Please Note:
This study uses the King James Version of the Holy Bible throughout.
To read this study with a modern English translation of the Bible Go Here
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Thanks for your patience. The full version of this study explains how Abraham and Lot parted company amiably.
The Bible says the people (the enowsh or "people" rather than only "men") of Sodom were lawless criminals. The on-going abominable actions of these people finally led HaShem to order the destruction of the entire area as we will see. It was among these wicked outlaws that Lot "pitched his tent." He did so because the land was fertile "like the Garden of Eden" (13:10) before the cities of the plains were destroyed. Abram chose a more remote place to dwell and raise his family. The time period being discussed is circa 2000-1800 B.C.E.
After separating Abram moved his company to the Oaks of Mamre in Hebron. (13:10).
At some point after they separated a bitter war broke out in the plains (14:1-) consisting of a long and bloody series of attacks and counterattacks. When the fighting was done, Sodom had been overthrown and Lot (among others) was taken prisoner. One of Lot's servants managed to escape however and fled to Abram seeking military aid and the rescue of Lot.
Abram was outraged by the report and quickly gathered an army and went to Lot's rescue. Our first important clue is revealed in what happened next!
As Abram was approaching Sodom after winning the war, Sodom's restored ruler came out to meet and honor him. It was not surprising that he would do this, however accompanying the king was Melchizedek, High Priest of the One God (El Elyon)!
Melchizedek is one of the most mysterious and spiritually powerful figures in the Bible (consider Ps. 110:4; Heb. 5:5,6; Heb. 6:20; Heb. 7:23,24 etc)! His presence at Sodom raises many intriguing questions.
What is especially worth noting here is that the High Priest of El Elyon ("God of Might and Strength") came out of Sodom with its king to honor Abram for liberating the city! Based on the earlier texts we understood Sodom to be a deplorable den of lawless iniquity, the likes of which the world had seldom if ever known! It is depicted as being a place so evil and vile that God Himself personally demanded not only its destruction but its absolute annihilation!
Yet now we see the righteous Melchizedek accompanying the head men of the town in honoring Abram for restoring Sodom's independence!
This narrative seems incredibly bizarre! If Sodom was such an evil place why is this awesome personage there from (Jeru)salem to welcome Abram and his victorious troops? Why would Melchizedek even be associating with such people?
It seems obvious that Melchizedek did not consider Sodom an evil place at this point. It seems reasonable to conclude that while the region was lawless and godless Sodom, as chief city of the region, may have been the exception to the rule and aligned with the city of (Jeru)Salem and El Elyon. While this is somewhat conjecture it fits well with what is known.
Based on Melchizedek's presence in the city we can infer that Sodom (and possibly the other towns of the plains) were not at this point, evil places.
This is further implied by holy Master Melchizedek as follows:
El Elyon delivered the enemies of Sodom into Abram's hands and ordered His High Priest to consecrate the victory! Why would He do that if Sodom was so evil?
Where in Holy Scripture do we ever find God defending people who He deems to be an "abomination" and worthy of destruction themselves? And yet El Elyon not only defeated Sodom's enemies through Abram and his armies, but He even sent High Priest Melchizedek to sanctify the event and to offer tithes for the rebuilding of the town!
The point here is not that Sodom had been perfect before, but that it had served as a type of minor haven where justice had existed and where the True God had been worshiped. How their experiences turned the once good folks of Sodom into a people so evil that God Himself ordered their annihilation will become clear as we make our through the text.
The Inhabitants of Sodom
Genesis 13:11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.Genesis 13:14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD. War!
Melchizedek: High Priest of El Elyon
Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God [El Elyon].
19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Who cares, I'm glad YOU'RE here!
