7 And they returned, H7725 and came H935 to H413 Enmishpat, H5880 which is Kadesh, H6946 and smote H5221 all the country H7704 of the Amalekites, H6003 and also the Amorites, H567 that dwelt H3427 in Hazezontamar. H2688
Then there came H935 some that told H5046 Jehoshaphat, H3092 saying, H559 There cometh H935 a great H7227 multitude H1995 against thee from beyond H5676 the sea H3220 on this side Syria; H758 and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, H2688 which is Engedi. H5872
And when we departed H5265 from Horeb, H2722 we went through H3212 all that great H1419 and terrible H3372 wilderness, H4057 which ye saw H7200 by the way H1870 of the mountain H2022 of the Amorites, H567 as the LORD H3068 our God H430 commanded H6680 us; and we came H935 to Kadeshbarnea. H6947
And it came to pass, when David H1732 and his men H582 were come H935 to Ziklag H6860 on the third H7992 day, H3117 that the Amalekites H6003 had invaded H6584 the south, H5045 and Ziklag, H6860 and smitten H5221 Ziklag, H6860 and burned H8313 it with fire; H784 And had taken the women H802 captives, H7617 that were therein: they slew H4191 not any, H376 either great H1419 or small, H6996 but carried them away, H5090 and went H3212 on their way. H1870 So David H1732 and his men H582 came H935 to the city, H5892 and, behold, it was burned H8313 with fire; H784 and their wives, H802 and their sons, H1121 and their daughters, H1323 were taken captives. H7617 Then David H1732 and the people H5971 that were with him lifted up H5375 their voice H6963 and wept, H1058 until they had no more power H3581 to weep. H1058 And David's H1732 two H8147 wives H802 were taken captives, H7617 Ahinoam H293 the Jezreelitess, H3159 and Abigail H26 the wife H802 of Nabal H5037 the Carmelite. H3761 And David H1732 was greatly H3966 distressed; H3334 for the people H5971 spake H559 of stoning H5619 him, because the soul H5315 of all the people H5971 was grieved, H4843 every man H376 for his sons H1121 and for his daughters: H1323 but David H1732 encouraged H2388 himself in the LORD H3068 his God. H430 And David H1732 said H559 to Abiathar H54 the priest, H3548 Ahimelech's H288 son, H1121 I pray thee, bring me hither H5066 the ephod. H646 And Abiathar H54 brought H5066 thither the ephod H646 to David. H1732 And David H1732 enquired H7592 at the LORD, H3068 saying, H559 Shall I pursue H7291 after H310 this troop? H1416 shall I overtake H5381 them? And he answered H559 him, Pursue: H7291 for thou shalt surely H5381 overtake H5381 them, and without fail H5337 recover H5337 all. So David H1732 went, H3212 he and the six H8337 hundred H3967 men H376 that were with him, and came H935 to the brook H5158 Besor, H1308 where those that were left behind H3498 stayed. H5975 But David H1732 pursued, H7291 he and four H702 hundred H3967 men: H376 for two hundred H3967 abode behind, H5975 which were so faint H6296 that they could not go over H5674 the brook H5158 Besor. H1308 And they found H4672 an Egyptian H376 H4713 in the field, H7704 and brought H3947 him to David, H1732 and gave H5414 him bread, H3899 and he did eat; H398 and they made him drink H8248 water; H4325 And they gave H5414 him a piece H6400 of a cake H1690 of figs, and two H8147 clusters of raisins: H6778 and when he had eaten, H398 his spirit H7307 came again H7725 to him: for he had eaten H398 no bread, H3899 nor drunk H8354 any water, H4325 three H7969 days H3117 and three H7969 nights. H3915 And David H1732 said H559 unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, H559 I am a young man H5288 of Egypt, H4713 servant H5650 to an Amalekite; H376 H6003 and my master H113 left H5800 me, because three H7969 days H3117 agone I fell sick. H2470 We made an invasion H6584 upon the south H5045 of the Cherethites, H3774 and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, H3063 and upon the south H5045 of Caleb; H3612 and we burned H8313 Ziklag H6860 with fire. H784 And David H1732 said H559 to him, Canst thou bring me down H3381 to this company? H1416 And he said, H559 Swear H7650 unto me by God, H430 that thou wilt neither kill H4191 me, nor H518 deliver H5462 me into the hands H3027 of my master, H113 and I will bring thee down H3381 to this company. H1416 And when he had brought him down, H3381 behold, they were spread abroad H5203 upon all H6440 the earth, H776 eating H398 and drinking, H8354 and dancing, H2287 because of all the great H1419 spoil H7998 that they had taken H3947 out of the land H776 of the Philistines, H6430 and out of the land H776 of Judah. H3063 And David H1732 smote H5221 them from the twilight H5399 even unto the evening H6153 of the next day: H4283 and there escaped H4422 not a man H376 of them, save four H702 hundred H3967 young H5288 men, H376 which rode H7392 upon camels, H1581 and fled. H5127 And David H1732 recovered H5337 all that the Amalekites H6002 had carried away: H3947 and David H1732 rescued H5337 his two H8147 wives. H802 And there was nothing lacking H5737 to them, neither H4480 small H6996 nor great, H1419 neither sons H1121 nor daughters, H1323 neither spoil, H7998 nor any thing that they had taken H3947 to them: David H1732 recovered H7725 all. And David H1732 took H3947 all the flocks H6629 and the herds, H1241 which they drave H5090 before H6440 those H1931 other cattle, H4735 and said, H559 This is David's H1732 spoil. H7998 And David H1732 came H935 to the two hundred H3967 men, H582 which were so faint H6296 that they could not follow H3212 H310 David, H1732 whom they had made also to abide H3427 at the brook H5158 Besor: H1308 and they went forth H3318 to meet H7125 David, H1732 and to meet H7125 the people H5971 that were with him: and when David H1732 came near H5066 to the people, H5971 he saluted H7592 H7965 them. Then answered H6030 all the wicked H7451 men H376 and men of Belial, H1100 of those H582 that went H1980 with David, H1732 and said, H559 Because they went H1980 not with us, we will not give H5414 them ought of the spoil H7998 that we have recovered, H5337 save to every man H376 his wife H802 and his children, H1121 that they may lead them away, H5090 and depart. H3212 Then said H559 David, H1732 Ye shall not do so, H6213 my brethren, H251 with that which the LORD H3068 hath given H5414 us, who hath preserved H8104 us, and delivered H5414 the company H1416 that came H935 against us into our hand. H3027 For who will hearken H8085 unto you in this matter? H1697 but as his part H2506 is that goeth down H3381 H3381 to the battle, H4421 so shall his part H2506 be that tarrieth H3427 by the stuff: H3627 they shall part H2505 alike. H3162 And it was so from that day H3117 forward, H4605 that he made H7760 it a statute H2706 and an ordinance H4941 for Israel H3478 unto this day. H3117 And when David H1732 came H935 to Ziklag, H6860 he sent H7971 of the spoil H7998 unto the elders H2205 of Judah, H3063 even to his friends, H7453 saying, H559 Behold a present H1293 for you of the spoil H7998 of the enemies H341 of the LORD; H3068 To them H834 which were in Bethel, H1008 and to them which were in south H5045 Ramoth, H7418 and to them which were in Jattir, H3492 And to them which were in Aroer, H6177 and to them which were in Siphmoth, H8224 and to them which were in Eshtemoa, H851 And to them which were in Rachal, H7403 and to them which were in the cities H5892 of the Jerahmeelites, H3397 and to them which were in the cities H5892 of the Kenites, H7017 And to them which were in Hormah, H2767 and to them which were in Chorashan, H3565 and to them which were in Athach, H6269 And to them which were in Hebron, H2275 and to all the places H4725 where David H1732 himself and his men H582 were wont to haunt. H1980
And David H1732 said H559 in his heart, H3820 I shall now perish H5595 one H259 day H3117 by the hand H3027 of Saul: H7586 there is nothing better H2896 for me than that H3588 I should speedily H4422 escape H4422 into the land H776 of the Philistines; H6430 and Saul H7586 shall despair H2976 of me, to seek H1245 me any more in any coast H1366 of Israel: H3478 so shall I escape H4422 out of his hand. H3027 And David H1732 arose, H6965 and he passed over H5674 with the six H8337 hundred H3967 men H376 that were with him unto Achish, H397 the son H1121 of Maoch, H4582 king H4428 of Gath. H1661 And David H1732 dwelt H3427 with Achish H397 at Gath, H1661 he and his men, H582 every man H376 with his household, H1004 even David H1732 with his two H8147 wives, H802 Ahinoam H293 the Jezreelitess, H3159 and Abigail H26 the Carmelitess, H3762 Nabal's H5037 wife. H802 And it was told H5046 Saul H7586 that David H1732 was fled H1272 to Gath: H1661 and he sought H1245 no more again H3254 H3254 for him. And David H1732 said H559 unto Achish, H397 If I have now found H4672 grace H2580 in thine eyes, H5869 let them give H5414 me a place H4725 in some H259 town H5892 in the country, H7704 that I may dwell H3427 there: for why should thy servant H5650 dwell H3427 in the royal H4467 city H5892 with thee? Then Achish H397 gave H5414 him Ziklag H6860 that day: H3117 wherefore Ziklag H6860 pertaineth unto the kings H4428 of Judah H3063 unto this day. H3117 And the time H4557 H3117 that David H1732 dwelt H3427 in the country H7704 of the Philistines H6430 was a full year H3117 and four H702 months. H2320 And David H1732 and his men H582 went up, H5927 and invaded H6584 the Geshurites, H1651 and the Gezrites, H1511 and the Amalekites: H6003 for those H2007 nations were of old H5769 the inhabitants H3427 of the land, H776 as thou goest H935 to Shur, H7793 even unto the land H776 of Egypt. H4714 And David H1732 smote H5221 the land, H776 and left neither man H376 nor woman H802 alive, H2421 and took away H3947 the sheep, H6629 and the oxen, H1241 and the asses, H2543 and the camels, H1581 and the apparel, H899 and returned, H7725 and came H935 to Achish. H397 And Achish H397 said, H559 Whither H408 have ye made a road H6584 to day? H3117 And David H1732 said, H559 Against the south H5045 of Judah, H3063 and against the south H5045 of the Jerahmeelites, H3397 and against the south H5045 of the Kenites. H7017 And David H1732 saved H2421 neither man H376 nor woman H802 alive, H2421 to bring H935 tidings to Gath, H1661 saying, H559 Lest they should tell H5046 on us, saying, H559 So did H6213 David, H1732 and so will be his manner H4941 all the while H3117 he dwelleth H3427 in the country H7704 of the Philistines. H6430 And Achish H397 believed H539 David, H1732 saying, H559 He hath made his people H5971 Israel H3478 utterly H887 to abhor H887 him; therefore he shall be my servant H5650 for ever. H5769
Samuel H8050 also said H559 unto Saul, H7586 The LORD H3068 sent H7971 me to anoint H4886 thee to be king H4428 over his people, H5971 over Israel: H3478 now therefore hearken H8085 thou unto the voice H6963 of the words H1697 of the LORD. H3068 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 I remember H6485 that which Amalek H6002 did H6213 to Israel, H3478 how he laid H7760 wait for him in the way, H1870 when he came up H5927 from Egypt. H4714 Now go H3212 and smite H5221 Amalek, H6002 and utterly destroy H2763 all that they have, and spare H2550 them not; but slay H4191 both man H376 and woman, H802 infant H5768 and suckling, H3243 ox H7794 and sheep, H7716 camel H1581 and ass. H2543 And Saul H7586 gathered H8085 the people H5971 together, H8085 and numbered H6485 them in Telaim, H2923 two hundred H3967 thousand H505 footmen, H7273 and ten H6235 thousand H505 men H376 of Judah. H3063 And Saul H7586 came H935 to a city H5892 of Amalek, H6002 and laid wait H7378 H693 in the valley. H5158 And Saul H7586 said H559 unto the Kenites, H7017 Go, H3212 depart, H5493 get you down H3381 from among H8432 the Amalekites, H6002 lest I destroy H622 you with them: for ye shewed H6213 kindness H2617 to all the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 when they came up H5927 out of Egypt. H4714 So the Kenites H7017 departed H5493 from among H8432 the Amalekites. H6003 And Saul H7586 smote H5221 the Amalekites H6002 from Havilah H2341 until thou comest H935 to Shur, H7793 that is over against H6440 Egypt. H4714 And he took H8610 Agag H90 the king H4428 of the Amalekites H6002 alive, H2416 and utterly destroyed H2763 all the people H5971 with the edge H6310 of the sword. H2719 But Saul H7586 and the people H5971 spared H2550 Agag, H90 and the best H4315 of the sheep, H6629 and of the oxen, H1241 and of the fatlings, H4932 and the lambs, H3733 and all that was good, H2896 and would H14 not utterly destroy H2763 them: but every thing H4399 that was vile H5240 and refuse, H4549 that they destroyed utterly. H2763 Then came the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 unto Samuel, H8050 saying, H559 It repenteth H5162 me that I have set up H4427 Saul H7586 to be king: H4428 for he is turned back H7725 from following H310 me, and hath not performed H6965 my commandments. H1697 And it grieved H2734 Samuel; H8050 and he cried H2199 unto the LORD H3068 all night. H3915 And when Samuel H8050 rose early H7925 to meet H7125 Saul H7586 in the morning, H1242 it was told H5046 Samuel, H8050 saying, H559 Saul H7586 came H935 to Carmel, H3760 and, behold, he set him up H5324 a place, H3027 and is gone about, H5437 and passed on, H5674 and gone down H3381 to Gilgal. H1537 And Samuel H8050 came H935 to Saul: H7586 and Saul H7586 said H559 unto him, Blessed H1288 be thou of the LORD: H3068 I have performed H6965 the commandment H1697 of the LORD. H3068 And Samuel H8050 said, H559 What meaneth then this bleating H6963 of the sheep H6629 in mine ears, H241 and the lowing H6963 of the oxen H1241 which I hear? H8085 And Saul H7586 said, H559 They have brought H935 them from the Amalekites: H6003 for the people H5971 spared H2550 the best H4315 of the sheep H6629 and of the oxen, H1241 to sacrifice H2076 unto the LORD H3068 thy God; H430 and the rest H3498 we have utterly destroyed. H2763 Then Samuel H8050 said H559 unto Saul, H7586 Stay, H7503 and I will tell H5046 thee what the LORD H3068 hath said H1696 to me this night. H3915 And he said H559 unto him, Say on. H1696 And Samuel H8050 said, H559 When thou wast little H6996 in thine own sight, H5869 wast thou not made the head H7218 of the tribes H7626 of Israel, H3478 and the LORD H3068 anointed H4886 thee king H4428 over Israel? H3478 And the LORD H3068 sent H7971 thee on a journey, H1870 and said, H559 Go H3212 and utterly destroy H2763 the sinners H2400 the Amalekites, H6002 and fight H3898 against them until they be consumed. H3615 Wherefore then didst thou not obey H8085 the voice H6963 of the LORD, H3068 but didst fly H5860 upon the spoil, H7998 and didst H6213 evil H7451 in the sight H5869 of the LORD? H3068 And Saul H7586 said H559 unto Samuel, H8050 Yea, I have obeyed H8085 the voice H6963 of the LORD, H3068 and have gone H3212 the way H1870 which the LORD H3068 sent H7971 me, and have brought H935 Agag H90 the king H4428 of Amalek, H6002 and have utterly destroyed H2763 the Amalekites. H6002 But the people H5971 took H3947 of the spoil, H7998 sheep H6629 and oxen, H1241 the chief H7225 of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, H2764 to sacrifice H2076 unto the LORD H3068 thy God H430 in Gilgal. H1537 And Samuel H8050 said, H559 Hath the LORD H3068 as great delight H2656 in burnt offerings H5930 and sacrifices, H2077 as in obeying H8085 the voice H6963 of the LORD? H3068 Behold, to obey H8085 is better H2896 than sacrifice, H2077 and to hearken H7181 than the fat H2459 of rams. H352 For rebellion H4805 is as the sin H2403 of witchcraft, H7081 and stubbornness H6484 is as iniquity H205 and idolatry. H8655 Because thou hast rejected H3988 the word H1697 of the LORD, H3068 he hath also rejected H3988 thee from being king. H4428 And Saul H7586 said H559 unto Samuel, H8050 I have sinned: H2398 for I have transgressed H5674 the commandment H6310 of the LORD, H3068 and thy words: H1697 because I feared H3372 the people, H5971 and obeyed H8085 their voice. H6963 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon H5375 my sin, H2403 and turn again H7725 with me, that I may worship H7812 the LORD. H3068 And Samuel H8050 said H559 unto Saul, H7586 I will not return H7725 with thee: for thou hast rejected H3988 the word H1697 of the LORD, H3068 and the LORD H3068 hath rejected H3988 thee from being king H4428 over Israel. H3478 And as Samuel H8050 turned about H5437 to go away, H3212 he laid hold H2388 upon the skirt H3671 of his mantle, H4598 and it rent. H7167 And Samuel H8050 said H559 unto him, The LORD H3068 hath rent H7167 the kingdom H4468 of Israel H3478 from thee this day, H3117 and hath given H5414 it to a neighbour H7453 of thine, that is better H2896 than thou. And also the Strength H5331 of Israel H3478 will not lie H8266 nor repent: H5162 for he is not a man, H120 that he should repent. H5162 Then he said, H559 I have sinned: H2398 yet honour H3513 me now, I pray thee, before the elders H2205 of my people, H5971 and before Israel, H3478 and turn again H7725 with me, that I may worship H7812 the LORD H3068 thy God. H430 So Samuel H8050 turned again H7725 after H310 Saul; H7586 and Saul H7586 worshipped H7812 the LORD. H3068 Then said H559 Samuel, H8050 Bring ye hither H5066 to me Agag H90 the king H4428 of the Amalekites. H6002 And Agag H90 came H3212 unto him delicately. H4574 And Agag H90 said, H559 Surely H403 the bitterness H4751 of death H4194 is past. H5493 And Samuel H8050 said, H559 As thy sword H2719 hath made women H802 childless, H7921 so shall thy mother H517 be childless H7921 among women. H802 And Samuel H8050 hewed H8158 Agag H90 in pieces H8158 before H6440 the LORD H3068 in Gilgal. H1537 Then Samuel H8050 went H3212 to Ramah; H7414 and Saul H7586 went up H5927 to his house H1004 to Gibeah H1390 of Saul. H7586 And Samuel H8050 came no more H3254 to see H7200 Saul H7586 until the day H3117 of his death: H4194 nevertheless H3588 Samuel H8050 mourned H56 for Saul: H7586 and the LORD H3068 repented H5162 that he had made Saul H7586 king H4427 over Israel. H3478
And Timna H8555 was concubine H6370 to Eliphaz H464 Esau's H6215 son; H1121 and she bare H3205 to Eliphaz H464 Amalek: H6002 these were the sons H1121 of Adah H5711 Esau's H6215 wife. H802
And when he looked H7200 on Amalek, H6002 he took up H5375 his parable, H4912 and said, H559 Amalek H6002 was the first H7225 of the nations; H1471 but his latter H319 end shall be that he perish H8 for ever. H5703
Then the Amalekites H6003 came down, H3381 and the Canaanites H3669 which dwelt H3427 in that hill, H2022 and smote H5221 them, and discomfited H3807 them, even unto Hormah. H2767
For the Amalekites H6003 and the Canaanites H3669 are there before H6440 you, and ye shall fall H5307 by the sword: H2719 because ye are turned H7725 away H310 from the LORD, H3068 therefore the LORD H3068 will not be with you.
And they went H3212 and came H935 to Moses, H4872 and to Aaron, H175 and to all the congregation H5712 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 unto the wilderness H4057 of Paran, H6290 to Kadesh; H6946 and brought back H7725 word H1697 unto them, and unto all the congregation, H5712 and shewed H7200 them the fruit H6529 of the land. H776
Then came H935 Amalek, H6002 and fought H3898 with Israel H3478 in Rephidim. H7508 And Moses H4872 said H559 unto Joshua, H3091 Choose us out H977 men, H582 and go out, H3318 fight H3898 with Amalek: H6002 to morrow H4279 I will stand H5324 on the top H7218 of the hill H1389 with the rod H4294 of God H430 in mine hand. H3027 So Joshua H3091 did H6213 as Moses H4872 had said H559 to him, and fought H3898 with Amalek: H6002 and Moses, H4872 Aaron, H175 and Hur H2354 went up H5927 to the top H7218 of the hill. H1389 And it came to pass, when Moses H4872 held up H7311 his hand, H3027 that Israel H3478 prevailed: H1396 and when he let down H5117 his hand, H3027 Amalek H6002 prevailed. H1396 But Moses' H4872 hands H3027 were heavy; H3515 and they took H3947 a stone, H68 and put H7760 it under him, and he sat H3427 thereon; and Aaron H175 and Hur H2354 stayed up H8551 his hands, H3027 the one on the one side, H259 and the other on the other side; H259 and his hands H3027 were steady H530 until the going down H935 of the sun. H8121 And Joshua H3091 discomfited H2522 Amalek H6002 and his people H5971 with the edge H6310 of the sword. H2719 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 Write H3789 this for a memorial H2146 in a book, H5612 and rehearse H7760 it in the ears H241 of Joshua: H3091 for I will utterly H4229 put out H4229 the remembrance H2143 of Amalek H6002 from under heaven. H8064 And Moses H4872 built H1129 an altar, H4196 and called H7121 the name H8034 of it Jehovahnissi: H3071 For he said, H559 Because the LORD H3050 hath sworn H3027 H3676 that the LORD H3068 will have war H4421 with Amalek H6002 from generation H1755 to generation. H1755
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 14
Commentary on Genesis 14 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 14
Ge 14:1-24. War.
1. And it came to pass—This chapter presents Abram in the unexpected character of a warrior. The occasion was this: The king of Sodom and the kings of the adjoining cities, after having been tributaries for twelve years to the king of Elam, combined to throw off his yoke. To chastise their rebellion, as he deemed it, Chedorlaomer, with the aid of three allies, invaded the territories of the refractory princes, defeated them in a pitched battle where the nature of the ground favored his army (Ge 14:10), and hastened in triumph on his homeward march, with a large amount of captives and booty, though merely a stranger.
12. they took Lot … and his goods, and departed—How would the conscience of that young man now upbraid him for his selfish folly and ingratitude in withdrawing from his kind and pious relative! Whenever we go out of the path of duty, we put ourselves away from God's protection, and cannot expect that the choice we make will be for our lasting good.
13. there came one that had escaped—Abram might have excused himself from taking any active concern in his "brother," that is, nephew, who little deserved that he should incur trouble or danger on his account. But Abram, far from rendering evil for evil, resolved to take immediate measures for the rescue of Lot.
14. And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants—domestic slaves, such as are common in Eastern countries still and are considered and treated as members of the family. If Abram could spare three hundred and eighteen slaves and leave a sufficient number to take care of the flocks, what a large establishment he must have had.
15, 16. he divided himself … by night—This war between the petty princes of ancient Canaan is exactly the same as the frays and skirmishes between Arab chiefs in the present day. When a defeated party resolves to pursue the enemy, they wait till they are fast asleep; then, as they have no idea of posting sentinels, they rush upon them from different directions, strike down the tent poles—if there is any fight at all, it is the fray of a tumultuous mob—a panic commonly ensues, and the whole contest is ended with little or no loss on either side.
18. Melchizedek—This victory conferred a public benefit on that part of the country; and Abram, on his return, was treated with high respect and consideration, particularly by the king of Sodom and Melchizedek, who seems to have been one of the few native princes, if not the only one, who knew and worshipped, "the most high God," whom Abram served. This king who was a type of the Saviour (Heb 7:1), came to bless God for the victory which had been won, and in the name of God to bless Abram, by whose arms it had been achieved—a pious acknowledgment which we should imitate on succeeding in any lawful enterprise.
20. he gave him tithes of all—Here is an evidence of Abram's piety, as well as of his valor; for it was to a priest or official mediator between God and him that Abram gave a tenth of the spoil—a token of his gratitude and in honor of a divine ordinance (Pr 3:9).
21. the king of Sodom said … Give me the persons—According to the war customs still existing among the Arab tribes, Abram might have retained the recovered goods, and his right was acknowledged by the king of Sodom. But with honest pride, and a generosity unknown in that part of the world, he replied with strong phraseology common to the East, "I have lifted up mine hand" [that is, I have sworn] unto the Lord that I will not take from a thread even to a sandal-thong, and that that I will not take any thing that [is] thine, lest thou shouldst say, I have made Abram rich" [Ge 14:22, 23].