And he blessed him, and said, Blessed [be] Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
19. he blessed him ] Melchizedek, as a priest, blessed Abram for his courageous and chivalrous action. A stranger in the land, he had come to the rescue of its people.
of God Most High ] i.e. by God Most High. The blessing of El Elyon is invoked by Melchizedek upon Abram, the servant of Jehovah.
possessor of heaven and earth ] R.V. marg. maker. The word is poetical. It expresses the ideas of making, producing, creating, as in Deu 32:6, Psa 139:13, Pro 8:22. It is more often used for “acquiring” (cf. Gen 4:1), a sense which would not here be applicable. In Isa 1:3, it is found, as here, with the meaning of “owner.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 19. And he blessed him] This was a part of the priest’s office, to bless in the name of the Lord, for ever. See the form of this blessing, Nu 6:23-26; and for the meaning of the word to bless, see Ge 2:3.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And, or therefore, ( as the particle is oft taken, i.e. because he was a priest of God),
he (i.e. Melchizedek)
blessed him, ( Abram,) which was one act of the priestly office. See Poole on “Heb 7:6” and “Heb 7:7“. So it is a prayer for him, that God would confirm and increase the blessing which he had given him. Or, blessed is; so it is an acknowledgment of God’s blessing conferred upon Abram both formerly, and in this late and great victory. Or, blessed shall be; so it is a prediction concerning his future and further blessedness, whereof this was only an earnest.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And he blessed him,…. Melchizedek blessed Abram, which was one part of his office as a priest, to wish and pray for a blessing on others, see Nu 6:23, c. and herein typified Christ, who really blesses or confers blessings on all his people, even spiritual blessings, such as redemption, remission of sins, and justifying righteousness, adoption, and eternal life:
and said, blessed [be] Abram of the most high God that is, may he be blessed by him who is the most high God, with all kind of blessings, both temporal and spiritual; or he declares him to be blessed of him, as he undoubtedly was, or foretells that he would be, as was certainly his case: and another epithet of God is added, which abundantly shows he was able to bless him, since he is the
possessor of heaven and earth; is the Maker of both, and has a right to dispose of all things in them, both heavenly and earthly.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
19. And he blessed him. Unless these two members of the sentence, ‘He was the priest of God,’ and ‘He blessed,’ cohere together, Moses here relates nothing uncommon. For men mutually bless each other; that is, they wish well to each other. But here the priest of God is described, who, according to the right of his office, sanctifies one inferior and subject to himself. For he would never have dared to bless Abram, unless he had known, that in this respect he excelled him. In this manner the Levitical priests are commanded to bless the people; and God promises that the blessing should be efficacious and ratified, (Num 6:23.) So Christ, when about to ascend up to heaven, having lifted up his hands, blessed the Apostles, as a minister of the grace of God, (Luk 24:51😉 and then was exhibited the truth of this figure. For he testifies that the office of blessing the Church, which had been adumbrated in Melchizedek, was assigned him by his Father.
Blessed be Abram of the most high God. The design of Melchizedek is to confirm and ratify the grace of the Divine vocation to holy Abram; for he points out the honor with which God had peculiarly dignified him by separating him from all others, and adopting him as his own son. And he calls God, by whom Abram had been chosen, the Possessor of heaven and earth, to distinguish him from the fictitious idols of the Gentiles. Afterwards, indeed, God invests himself with other titles; that, by some peculiar mark, he may render himself more clearly known to men, who, because of the vanity of their mind, when they simply hear of God as the Framer of heaven and earth, never cease to wander, till at length they are lost in their own speculations. But because God was already known to Abram, and his faith was founded upon many miracles, Melchizedek deems it sufficient to declare that, by the title of Creator, (366) He whom Abram worshipped, is the true and only God. And although Melchizedek himself maintained the sincere worship of the true God, he yet calls Abram blessed of God, in respect of the eternal covenant: as if he would say, that, by a kind of hereditary right, the grace of God resided in one family and nation, because Abram alone had been chosen out of the whole world. Then is added a special congratulation on the victory obtained; not such as is wont to pass between profane men, who puff each other up with inflated encomiums; but Melchizedek gives thanks unto God, and regards the victory which the holy man had gained as a seal of his gratuitous calling.
(366) “ Creationis elogio testari,” etc. — “ De donner a Dieu ce titre de Possesseur du ciel et de la terre.” To give to God this title of Possessor of heaven and earth. — French Tr
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(19) Possessor.Literally, creator, or framer. It is a poetical word, as are also those for delivered and enemies. The form of the blessing, moreover, is poetical, as it is arranged in parallel clauses.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
19. He blessed him And to enhance the greatness and grandeur of Melchizedek, the writer of Hebrews (Heb 7:7) argues: “Without contradiction the less is blessed of the better . ” This blessing pronounced on Abram rises to a poetic strain:
Blessed be Abram of God most high,
Possessor of heaven and earth And blessed be God most high,
Who has delivered thine enemies into thy hand
The divine names here used are , El Elion, God, the Highest; the Supreme God; that is, the one God over all . Note how Abram, in Gen 14:22, uses the same words but prefixes the name Jehovah .
Possessor The Hebrew word may be rendered maker or founder, (Sept . and Vulg . creator,) as well as possessor . The word ready involves both these meanings .
Hath delivered Here the providential interposition of God in the affairs of man is recognised . Accordingly, in the words of Melchizedek, we find the doctrines, 1) of God’s unity and supremacy; 2) of his dominion of heaven and earth; 3) of the duty of praise and thanksgiving to him; 4) of divine Providence.
He gave him tithes of all That is, Abram gave Melchizedek tithes of all the booty he had taken. Thus early do we find the mention of the tenth, as a suitable portion of things acquired to be devoted to religious purposes.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Gen 14:19. God, possessor of heaven and earth Coneh, signifies possessor by right of creation; from which idea probably the translation of the LXX might be derived, for they have it, the creator, , who created heaven and earth. Le Clerc, who approves the first sense, possessor, thinks this to have been a common appellation of God, distinguishing him as grand Proprietary of all things from the local deities of the nations. Let it be observed here, that the knowledge of the true God was yet preserved among the Canaanites, as appears from this character of Melchizedek: Abram’s confederates also, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre, were most probably true believers: and the expression used by the Lord, that the iniquity of this people was not yet full, seems to prove, that some religion yet remained in the land.
REFLECTIONS.Behold Abram’s greatness. Kings come to congratulate him on his victory. The kings of Sodom and Salem: the latter deserves attentive consideration:
1. His name, Melchizedek, king of righteousness: his kingdom, Salem, king of peace. His character, a priest of the Most High God.
2. His benediction on Abram. He blessed God for him, and blessed him from God. Observe, (1.) The Most High God must be the object of our continual blessing and praise. (2.) All good things come from him: if we be enabled to overcome our spiritual enemies, we owe it to the strength of the Most High God. (3.) A true christian rejoices, and blesses God for the prosperity of his brethren.
3. Abram’s grateful offering: the tenth of the spoils, Learn, (1.) God expects that they who have abundance should honour him with it. (2.) The Lord Jesus Christ, our great High Priest, must be applied to as the only channel in which our services and offerings can be presented with acceptance to God.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed [be] Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
Ver. 19. And he blessed him. ] Lo, here an instance of the communion of saints: Melchizedek doth all good offices to Abram (a believer, though a stranger), not of courtesy only and humanity, but of charity and piety.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
he blessed: Gen 27:4, Gen 27:25-29, Gen 47:7, Gen 47:10, Gen 48:9-16, Gen 49:28, Num 6:23-27, Mar 10:16, Heb 7:6, Heb 7:7
Blessed be: Rth 3:10, 2Sa 2:5, Eph 1:3, Eph 1:6
high: Mic 6:6, Act 16:17
possessor: Gen 14:22, Psa 24:1, Psa 50:10, Psa 115:16, Mat 11:25, Luk 10:21
Reciprocal: Gen 24:60 – they Exo 39:43 – blessed them Deu 10:14 – the earth Jos 22:6 – General Jdg 5:24 – General Jdg 17:2 – Blessed 1Sa 2:20 – blessed 1Sa 15:13 – Blessed 2Sa 6:18 – he blessed 2Sa 19:39 – blessed 1Ch 16:2 – he blessed 1Ch 29:11 – all that 2Ch 31:8 – and his people Psa 115:15 – blessed Dan 5:23 – the Lord Luk 2:34 – blessed Act 17:24 – seeing Eph 4:6 – who Heb 5:6 – Melchisedec
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
The Strong One Most High Melchizedek was “priest of the most high God,” from the Hebrew ‘El ‘Elyon. This is a name for God used for the first time here. Hugo McCord, in his book Getting Acquainted With God, says ‘El probably meant “Strong One”, or “Powerful One”. He then says, “‘Elyon means that which is very high, lofty, exalted, most high, supreme.” Of course, this could simply refer to God’s high and lofty dwelling place ( Isa 57:15 ; Isa 66:1 ). However, McCord believes it portrays God as Commander-in-chief, with complete sovereignty. When 318 trained servants can defeat the armies of four kings, it becomes clear the Strong One is in control.
When Melchizedek blessed Abram, he described him as a follower of the Exalted One. He also underscored God’s role as the Sovereign of all by saying all in heaven and earth were his. He went on to note that it was the Lofty One who had brought about the defeat of Abram’s enemies. Abram then gave tithes to Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God. He did not want to diminish, even in the eyes of others, God’s role in blessing him. So, Abram refused to accept any of the spoils as payment for his part in defeating the kings and returning the captives safely home (14:19-24).
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
Gen 14:19. Blessed be Abram of the most high God Observe the titles he here gives to God, which are very glorious. 1st, The most high God, which speaks his absolute perfection in himself, and his sovereign dominion over all the creatures. 2d, Possessor of heaven and earth That is, rightful owner and sovereign Lord of all the creatures; because he made them.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
14:19 And he {i} blessed him, and said, Blessed [be] Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
(i) Melchizedek fed Abram, declared himself to represent a king, and he blessed him as the high priest.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The God Melchizedek worshipped as a priest was the true God known to him as El Elyon, the possessor of heaven and earth. This title reveals the sovereign power of God. Melchizedek and Abram regarded Abram’s recent victory in battle as due to the blessing of El Elyon.