He armed his trained servants— The original word for armed, ירק iarek, may signify to lead or draw forth to battle; but Houbigant thinks the Samaritan reading the true one, in agreement with the LXX, which renders it ηριθμησε, he numbered; and might be rendered in French, says he, faire la revue, to make a review. He renders it in his translation recensuit. According to this, Abram made a review of his servants or domestics, who had been born in his house, and whom he had trained up or initiated, as well in arts and religion, as in arms; and finding them three hundred and eighteen fighting men, with these he pursued the enemy to the place, afterwards called Dan, near the source of the river Jordan, see Joshua 19:47. Judges 18:29. where, reconnoitring them, he divided himself and his servants, together with his three confederates; Genesis 14:13 who most probably attended him, into two parties; and thus fell upon the enemy by night, and gained a complete victory over them; pursuing them unto Ho-bah, a place no where else mentioned in the sacred writings, but here described to have been on the left of Damascus, a city of the most venerable antiquity, concerning which we shall have occasion to speak more fully hereafter.
REFLECTIONS.—Though God afflicts his children, yet, when their case seems most desperate, help is at hand. Now was Lot giving himself up for lost, when Abram's courage and conduct redeem him from servitude. A fugitive from the battle informs Abram of the disaster; and he resolves immediately to pursue. Not ambition, but charity roused his spirit for war; it was not to enrich himself, but to recover his friend. We have here,
1. His preparations: his own servants, and the forces of his confederates. His own amounted to three hundred and eighteen, a large family, but a small army: but what they wanted in number, they made up in fidelity, courage, and obedience. They were trained, not to arms, as their trade, but for their defence; or rather trained up in the steps of Abram's faith and piety, and therefore ready to follow him, as confident of the divine protection under such a general. Observe, (1.) Though war is exceeding far from being desirable, it is not always unlawful. (2.) Those will be the best soldiers, who are the most pious. Though religion suffers not men to be quarrelsome, it ever prevents them from being cowards. (3.) It is highly the interest and duty of every general to have his soldiers disciplined in the truth: profaneness and impiety cannot but tend to make men afraid to die, unless they be desperate indeed. (4.) A great family is a great charge: happy the master, who like Abram, not only provides for their bodies, but cares also for their souls.
2. Their march, and attack of these confederate kings by night: brave to the last degree, and so wisely directed, that Abram may vie with the greatest generals. It might have been called rashness, to attack so great an army with such a handful of men; but Abram had the Lord of Hosts on his side, and then more were for him than against him. Learn, (1.) When we are engaged in a good cause, we are bound to trust upon the Lord mighty in battle for success. (2.) In war, policy is usually more effectual than force.
3. Their complete victory. Their enemies are pursued to their fenced cities, and all the captives and spoil left a prey to the conqueror. As it was for Lot's sake that the expedition was undertaken, he is first mentioned, and called Abram's brother, not only because of their family-relation, but of their religion. Note; (1.) We ought to be ready to lay down our lives for the brethren. (2.) Their unkindness to us affects not our duty to them: we must forgive, not only our avowed enemies, but what is harder to be borne, the ingratitude of our friends. (3.) A nation fares the better for one righteous man. For Lot's sake, all the inhabitants of these cities who were taken captive, are recovered.