In the first part of chapter 14, the larger political setting was laid out for us. Four strong kings swept down from what is modern-day Iraq and were attacking cities in the area of the Dead sea. During their conquest, Abram's nephew Lot is taken captive. We pick up the story as they head back to their kingdoms in the North and news of Lot's capture reaches Abram.
Abram decides to rescue Lot and takes with him men from his household and the households of the tribal chiefs he was allied with (Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner). He makes a coordinated attack at night and succeeds in recovering everything the 4 kings took.
There is some room for speculation about Abram's success here. Did he, with only 318 men defeat the strong and battle-tested armies of 4 conquering kings? Did the 318 men include the men from Abram's allies or were they additional? Was Abram's coordinated night-attack a stroke of military genius? Did they attack the main force of the kings or just a plunder-transport crew? Maybe the armies of the kings were tired and their numbers reduced from all of their previous conquests...
These are valuable questions to ask. But their answers are glaringly missing. The battle and its success take a single sentence (verse 14:15). The author seems much more interested in what happens afterward. Perhaps we should be too. Let's have a look.
When Abram returns, two kings come out to meet him. The king of Sodom (who's name sounds like evil and who's townsfolk were wicked) and Melchizedek, king of Salem (who's name means "king of righteousness", who is a priest of God, and who rules Salem - which means "Peace"). If we were only to judge by their names and kingdoms, there could be no greater contrast.
Abram accepts a blessing from the king of Salem and gives him one tenth of the recovered plunder. At first, this seems a bit confusing. Who is this second king? Where did he come from? His kingdom wasn't conquered so why should he get anything (or be included in the story)? But Abram wasn't returning this king's property. This king was God's priest. By accepting the king's blessing and giving a portion of the recovered goods to him, Abram acknowledged that his success was because of God. This is apart from any recorded miracle or other intervention.
What a change in character! In chapter 12, Abram was afraid of the Egyptian king, schemed with his wife to avoid an unrealized (almost imaginary) danger, and ended up having God actively rescue him from his failed scheme. But there is no mention of him thanking or acknowledging God's role. Now, in chapter 14, Abram faces a very real danger from 4 conquering kings, has a good plan, and appears to be successful in implementing it (apart from any recorded divine intervention). And here, he DOES acknowledge God as an ally by giving a portion to His representative (note that Abram's earthly allies received a portion in verse 24). The contrast is night-and-day. But why? What caused the change in character? Why was Abram suddenly so courageous?
Let's go back to the second king for a moment. The king of Sodom proposes a deal where Abram would keep all the riches and return his people (verse 21). Abram rejects this deal and gives the king of Sodom both people and riches (less the portion given to his allies). He also gives his reason for keeping nothing for himself - an oath he made to God.
We still don't know why Abram showed such courage in this section. I propose a few reasons. First, At the end of chapter 12, Abram sees God very actively protecting him as He promised He would. Second, after trusting God's promise a little in Chapter 13, God shows Abram the land He promised to him. Now, Abram has seen two promises fulfilled by God. And now, he trusts even more. In this instance, he trusts that God will protect him and he acknowledges God's protection by treating him as an ally. Therefore, I think Abram's courage comes from his trust in God.
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