And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,
22. I have lift up mine hand ] i.e. I have sworn, taken an oath with a gesture, symbolizing the appeal to God. Cf. Deu 32:40; Dan 12:7.
the Lord, God Most High ] i.e. Jehovah El Elyon. The LXX and Syriac Peshitto omit “Jehovah.” The Sam. reads ha-Elohim for “Jehovah.” Abram takes his oath in the name of the God of Melchizedek whom a later scribe probably identified with Jehovah.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 22. I have lift up mine hand] The primitive mode of appealing to God, and calling him to witness a particular transaction; this no doubt generally obtained among the faithful till circumcision, the sign of the covenant, was established. After this, in swearing, the hand was often placed on the circumcised part; see Ge 24:2; Ge 24:9.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This was the ancient manner of swearing. See Exo 6:8; Num 14:30; Deu 32:40; Eze 20:5,6.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Abram said to the king of Sodom,…. In reply to his request:
I have lifted up mine hand unto the Lord; which was both a gesture of praying and of swearing, and both may be intended here; when he set out on his expedition, it is very probable he prayed to God for success, and swore that if he prospered him, that he would receive no profit or advantage from it to himself; or now in the presence of Melchizedek he lift up his hands and swore that he would take none of the goods he had recovered to his own line; and in this form of praying or swearing, he makes use of the same epithets of God Melchizedek had just used:
the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth: having his heart struck with those just and glorious representations of God, and awed with a sense of such a glorious Being, and being forward to learn and retain everything that tended to make for the glory of God.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
22. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand, etc (368) This ancient ceremony was very appropriate to give expression to the force and nature of an oath. For by raising the hand towards heaven, we show that we appeal to God as a witness, and also as an avenger, if we fail to keep our oath. Formerly, indeed, they raised their hands in giving votes; whence the Greeks derive the word ( χειροτονεῖν,) (369) which signifies to decree: but in the rite of swearing, the reason for doing so was different. For men hereby declared, that they regarded themselves as in the presence of God, and called upon him to be both the Guardian of truth, and the Avenger of perjury. Yet it may seem strange that Abram should so easily have put himself forward to swear; for he knew that a degree of reverence was due to the name of God, which should constrain us to use it but sparingly, and only from necessity. I answer, there were two reasons for his swearing. First, since inconstant men are wont to measure others by their own standard, they seldom place confidence in bare assertions. The king of Sodom, therefore, would have thought that Abram did not seriously remit his right, unless the name of God had been interposed. And, secondly, it was of great consequence, to make it manifest to all, that he had not carried on a mercenary war. The histories of all times sufficiently declare, that even they who have had just causes of war have, nevertheless, been invited to it by the thirst of private gain. And as men are acute in devising pretexts, they are never at a loss to find plausible reasons for war, even though covetousness may be their only real stimulant. Therefore, unless Abram had resolutely refused the spoils of war, the rumor would immediately have spread, that, under the pretense of rescuing his nephew, he had been intent upon grasping the prey. Against which it was necessary for him carefully to guard, not so much for his own sakes as for the glory of God, which would otherwise have received some mark of disparagement. Besides, Abram wished to arm himself with the name of God, as with a shield, against all the allurements of avarice. For the king of Sodom would not have desisted from tempting his mind by various methods, if the occasion for using bland insinuations had not been promptly cut off.
(368) A portion of the 22d verse, which is commented upon without being given in the original, is here inserted, in order to make the whole more clear to the reader; it also appears in the French Translation. — Ed.
(369) Literally, to stretch forth the hand.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
22. I have lifted up mine hand A solemn form of making oath before God .
Unto the Lord, the most high God Unto Jehovah El Elion . The God of Melchizedek was El Elion, (Gen 14:19,) a name that first appears in this connexion; not Elohim, nor yet Eloah . Elion is mentioned by Sanchoniathon as the name of the Phenician deity, and was probably common among the early Semitic nations as the name of the Supreme God . But Abram knows God under another name, Jehovah, the God of gracious revelation and promise . Although as king and priest of the most high God, blessing Abram and receiving tithes from him, Melchizedek appears as one superior to “the friend of God,” yet, as Kalisch well observes, “the religious enlightenment of the king of Salem was but a ray of the sun of Abram’s faith, and scarcely sufficient as it was, in itself, entirely to dispel the darkness, it could not be intended to spread a light to distant regions . ” Abram can appropriately use the name El Elion, possessor of heaven and earth, thus repeating, with thankful recognition, the name of the God of Melchizedek, but he puts before it the NAME to him more sacred, the name of the God who had appeared to him in this land of promise, and to whom he had erected altars . Gen 12:7-8; Gen 13:18.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Abraham’s Trust in Divine Provision and Prosperity – Why did Abraham use such a lengthy name for the Lord as “the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth”; because He is known by His names. His names reveal His character. This name fit the occasion. Other divine attributes of God were not yet revealed to mankind (Exo 6:3).
Exo 6:3, “And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.”
In Abraham’s wisdom, he made a commitment to not gain wealth by taking from others, although he had already become wealthy. He had learned about the blessing of the Lord (Pro 10:22; Pro 28:20).
Pro 10:22, “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.”
Pro 28:20, “A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.”
Gen 14:22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,
Gen 14:23 Gen 14:22-23
Gen 21:22, “And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:”
Gen 26:28, “And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;”
Gen 30:27, “And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.”
Gen 39:2-3, “And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. His master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.”
Gen 14:24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
Gen 14:24
Gen 14:13, “And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.”
Fuente: Everett’s Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures
Gen 14:22. I have lift up mine hand, &c. i.e.. I have sworn: a solemn act of religion usually accustomed with lifting up the hand, as it were, in appeal to God. Accordingly, lifting up the hand and swearing are put the one for the other, Exo 6:8 compared with Deu 32:40. Psa 63:4. The same ceremony was used by the heathens. Virgil says, that Latinus tendit ad sidera dextram, lifted up his hand to heaven, &c. AEn. XII. 196.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 14:22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,
Ver. 22. I have lifted up my hand. ] A swearing gesture. Dan 12:7 Rev 10:5-6 Neither doth he this rashly, but for very good reason first, that by this oath, as by a buckler, he might fence himself against all covetous desires of the spoil; secondly, to show that he did seriously remit of that which was his right, and went not to war for wages; thirdly, hereby to profess his faith and religion in opposition to their superstitious vanities, &c.
The possessor of heaven and earth.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
lift up mine hand = I swear. Compare Exo 6:8. Psa 106:26. Isa 3:7 margin. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct). See App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
lift: Exo 6:8, Deu 32:40, Dan 12:7, Rev 10:5, Rev 10:6
unto: Gen 21:23-31, Jdg 11:35
the most: Gen 14:20, Gen 17:1, Psa 24:1, Psa 83:18, Isa 57:15, Dan 4:34, Hag 2:8
possessor: Gen 14:19, Gen 21:33
Reciprocal: Gen 19:30 – Zoar Gen 21:27 – took Gen 23:13 – I will Gen 24:3 – the Gen 25:33 – Swear Gen 26:31 – sware Gen 31:53 – sware Lev 9:22 – his hand Num 14:30 – sware Jdg 5:19 – they took 2Sa 14:11 – let the king 2Ki 5:16 – I will receive 1Ch 29:11 – all that Neh 8:6 – with lifting Neh 9:15 – sworn Psa 106:26 – lifted Isa 3:7 – swear Eze 20:5 – lifted up mine hand Mat 11:25 – Lord Act 17:24 – seeing Heb 6:16 – swear
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 14:22-23. Here observe, 1st, Abram gives to God the same titles that Melchizedek had just now used. It is good to learn of others how to order our speech concerning God, and to imitate those who speak well in divine things. 2d, The ceremony used in this oath; I have lift up my hand In religious swearing, we appeal to Gods knowledge of our truth and sincerity, and imprecate his wrath if we swear falsely; and the lifting up of the hands is expressive of both. Lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich Probably, Abram knew the king of Sodom to be a proud and scornful man, and one that would be apt to turn such a thing as this to his reproach afterward; and when we have to do with such men, we have need to act with particular caution. From a thread to a shoe-latchet Not the least thing that had ever belonged to the king of Sodom.