Genesis Chapter 14 ~ The Priest Melchizedek & The Introduction of the Tithe

Genesis Chapter 14

4 kings:

(1) Amraphel of Shinar
(2) Arioch of Ellasar
(3) Chedorlaomer of Elam
(4) Tidal of Goiim

made war with 5 kings:

(1) Bera of Sodom
(2) Birsha of Gomorrah
(3) Shinab of Admah
(4) Shemeber of Zeboiim
(5) Bela of Zoar

They fought in the valley of Siddim of the Salt Sea. They had served Chedorlaomer but then rebelled. So those with Chedorlaomer began defeating all of the areas including the country of the Amalekites (unknown origin) and the Amorites (from Noah's son, Ham's, lineage through Canaan).

Then the 5 kings who rebelled fought with the 4 kings in the Valley of Siddim. As the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled some fell into bitumin pits. The 4 kings then took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah including Lot. One escaped and told Abram the Hebrew (first time this word "Hebrew"appears in Scripture) and his allies. Abram led his men in pursuit of the 4 kings and they defeated them and brought back all the possessions and Lot.

The king of Sodom went out to meet Abram at the Valley of Shaveh, and Melchizedek king of Salem brought bread and wine and he blessed Abram. There Abram gave Melchizedek a 10th of everything. The king of Sodom told Abram to take the possessions but Abram refused.

In this chapter we see the introduction of the concept of giving a tithe or a tenth (10th) of all one has to a priest of God Most High! This is the first that the name Melchizedek is mentioned in the Bible. He is a priest without description of Yahweh. He has no beginning and no end, this is the priesthood that Jesus Christ would come in the order of (Hebrews 5-7). Jesus would be the great intercessor and priest who’s priesthood has no beginning and no end, and who is able to make a way for people to come before God clothed in His righteousness.