0 - Bible Commentary | Karuna Sadan

And in the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him attacked and subdued the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, (Genesis 14:5)

In Genesis 14, about 400 years after the flood, God speaks of battles between some of the kings in the area which Abram and Lot were living. During one of these battles, Lot and his family are taken captive.

The Rephaim and the Emim were giants (tall people) that were occupying the lands after the flood. As the Zuzim are named with these two tribes, it is probably safe to say that these were also a tribe of giant people. At the very least they were known to be wicked people.

Emim

Deuteronomy 2 reveals that the Emim, which likely means “terrors,” were giants:

“The Emim had dwelt there in times past, a people as great and numerous and tall as the Anakim. They were also regarded as giants [Hebrew rephaim], like the Anakim, but the Moabites call them Emim” (Deuteronomy 2:10–11).

Moses told the people that the Emim used to live in the territory that God had given to the descendants of Lot’s son Moab (Genesis 19:37).

The Zuzim (Zamzummim)

The Zamzummim (almost certainly the same as Zuzim in Genesis 14:5) were also called giants and listed in the same chapter as the Emim:

“[The land of Ammon] was also regarded as a land of giants [Hebrew rephaim]; giants [rephaim] formerly dwelt there. But the Ammonites call them Zamzummim, a people as great and numerous and tall as the Anakim. But the Lord destroyed them before them, and they dispossessed them and dwelt in their place “(Deuteronomy 2:20–21).

These verses explain that a group of giants known as Zamzummim had lived in the land of Ammon, “a land of giants.” God destroyed the Zamzummim so that the descendants of Lot’s son Ben-Ammi (the Ammonites) could live in the land (Genesis 19:38).

According to Genesis 14:5, the Zuzim were in the land of Ham. This may be in reference to Noah’s son, Ham, since they descended from him. But it is more likely a reference to the Hamathites, who were descendants of Canaan, Ham’s son.

While the Zuzim and Zamzummim may have been different people groups, there are enough similarities in name, description, and geographical location to infer that they were variant names for the same group.

How could Abraham win the battle with only a few servants?

When Abram heard that [his nephew] had been captured, he armed (led forth) the 318 trained servants born in his own house and pursued the enemy as far as Dan. (Genesis 14:14)

When Abraham heard that his nephew, Lot had been captured by enemy forces, he put together a fighting team.

I believe there were three main factors which gave Abraham the victory

1.They were trained servants

2.They had been born in his own house meaning Abraham had the loyalty of his men.

3.He had the Lord on his side

In order to be effectively used by God, we simply must be “equipped” – trained.

And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king's delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king. (Daniel 1:5)

Training was necessary so that they could serve the earthly king Nebuchadnezzar. If training was necessary to serve an earthly king, then one can imagine the importance of training or preparation in serving the Heavenly King – Lord Jesus.

Unlike Olympic athletes who put so much time and dedication into their goal, we are often half-hearted in our pursuit of righteousness. (Proverbs 21:21)

Who was the Mysterious Melchizedek in the Bible?

For ages, religious philosophers and historians have been attracted (and perplexed) by the fascinating biblical character of Melchizedek, whose identity remains a mystery. Genesis, the first book of the Bible (also known as the Old Testament), has a brief but significant appearance by him, during which time he blesses the patriarch Abram and is presented as "priest of the Most High God,".

Melchizedek king of Salem [later called Jerusalem] brought out bread and wine [for their nourishment]; he was the priest of God Most High,

And he blessed him and said, Blessed (favored with blessings, made blissful, joyful) be Abram by God Most High, Possessor and Maker of heaven and earth, (Genesis 14:18-19)

The Jewish historical book Jasher gives us some clues to the identity of Melchizedek.

And Adonizedek king of Jerusalem, the same was Shem, went out with his men to meet Abram and his people, with bread and wine, and they remained together in the valley of Melech. And Adonizedek blessed Abram, and Abram gave him a tenth from all that he had brought from the spoil of his enemies, for Adonizedek was a priest before God. (Jasher 16:11-12)

He was none other than Shem. He was priest before God.

King of Salem means king of Jerusalem is also a prophetic reference to Christ. Psalm 110 prophetically refers to Lord Jesus, “’You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’”

Apostle Paul explains Melchizedek was “king of Salem and priest of God Most High." He was both a king and a high priest, something that Jews of that time believed wasn't possible. Only Levites could be priests and only non-Levites could be king. (When King Uzziah tried to light incense in the temple, God struck him with leprosy.) Apostle Paul interpreted Psalm 110 as referring to Jesus as being a "priest (and king) forever in the order of Melchizedek,"

Chapter 14