Genesis 14

 Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as we discover new insights and new perspectives from a very old book.

Genesis 14

I'm reading both Young's Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Out of curiosity, I looked up bitumen (tar) pits, to see how commonplace they are. An article in ScienceDirect suggests that the armies of Sodom, Gomorrah, and their allies actually would more likely have gotten stuck in the "black sulfurous mud" when the Dead Sea's lake level was low. That's assuming, of course, that any of this actually took place. 

Following up on something I noticed from the previous chapter. Both the YLT and the NRSV clearly state that Lot is Abram's brother's son, i.e., nephew. But in verse 14 of the YLT says:

"And Abram heareth that his brother hath been taken captive…"

The NRSV says:

"When Abram heard that his nephew had been taken captive…"

 The YLT might only mean Lot was Abram's "brethren," and the NRSV in one sense gives the contextually more accurate word "nephew." But from previous chapters when reading the YLT, I see a very intimate bond between Abram and Lot that today is more often associated as between siblings rather than uncle-nephew. They had been companions and partners until they separated in Chapter 13.

That's why Abram and his men went out to rescue Lot. It's as if by losing Lot, Abram would lose part of himself.

Rescuing Lot also meant rescuing the King of Sodom, even though chapter 13 described the men of Sodom as "sinners" and "wicked."

Turns out, the sins of Sodom weren't  any of Abram's business. His only interest was in saving Lot. It's made clear that Abram doesn't want to be compensated by the King of Sodom, as if Abram's saying "I have Lot back. You owe me nothing. I'm done with you."

The incident draws out Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of "God Most High." Salem wasn't involved in the wars mentioned in the chapter, but Melchizidek blesses Abram, and Abram gives him a tenth of all he has. From Abram, that's a lot.

And Abram clears something up when he says, "“I have sworn to the LORD God Most High, maker of heaven and earth."

So, "God" of Chapter One, maker of heaven and earth, is the same as "Jehovah God" (YLT)/LORD God (NRSV) who is the same as God Most High. 

That clears it up. Frankly, it wasn't obvious to me in earlier chapters. It was like reading a novel where a character named Robert Anthony is called Robert, then called Bob, then B.A. 

Different people have given God different names, but it's the same character.

James Leroy Wilson writes Daily Miracles, The Daily Bible Chapter, JL Cells, and The MVP Chase. Thanks for your subscriptions and support!

(Photo credit: TyshkunVictor)