Genesis 14:21-24 Abram’s Vow And Testimony.
We read that the king of Sodom went out to meet Abram upon the former’s return from “the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him” (v. 17). So it would appear that the king remained in hiding all the while that Abram was driving back the opposing kings. The king of Sodom truly owed Abram a great debt. However, Abram wanted to make it very clear that not only had the king of Sodom not participated in the battle, but Abram would also take none of his goods, which he left for those who fought with him. He made a vow that he would receive nothing from the king of Sodom to make it abundantly clear that the victory was the LORD’s doing through him. Furthermore, Abram would give a tenth of his own possessions as a tithe to the LORD in support of the ministry of Melchizedek, priest of God Most High (vv. 18-20).