Expert: Paul Walker - 5/28/2004

Question
In filling in all the personal pronouns, to me it seems that Melchzedek gave a tenth of his spoil to Abram.
My question is did he?
I am aware of what it says in Hebrews 7:1 in that Abram, actually Abraham gave a tenth to Mechzedek
in rightfully dividing the word of God and praying about this I read Genesis 14:19-20 as the following:
Please read it the way it reads and not what you have been taught by somebody else of what it says,.
in verse 18 the first time te word he comes up the  "he" refers to Melchizedek,..in v.19 "he" refers to Melchizedek and the "him" refers to Abram,..in v19 the blessing is being spoken by Melchizedek about the "him" which is Abram,..in v.20 is a continuation of the blessing from Melchizedek, telling Abram that (thine)Abram's enimies have been put into Abram's(thy) hands,..and he(Melchizedek which is still a continuation frm v 19) gave him (Abram) a tenth of the spoils/tithe.
To me the sentence structure does not change to warrant all of a sudden going to Melchizedek, or at least I don't see that or it has not been revealed to me that way,..
in v.19 Melchizedek blessed Abram "AND SAID"
in v.20 Melcizedek is still blessing "AND SAYING"
in v. 20 in the next part of the same verse(HE) meaning Melchizedek is talking to abram about what THE MOST HIGH has done by delivering abrams enemy to Abram.
Why would the writer refer to a different (HE) in the same sentence change to and refer to Melchizedek and the (HIM) refer to and change to ABRAM,..            Try this if you will,give the HE the name of JOE and HIM the name of BILL then read it substituting the names of Melchizedk and Abram in the appropiate places and please let me know what you get,..
thank you and may God bless and keep you in the wonderful work you are doing

Answer
Dear Tex,

I understand your question and the confusion, grammar is one of my bug a boos. Biblical pronouns, especially in the OT, can be troubling the way they seem to jump from one to another antecedent. In this case, however, we have the quote in Hebrews to interpret it for us.

    Genesis 14:20 (20)  And blessed be the most high God, which
    hath delivered thine enemies into THY hand. And HE gave him
    tithes of all.

Thy is the closes antecedent to the last he of 14:20 and according to Hebrews it must be the correct one.

Hope this helps.

Your Servant in Christ Jesus,

Paul Walker
www.aficj.org