Latest / The Chosen People / The Mysterious Melchizedek
Transcript
- 0:00Speaker 1: This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed Human.
- 0:04Speaker 2: Previously on The Chosen People.
- 0:08Speaker 1: I've traveled far to bring you this news. I fear
- 0:12Speaker 1: they may be hunting me yet. It's your nephew, Lot.
- 0:15Speaker 1: They've taken him.
- 0:16Speaker 2: This time, Abram was determined to answer the call. 318.
- 0:22Speaker 3: Against a whole eastern army.
- 0:25Speaker 1: Led by a king who has conquered many nations. The
- 0:28Speaker 1: Amorites have agreed to join us as well. We won't
- 0:31Speaker 1: be alone. And you know that my God will be
- 0:34Speaker 1: with me.
- 0:36Speaker 2: Abram, his 318 men, and the combined forces of the
- 0:40Speaker 2: Amorites set out and quickly found the trail of King
- 0:43Speaker 2: Kedaleomer and his four-king alliance. They had traveled hundreds of
- 0:47Speaker 2: miles from where they started, Abram's God sustaining them and
- 0:51Speaker 2: granting them victory after victory. And it was there that
- 0:56Speaker 2: Abram and his men made their last stand With face
- 0:59Speaker 2: caked in blood and sand, Abram screamed with passion, dicing
- 1:05Speaker 2: the enemy one by one. Each was a barrier to
- 1:09Speaker 2: his nephew.
- 1:12Speaker 4: Abram, you came!
- 1:14Speaker 5: You came for us!
- 1:16Speaker 1: Of course I did.
- 1:18Speaker 2: Together, Abram and Lot set about aiding the captured women
- 1:22Speaker 2: and other prisoners. They also discovered that the gold and
- 1:25Speaker 2: silver Lot lost in the abduction was still there. along
- 1:29Speaker 2: with riches from other kingdoms the four-king alliance had plundered.
- 1:33Speaker 6: What's more, I will bless those who bless you. I
- 1:39Speaker 6: will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all
- 1:44Speaker 6: the peoples of Earth will be blessed through you.
- 1:55Speaker 2: Abram frowned at the figures on the hill in the distance.
- 1:59Speaker 2: His force had nearly doubled since the final victory at Hobach,
- 2:03Speaker 2: but they were now crippled to a crawling pace with
- 2:06Speaker 2: the addition of non-fighting men, servants, women and even a
- 2:11Speaker 2: few children. They were also laden with the possessions of
- 2:15Speaker 2: the cities of the plains, now theirs. The wealth they
- 2:19Speaker 2: travelled with was staggering, making them an easy target for
- 2:23Speaker 2: would-be enemies or opportunists. a lone figure broke from the
- 2:27Speaker 2: amassing group on the hill and headed right for Abram's camp,
- 2:31Speaker 2: a messenger.
- 2:33Speaker 1: Gather my commanders, Mamre and his brothers Escol and Einar,
- 2:37Speaker 1: and have them meet me in the general's tent. Tell
- 2:40Speaker 1: them we're about to have a word from these strangers.
- 2:43Speaker 7: Yes, Master Abram.
- 2:45Speaker 2: Abram went through the crowded camp without looking back, trusting
- 2:49Speaker 2: his men to perform their duties. He knew the messenger
- 2:53Speaker 2: would be intercepted at this camp's perimeter and brought directly
- 2:58Speaker 2: to him.
- 2:59Speaker 4: Uncle, I've heard the news. Who is that over the ridge?
- 3:04Speaker 4: And what do they want?
- 3:06Speaker 1: They have sent an emissary, so we will soon learn
- 3:09Speaker 1: what they want. And should it be an attack?
- 3:12Speaker 2: Lot was not the same man since the abduction. Abram
- 3:16Speaker 2: did not know all of the horrors he faced. Although
- 3:19Speaker 2: Lot's body had regained strength, A lingering weariness torched behind
- 3:24Speaker 2: his eyes, haunting him.
- 3:27Speaker 1: Why don't you join me in the general's tent and
- 3:29Speaker 1: hear firsthand? I could use another man with your understanding
- 3:33Speaker 1: of business to treat a mysterious visitor.
- 3:37Speaker 2: Affection drove Abram to include his nephew. He could read
- 3:42Speaker 2: the validation in Lot's eyes at the gesture of being included.
- 3:46Speaker 2: Abram pulled back the entrance to his general's tent and
- 3:49Speaker 2: found his commanders waiting. Eshkol, Anna, and Mamre stood at
- 3:55Speaker 2: attention and addressed Abram.
- 3:58Speaker 1: And so it seems our notoriety has caught up with us.
- 4:01Speaker 3: Yes.
- 4:03Speaker 8: It was only a matter of time before the word
- 4:05Speaker 8: spread to the other nations of our conquest.
- 4:08Speaker 9: Yes, but the question is whether these are friends or foes.
- 4:12Speaker 9: Did we offend the allies of King Keteleomer, or have
- 4:16Speaker 9: the liberated nations come to thank us? Abram, what do
- 4:19Speaker 9: you anticipate?
- 4:21Speaker 2: Abram didn't want to encourage their speculation.
- 4:24Speaker 1: It's useless to speculate. Keep your minds sharp. The messenger
- 4:28Speaker 1: will be here momentarily. I suggest we listen to what
- 4:32Speaker 1: he has to say and save our strategizing for when
- 4:35Speaker 1: we know more.
- 4:36Speaker 2: As if summoned by Abram's words, two of Abram's trained
- 4:40Speaker 2: men entered the tent and announced the messenger's arrival. Eliezer,
- 4:45Speaker 2: Abram's trusted servant, followed not a moment later. flanked by
- 4:50Speaker 2: a shrew-looking man.
- 4:52Speaker 7: General, commanders, introducing the emissary of King Bera, the King
- 4:58Speaker 7: of Sodom.
- 4:59Speaker 1: Thank you, Eleazar. Emissary, you may speak. General, commanders, I commend.
- 5:06Speaker 10: Your victories over our enemies. We are profoundly grateful on
- 5:10Speaker 10: behalf of King Bera and the people of Sodom. His Highness,
- 5:14Speaker 10: King Bera, has traveled far to meet with you and
- 5:18Speaker 10: express his.
- 5:19Speaker 1: gratitude.
- 5:22Speaker 9: Ponderous. Indeed. It is a great honor that you would
- 5:26Speaker 9: travel all this way, but I find it curious that
- 5:29Speaker 9: you wouldn't simply wait for us to pass through your region.
- 5:32Speaker 9: Your men would have learned that Abram's nephew Lot was
- 5:35Speaker 9: among those captured. Word of his disappearance would have reached
- 5:38Speaker 9: your ears, so why come here, I wonder?
- 5:43Speaker 2: Abram nodded at Mamre's words. He commended his friend's caution
- 5:47Speaker 2: with the king's man. Just because they had gone to
- 5:51Speaker 2: war with the cities of the plains' enemies, it did
- 5:53Speaker 2: not make them allies. And though Sodom had become Lot's home,
- 5:58Speaker 2: Abram had heard that the people were wicked and their
- 6:01Speaker 2: politicians slippery. He did not wish to become entangled in
- 6:05Speaker 2: one of their twisted webs.
- 6:07Speaker 10: General, your commander is astute.
- 6:09Speaker 1: You're right.
- 6:10Speaker 10: We did learn that Lot was among the abducted people
- 6:13Speaker 10: and that it was the reason you pursued them. We,
- 6:16Speaker 10: of course, were concerned for our neighbor, but we were
- 6:19Speaker 10: in no position to pursue ourselves. Our great city is
- 6:23Speaker 10: still in shambles, and it will be some time until
- 6:26Speaker 10: it is restored fully, if ever. And we suffered heavy
- 6:30Speaker 10: losses among our fighting men and the city's watch.
- 6:35Speaker 8: Yes, but here you are now when we are only
- 6:38Speaker 8: a day's walk from our home of Hebron. Another interpretation
- 6:42Speaker 8: of your arrival could be you were eager to see
- 6:45Speaker 8: if we were returning home or going to Sodom.
- 6:48Speaker 1: And it is no secret that we carry a vast fortune. So,
- 6:53Speaker 1: speak plainly. Are you here to lay claim to it?
- 6:58Speaker 10: Again, General, your commanders do you credit.
- 7:01Speaker 1: I see that you are the full measure of.
- 7:04Speaker 9: The man you have been rumored to be.
- 7:06Speaker 10: You have achieved much in a short amount of time
- 7:09Speaker 10: here in Canaan, I assure you, though. My king only
- 7:12Speaker 10: wishes to meet you.
- 7:15Speaker 1: Your words flatter me, but you can understand why we
- 7:19Speaker 1: are cautious?
- 7:21Speaker 4: Uncle, you cannot mean to reject an audience with a king.
- 7:24Speaker 4: You would make it impossible for me to return to
- 7:27Speaker 4: my lands.
- 7:28Speaker 1: Lot, I thought you would have learned to be cautious
- 7:31Speaker 1: yourself by now.
- 7:33Speaker 9: Enough.
- 7:34Speaker 1: Lot is right. And if we are to preserve his
- 7:37Speaker 1: new home, we cannot afford to slight King Bearer. Emissary,
- 7:42Speaker 1: we will not go into this meeting blind. You will
- 7:45Speaker 1: tell us your numbers, and we will meet in a
- 7:47Speaker 1: place of our choosing, so you cannot lay a trap and... Abram,
- 7:51Speaker 1: I've just.
- 7:52Speaker 7: Received word that another visitor is at the perimeter.
- 7:55Speaker 9: He wishes to have an audience with you as well.
- 7:57Speaker 7: It's that strange general who calls himself a king. He's unaccompanied.
- 8:03Speaker 7: No emissary, no guard, just him.
- 8:08Speaker 2: After learning more about their host... Abram sent King Bera's
- 8:12Speaker 2: messenger away with instructions on where and when to meet
- 8:15Speaker 2: the following day. He then turned his attention to learn
- 8:19Speaker 2: more about this unexpected king.
- 8:22Speaker 1: Tell me more about this visitor at the perimeter. Did
- 8:26Speaker 1: you learn his name? He calls himself Melchizedek, king of Salem.
- 8:31Speaker 2: Something unlocked in the corridors of Abram's mind. Suddenly, he
- 8:36Speaker 2: felt the presence of another, his god. The word righteous
- 8:42Speaker 2: fell upon his mind like a gentle rain.
- 8:45Speaker 7: Righteous.
- 8:47Speaker 2: He did not know how he knew the meaning of
- 8:49Speaker 2: this mysterious man's name, but he knew with certainty it
- 8:53Speaker 2: was righteous.
- 8:55Speaker 1: And what of his people? Which clan holds the city?
- 8:59Speaker 1: And what do we know of them?
- 9:01Speaker 9: The Jebusites. They've held the city a long time, but
- 9:04Speaker 9: we've never had a conflict with them. I've never heard
- 9:07Speaker 9: of a king by that name, though. He must have
- 9:10Speaker 9: just recently risen to power. I'm surprised we've never learned
- 9:15Speaker 9: of this Melchizedek. Salem is not so far from us.
- 9:18Speaker 2: I am surprised as well.
- 9:20Speaker 5: And to come out alone to meet us, that is
- 9:24Speaker 5: far stranger.
- 9:26Speaker 1: Is it safe to tree with this king? Well, he
- 9:29Speaker 1: hails us alone. I suppose we should see what he
- 9:33Speaker 1: has to say. It's the only way to learn whether
- 9:36Speaker 1: he lives up to his name.
- 9:38Speaker 5: How do you mean?
- 9:39Speaker 1: He is the king of Salem, the city of peace.
- 9:43Speaker 9: Abram, what say you? Should we send for him to
- 9:45Speaker 9: meet us?
- 9:46Speaker 6: Yes.
- 9:47Speaker 1: Let's see what this King Melchizedek has to say.
- 9:51Speaker 2: Moments later, Abram's men brought King Melchizedek before them. He
- 9:57Speaker 2: was a nondescript-looking man. but his appearance and attire were noteworthy.
- 10:02Speaker 2: Most surprising, he was barefoot. A linen turban with a
- 10:07Speaker 2: gold plate about his brow sat upon his head. There
- 10:11Speaker 2: seemed to be an inscription, but Abram couldn't determine what
- 10:15Speaker 2: it said. He wore a dark blue woven robe over
- 10:19Speaker 2: a white tunic. A strange, colorful garment was over the
- 10:23Speaker 2: top of both, fastened at his waist and stretching the
- 10:27Speaker 2: length of his chest and over his shoulders. The embellishments
- 10:32Speaker 2: on both symbolized something, but Abram wasn't sure what. The
- 10:37Speaker 2: king did not come empty-handed. He smiled at the four
- 10:41Speaker 2: men and Abram's trained men who escorted him inside the tent.
- 10:45Speaker 2: In one hand was a wrapped bundle, and in the
- 10:48Speaker 2: other was a clay pitcher.
- 10:50Speaker 1: King Melchizedek, you honor us with your visit. Tell us,
- 10:55Speaker 1: what have you come to say?
- 10:57Speaker 5: I have much to say, Abram the Hebrew. But first,
- 11:01Speaker 5: you are my guests here in the Valley of Shavar,
- 11:04Speaker 5: and on the doorstep of my city. I would first
- 11:07Speaker 5: be sure that you have had bread and wine as
- 11:10Speaker 5: a mark of hospitality, and a token of my friendship.
- 11:14Speaker 2: The king then gestured for the puzzled men to join
- 11:17Speaker 2: him at the table beside the receiving area of the
- 11:20Speaker 2: general's tent. He then began to break the bread and
- 11:24Speaker 2: pour the wine into the cups at hand. Abram found
- 11:28Speaker 2: it especially strange that this king was serving them, especially
- 11:33Speaker 2: one whose name meant righteous. He did not call for
- 11:37Speaker 2: an attendant and waved one away when they sprang forward
- 11:40Speaker 2: to assist. When the table was prepared, Melchizedek again motioned
- 11:45Speaker 2: for the men to sit at the seats he had prepared.
- 11:48Speaker 5: Come, let us eat and drink together.
- 11:52Speaker 1: Who are you? What kind of king are you that
- 11:56Speaker 1: you would serve us yourself?
- 11:58Speaker 5: I am a king, yes, but I am also a
- 12:00Speaker 5: high priest.
- 12:02Speaker 9: A priest of what god?
- 12:04Speaker 5: El Elyon, the one and only true god there is.
- 12:10Speaker 5: the one who created both the heavens and the earth.
- 12:14Speaker 5: He has many names, but he is one God. The
- 12:18Speaker 5: God Most High is what I call him before you now.
- 12:22Speaker 5: This is the God of Abraham, the God who has
- 12:26Speaker 5: given him favor in his land. He is the God
- 12:30Speaker 5: who blesses his friends and curses his enemies. This is
- 12:35Speaker 5: the God who has granted you your victories and destroyed
- 12:38Speaker 5: your enemies before you. It is to this God that
- 12:42Speaker 5: I have devoted my entire life, and the same God
- 12:46Speaker 5: to which Abram has devoted his.
- 12:48Speaker 2: The men on either side of Abram were speechless. The
- 12:53Speaker 2: assuredness with which the man spoke was unlike anything they
- 12:56Speaker 2: had experienced. He spoke with authority. Abram had not considered
- 13:02Speaker 2: that others knew his God. He had certainly seen his
- 13:06Speaker 2: God do incredible things, and was sure enough in his
- 13:09Speaker 2: own faith because of it, but now encountering another who
- 13:12Speaker 2: had the same faith, perhaps even a greater one, was
- 13:17Speaker 2: truly remarkable. Abram was in awe.
- 13:21Speaker 1: High Priest, what would you say to us?
- 13:24Speaker 5: I would bless you, Abram, before these witnesses, if you
- 13:28Speaker 5: would receive it.
- 13:29Speaker 1: You would bless me?
- 13:31Speaker 5: Yes, on behalf of our God, for it is in
- 13:35Speaker 5: His power and authority Anything at all comes to pass.
- 13:40Speaker 1: Will you receive it? I would. You honor me greatly.
- 13:45Speaker 2: Melchizedek then stood, gently placing his hands on Abram's shoulders,
- 13:51Speaker 2: closed his eyes, and began his blessing. Blessed be Abram.
- 13:56Speaker 5: By God Most High, creator of heaven and earth. In him,
- 14:02Speaker 5: you and your great nation will have a protector and provider.
- 14:07Speaker 5: And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your
- 14:11Speaker 5: enemies into your hand. He is forever your defender and advocate.
- 14:16Speaker 5: We praise his holy name and give him all the
- 14:19Speaker 5: glory and gratitude for everything we have.
- 14:24Speaker 2: Abram was struck to the core by the high priest's words.
- 14:28Speaker 2: They rang of truth and promise. So moved by the words,
- 14:33Speaker 2: and with an overwhelming gratitude for his God, he racked
- 14:37Speaker 2: his mind for a way to respond. His God had
- 14:40Speaker 2: granted him victory after victory, and he had expressed gratitude
- 14:45Speaker 2: with his lips, but now, at this moment, it just
- 14:48Speaker 2: didn't seem enough. There had to be something tangible he
- 14:52Speaker 2: could do to show the God Most High how grateful
- 14:56Speaker 2: he truly was. Abram had seen various forms of sacrifice
- 15:01Speaker 2: in his homeland of Ur and later in Haran and
- 15:05Speaker 2: in the cultures of Canaan and Egypt. In the past,
- 15:09Speaker 2: he had not known what to do to worship his
- 15:11Speaker 2: God other than pray and give him his obedience. But now,
- 15:16Speaker 2: perhaps he could borrow a gesture and hope that it
- 15:20Speaker 2: was found to be worthy of worship in the eyes
- 15:23Speaker 2: of his God.
- 15:25Speaker 1: High priest, righteous Melchizedek, I am moved by your words
- 15:30Speaker 1: and in awe of our God. I have long felt
- 15:33Speaker 1: his guidance and seen his protection and provision time and
- 15:37Speaker 1: time again. Thank you for this reminder of our God's
- 15:42Speaker 1: overwhelming generosity. I wish to honor our God through a tithe.
- 15:49Speaker 1: Since our God gave me all I possess, I would
- 15:52Speaker 1: return a portion to him. Tell me, Will he find
- 15:56Speaker 1: it to be a worthy sacrifice?
- 15:59Speaker 2: I believe he would.
- 16:02Speaker 1: Will you help me do this? I would impart my
- 16:05Speaker 1: tithe into your hands.
- 16:07Speaker 2: Yes, Abram.
- 16:08Speaker 5: I will accept this gift on behalf of God Most High.
- 16:13Speaker 2: Melchizedek and Abram walked along the hillside together. Abram was
- 16:18Speaker 2: cautious not to ask too many questions. Melchizedek seemed almost
- 16:24Speaker 2: like a vapor to him. If he grasped too firmly
- 16:27Speaker 2: at him, he would disappear. Melchizedek remained for the rest
- 16:32Speaker 2: of the day. As the sun set and the fires
- 16:35Speaker 2: burned to cut the cold, Abram could tell that his
- 16:38Speaker 2: companions were growing wary of the king of Salem. They
- 16:43Speaker 2: certainly appreciated what he had said and represented, but Abram
- 16:47Speaker 2: could also surmise they didn't fully understand. Melchizedek arranged for
- 16:53Speaker 2: servants from his priesthood to come and accept the tithe,
- 16:57Speaker 2: and he and Abram spoke together until late in the
- 17:00Speaker 2: day when he finally had to depart for his city
- 17:03Speaker 2: and his evening meal.
- 17:05Speaker 1: Will you stay a little longer?
- 17:06Speaker 7: I'm afraid not.
- 17:08Speaker 5: The moon and sun must continue their churning, though I
- 17:11Speaker 5: wish they would stop so we could have more time.
- 17:14Speaker 6: Perhaps one day they will.
- 17:17Speaker 2: Melchizedek departed alone through the valley toward the city of Salem.
- 17:22Speaker 2: As the pale moon's beam fell behind a few clouds,
- 17:26Speaker 2: Abram found himself wondering if they would ever cross paths again.
- 17:33Speaker 2: The next morning, the euphoria of meeting Melchizedek was cut
- 17:37Speaker 2: with business. Abram, Lot, Mamre, Eshcol, Anna and a portion
- 17:43Speaker 2: of their armed men went to the agreed-upon location to
- 17:46Speaker 2: see what the king of Sodom had to say. They
- 17:50Speaker 2: walked on foot to an ebony tree. Its trunk was dark,
- 17:54Speaker 2: as if it had been dipped in iron. Waiting in
- 17:57Speaker 2: its shadow, sitting atop his horse with a procession of
- 18:01Speaker 2: foot soldiers and aides beside him, was King Bera. The
- 18:06Speaker 2: king of Sodom wore a dark robe with crimson threads
- 18:10Speaker 2: woven into an image of a three-headed serpent. Even from
- 18:15Speaker 2: a distance, Abram could tell that he didn't like this man.
- 18:19Speaker 2: If even half the stories coming out of Sodom were true,
- 18:23Speaker 2: King Bera was a man of extraordinary wickedness. The king
- 18:27Speaker 2: bore his teeth in a smile, his voice higher than
- 18:31Speaker 2: expected for a man of his stature.
- 18:35Speaker 9: Ah, the savvy Abram of the Hebrews. We meet at last.
- 18:41Speaker 1: Abram the Hebrew, your highness.
- 18:45Speaker 3: Yes, yes, the Hebrews.
- 18:47Speaker 9: I have been most anxious to meet you, though. It
- 18:50Speaker 9: seems you did not share that same sentiment. But here
- 18:53Speaker 9: we are, in the location you selected, and with an
- 18:56Speaker 9: understanding of the number of men I brought as an escort.
- 19:00Speaker 1: King Bearer, I'm sure a man like yourself would understand
- 19:03Speaker 1: our vigilance.
- 19:05Speaker 9: A man such as myself?
- 19:07Speaker 3: A man who knows what it's like to be... cut
- 19:11Speaker 3: off guard. Abram, I will give you this. You and
- 19:15Speaker 3: your Amorite allies certainly know how to make an impression.
- 19:19Speaker 3: One can only hope they won't remain your only allies.
- 19:24Speaker 2: Abram had anticipated this. King Bearer's compliance with their demands
- 19:29Speaker 2: was a sure sign that he wanted something from Abram.
- 19:32Speaker 2: He just had to wait to hear what that something
- 19:35Speaker 2: would be.
- 19:36Speaker 9: I have come to make Abram a generous offer. As
- 19:40Speaker 9: you guessed in your meeting with my emissary yesterday... We
- 19:43Speaker 9: are aware that you now possess all that is plundered
- 19:46Speaker 9: for my city, as well as all our people who
- 19:49Speaker 9: were taken.
- 19:49Speaker 2: Abram.
- 19:51Speaker 9: Do not fear, Abram. Call off your Amorite guard dogs.
- 19:55Speaker 9: I told you I had come to make a generous offer.
- 19:59Speaker 9: I see you have all our possessions and people. But
- 20:03Speaker 9: I would allow you to keep all the possessions. Call
- 20:06Speaker 9: it an act of gratitude, goodwill even, for destroying our
- 20:11Speaker 9: enemies and avenging our city.
- 20:14Speaker 2: Abram smiled. There it was. This was what the king wanted.
- 20:20Speaker 2: Giving up the possessions he lost in a raid to
- 20:23Speaker 2: gain a friend. To curry favor with Abram and the Amorites.
- 20:28Speaker 2: King Bera was looking to own Abram through this gift.
- 20:33Speaker 1: We weren't avenging your city. We destroyed your enemies while
- 20:37Speaker 1: rescuing one of your people. Your Highness.
- 20:42Speaker 9: So you've come for your people, Your Highness. But would
- 20:45Speaker 9: you take back the very people we went to war
- 20:48Speaker 9: to rescue?
- 20:49Speaker 1: Your Highness, you would capture Lot and his family again?
- 20:52Speaker 9: Einar, my friend.
- 20:56Speaker 1: Surely the king views Lot as his own man, and
- 21:00Speaker 1: surely the king would allow him to return to his lands,
- 21:03Speaker 1: should that be what Lot desires. What say you to that,
- 21:08Speaker 1: King Bearer?
- 21:10Speaker 9: It is as you say, Abram. I would gladly allow
- 21:13Speaker 9: Lot and his family to come back, and I would
- 21:16Speaker 9: give you all of my possessions, all that in hopes
- 21:19Speaker 9: that we may become friends.
- 21:22Speaker 1: Your possessions that we liberated? and rightfully earned in battle? Ashur, please.
- 21:30Speaker 8: This is a most generous offer, your highness.
- 21:33Speaker 4: One I'm sure my uncle will accept, and I would
- 21:35Speaker 4: be most honored to return to Sodom at your invitation.
- 21:39Speaker 1: Your highness, you do extend quite the gesture of friendship
- 21:43Speaker 1: to us. I will gladly see your people safely back
- 21:47Speaker 1: with you. As for your possessions, you can keep them
- 21:51Speaker 1: as well.
- 21:52Speaker 2: Lot and the others gaped at him. But, feeling confident
- 21:57Speaker 2: in his decision, Abram continued.
- 22:00Speaker 1: As my friends know, I have devoted my life to
- 22:03Speaker 1: the God Most High. All I have is His, and
- 22:07Speaker 1: all I do is in His name. My victories are His,
- 22:12Speaker 1: and not my own. So it is to Him that
- 22:15Speaker 1: you should be grateful, and not me. My possessions are
- 22:19Speaker 1: the same. Everything I own is His. I'm not a
- 22:24Speaker 1: self-made man. Therefore, I have little taste for ambitious friendships.
- 22:30Speaker 1: And I would not take even a thread or sandal
- 22:33Speaker 1: strap or anything that belongs to you. I see the
- 22:37Speaker 1: invisible strings attached to them. I will sever them now
- 22:42Speaker 1: and give you what is yours. I will not allow
- 22:45Speaker 1: you or anyone to say I made Abram rich. I
- 22:51Speaker 1: cannot be owned because I am already under the lordship
- 22:54Speaker 1: of another.
- 22:55Speaker 2: To this, no one gathered had anything to say. Abram
- 23:00Speaker 2: could tell Lot was nettled at the loss of the
- 23:03Speaker 2: massive fortune, but held his tongue. Mamre and his brothers
- 23:08Speaker 2: were similarly dumbfounded, but could appreciate Abram's conviction.
- 23:13Speaker 1: I will take nothing, save what the men and women
- 23:15Speaker 1: have eaten in our travels. I will take nothing, but
- 23:19Speaker 1: As for the share that would go to my Amorite friends.
- 23:22Speaker 2: He had Mamre, Eshkol, and Anna's attention now.
- 23:26Speaker 1: They should not be deprived of what you offered. They
- 23:29Speaker 1: should take their portion of your possessions. They had as
- 23:33Speaker 1: much a part of the rescue as I did, and
- 23:36Speaker 1: should be rewarded. And since you have extended an invitation
- 23:40Speaker 1: to return to Lot out of the kindness of your heart,
- 23:44Speaker 1: You will swear to protect him and his family as
- 23:47Speaker 1: they travel with you back to Sodom. And you will
- 23:51Speaker 1: show him kindness and allow him to dwell safely in
- 23:54Speaker 1: your lands, since you are a gracious and good-willed friend.
- 24:01Speaker 2: King Bera smiled through gritted teeth. Abram knew this gesture
- 24:06Speaker 2: would leave him outside the good graces of Bera, but
- 24:10Speaker 2: he didn't care. The king of Sodom now had to
- 24:13Speaker 2: give up his possessions to three Amorite lords.
- 24:16Speaker 9: Very well, Abram. I will agree to escort Lot back
- 24:20Speaker 9: to Sodom. As for the possessions, I will take back
- 24:24Speaker 9: your portion and leave the rest to these Amorites.
- 24:28Speaker 1: Thank you, your majesty. I will tell stories of your kindness.
- 24:34Speaker 9: Save your stories. Lot will be the only friend you
- 24:36Speaker 9: have in Sodom.
- 24:37Speaker 2: King Bera and his men prepared to escort their people
- 24:41Speaker 2: back to Sodom. Abrams readied for the final leg of
- 24:45Speaker 2: their journey home. As they worked, Abram found his thoughts
- 24:49Speaker 2: returning to his strange encounter with Melchizedek. The blessings spoken
- 24:55Speaker 2: over him gave words to what Abram had felt inside.
- 24:59Speaker 2: A steady joy came upon Abram. It felt like courage, resolve.
- 25:06Speaker 2: Abram was pleased to know that he had done right
- 25:09Speaker 2: by his God and that his reward would be something
- 25:13Speaker 2: akin to a legacy, enduring and everlasting, just as the
- 25:18Speaker 2: God Most High had promised him. Steve Gatina, Max Bard,
- 25:31Speaker 2: Zach Schelleberger and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of
- 25:35Speaker 2: The Chosen People, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced
- 25:40Speaker 2: by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwald,
- 25:46Speaker 2: Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Jr., Rosanna Pilcher and Mitch Lashinsky.
- 25:51Speaker 2: Music by Andrew Morgan Smith. Written by Aaron Salvato, Brie
- 25:56Speaker 2: Rosely and Chris Baig. You can hear more Prey.com productions
- 26:00Speaker 2: on the Prey.com app, available on the Apple App Store
- 26:04Speaker 2: and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People,
- 26:07Speaker 2: please rate and leave a review.
- 26:09Speaker 1: This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human.