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Matthew Henry on Genesis 14:17-20
Melchizedek is spoken of as a king of Salem, supposed to be the place afterwards called Jerusalem, and it is generally thought that he was only a man. The words of the apostle, Heb 7:3, state only, that the sacred histo…
Abram's Interview with Melchizedek. (b. c. 1913.)
ABRAM'S INTERVIEW WITH MELCHIZEDEK. (B. C. 1913.) This paragraph begins with the mention of the respect which the king of Sodom paid to Abram at his return from the slaughter of the kings; but, before a particular accou…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 14:21-24
Observe the king of Sodom's grateful offer to Abram, Give me the souls, and take thou the substance. Gratitude teaches us to recompense to the utmost of our power, those that have undergone fatigues, run hazards, and be…
Abram's Disinterestedness. (b. c. 1913.)
ABRAM'S DISINTERESTEDNESS. (B. C. 1913.) We have here an account of what passed between Abram and the king of Sodom, who succeeded him that fell in the battle (Genesis 14:10), and thought himself obliged to do this hono…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 15:1
God assured Abram of safety and happiness; that he should for ever be safe. I am thy shield; or, I am a shield to thee, present with thee, actually caring for thee. The consideration that God himself is, and will be a s…
God's Covenant with Abram. (b. c. 1913.)
GOD'S COVENANT WITH ABRAM. (B. C. 1913.) Observe here, I. The time when God made this treaty with Abram: After these things. 1. After that famous act of generous charity which Abram had done, in rescuing his friends and…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 15:1
What the Lord is to his people. I. A SHIELD against— 1. The charges of the law (Isaiah 45:24). 2. The accusations of conscience (Romans 15:13). 3. The force of temptation (Revelation 3:10). 4. The opposition of the worl…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 15:1-6
Under the stars with God. I. DEJECTED BEFORE GOD. 1. Apprehensive of danger. Victorious over the Asiatic monarchs, Abram nevertheless dreaded their return. Signal deliverances are not seldom followed by depressing fears…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 15:1-6
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 15:1
After these things—the events just recorded—the word of the Lord—Debar Jehovah; the first occurrence of this remarkable phrase, afterwards so common in the Hebrew Scriptures (Exodus 9:20; Numbers 3:16; Deuteronomy 34:5;…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 15:1-21
Faith. The substance of this chapter is the special intercourse between Jehovah and Abram. On that foundation faith rests. It is not feeling after God, if haply he be found; it is a living confidence and obedience, base…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 15:2-6
Though we must never complain of God, yet we have leave to complain to him; and to state all our grievances. It is ease to a burdened spirit, to open its case to a faithful and compassionate friend. Abram's complaint is…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 15:2-6
We have here the assurance given to Abram of a numerous offspring which should descend from him, in which observe, I. Abram's repeated complaint, Genesis 15:2-3. This was that which gave occasion to this promise. The gr…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 15:2
And Abram said, Lord God. Adonai Jehovah; the first use of these terms in combination, the second, which usually has the vowel-points of the first, being here written with the vocalization of Elohim. Adonai, an older pl…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 15:3
And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house (literally, the son of my house, i.e. Eliezer) is mine heir. The language of the patriarch discovers three things:
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 15:4
And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 15:5
And he (Jehovah, or "the Word of the Lord") brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them (a proof that Abram's vision was not a dream): and he said unto…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 15:6
And he believed in the Lord. The hiphil of the verb aman, to prop or stay, signifies to build upon, hence to rest one's faith upon; and this describes exactly the mental act of the patriarch, who reposed his confidence…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 15:6
Faith and Righteousness. "And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness." Even by itself this passage claims attention. How does the idea of righteousness come into it at all? What is meant by…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 15:7-11
Assurance was given to Abram of the land of Canaan for an inheritance. God never promises more than he is able to perform, as men often do. Abram did as God commanded him. He divided the beasts in the midst, according t…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 15:7-11
We have here the assurance given to Abram of the land of Canaan for an inheritance. I. God declares his purpose concerning it, Genesis 15:7. Observe here, Abram made no complaint in this matter, as he had done for the w…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 15:7-21
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 15:7
And he (Jehovah, or the Word of the Lord) said unto him (after the act of faith on the part of the patriarch, and the act of imputation or justification on the part of God, and in explication of the exact nature of that…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 15:8
And he said, Lord God (Adonai Jehovah; vide Genesis 15:2), whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it? Not the language of doubt, though slight misgivings are not incompatible with faith (cf. 6:17; 2 Kings 20:8; Luke…