abram, crediting God’s influence with Abram’s victory over Cheddar and the Gang.
In reaction, Abram gives Melchizedek 10% of everything he got from Cheddar. This probably shouldn’t be seen as a voluntary gift, it’s more of a matter of honor, acknowledging the station and superiority of Melchizedek in relation to Abram.
In contrast, the cowardly king of Sodom bears no gifts or form of hospitality and opens the conversation with a curt direction to Abram to give back the persons and keep the goods for himself. Obviously, the king’s reputation isn’t good as it is conceivable to Abram that to accept this offer had the potential to lead to false boasting and perhaps an ill-advised association with him. Abram wants nothing to do with that and rejects the king’s offer, returning all the spoils of war he gained in the process of re-acquiring Lot except what the soldiers have eaten and whatever belongs to his buddies in the area.
A couple notes. The point of this is likely to demonstrate that God’s blessing is with Abram, certainly in contrast with Lot (who finds himself kidnapped) but also with the inept Dead Sea Alliance as well as the seemingly super-powerful Cheddar and the Gang. No odds are too great when you are faithful to the Lord.
On Melchizedek, he pops up again as a reference in Psalm 110 as well as in Hebrews as a figure that seems to help us understand both David and Jesus. In fact, it’s been suggested that Melchizedek might be a Christophany, an appearance of Jesus on earth in human form prior to being born to Mary (there will be another example in Genesis.) However, I think the reference is most likely to point to the unique position (line) of being both priest and king. This is a different type of office than just being the king or just being the priest. David seems to have some duties that would allude to this and, of course, Jesus is the ultimate Priest and King combo.