Genesis 14:12-16
14:13 a The word Hebrew first occurs here in the Bible. It is not equivalent to the later term Habiru from Egyptian texts; the Habiru were mercenaries that roamed the land in the era of the judges.• Mamre: See study note on 13:18.
• relatives: Or allies; literally brothers.
Summary for Gen 14:14-16: 14:14-16 b God could give his people victory over any forces invading the Promised Land. Faithfulness to God was the prerequisite for victory. God promises to bless his people and give them victory over the world. He uses those who respond to his call and can skillfully use weapons of war (cp. Eph 4:8 c; 6:10-19 d). 14:14 e Abram ... mobilized the 318 trained men who had been born into his household: Abram was a formidable force, an outworking of God’s promise to make him great (12:2-3 f).
• Dan was a city about 150 miles north of Abram’s home in Hebron, then named Laish or Leshem (see Josh 19:47 g and study note; Judg 18:29 h). Dan, whose descendants migrated north in the days of the judges (Judg 18:1-29 i), had not yet been born (Gen 30:6 j). An editor apparently updated the text so that later readers could identify this city.
14:15 k Damascus was 40 miles north of Dan. Hobah was about 60 miles north of Damascus.
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