318 Servant-Warriors

Genesis 14 tells an interesting account of great historical value. This bit of ancient history in Genesis 14 enlightens the political and social milieu of both Mesopotamia and Canaan during the time of Abram.  Five Canaanite city-states had been subjugated for twelve years by a coalition of four kings from Mesopotamia, headed by Chedorlaomer, King of Shinar. The Canaanite coalition of five kings, which seemed to be headed in part by King Bera of Sodom, revolted against the Mesopotamian domination in year thirteen. The revolution must have lasted about a year, terminating in a major battle in the Valley of Siddim tar pits.  

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In the process, Chedorlaomer, King of Shinar, and his coalition captured hostages and all the belongings of the five Canaanite kings and their people.  Unfortunately for Chedorlaomer, he captured Abram’s nephew Lot, his wife and daughters, and all their property.

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Almost immediately thereafter, Abram received word of Lot’s dilemma. He very quickly gathered help from three Amorite brothers who were his allies at the time. He armed three hundred-eighteen of his personally trained servant-warriors whom the scripture says had been born in his household—to his own servants. In a whirlwind raid on Chedorlaomer and his confederates, the Abramic coalition attacked from four sides, slaughtering Chedorlaomer and his coalition.  Abram rescued his nephew Lot and his family as well as the other hostages. The scripture notes that he took back all of Lot’s family and belongings, also everything stolen from the other kings. Specific mention is made of his retrieval of all the belongings of the king of Sodom.

 

Particularly unusual to theologians and bible researchers, since the time of Clement of Alexandria, is the significance of the three hundred-eighteen warrior-herdsman.  Proponents of both Christian and Rabbinic numerical codes have tried to assign metaphorical significance to the number.  Ancient Christian numerologists cited that the Greek "Tau" (a letter looking like the cross) is representative of the number 300, plus Eta and Iota which when added equal 18, were a reference to Yeshua, Jesus.   However, for our purpose, I want to focus primarily on the plain, literal application to our age as provided by a study of the history of the incident, word study, and coinciding scripture.

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I would like to set a bit of personal background.  Months ago, as I was praying for guidance in how to share the ministry of Casey’s art as well as our teaching ministry, I read this passage.  I felt like God clearly told me to seek three hundred-eighteen warrior-servants to help us.  Time passed and we entered the Covid-19 era.  I was blessed to be able to work from home which kept me busy and paid, but also gave me some extra time to focus on our ministry.  I was praying one night as I lay in bed and the Lord reminded me—318.  It seemed so simple until I began to formulate how all this would work.  The concept had come to me as a global thought, but working out the practical application was much more involved.  It sent me to delve into a study that turned out to be rich in history, archaeology, and most of all, in practical application for the Christian walk.

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As I said previously, I want to focus primarily on the plain literal application in understanding why the idea of three hundred-eighteen servants born in Abraham’s household is so significant for modern Christians.

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And when Abram heard that his brother [nephew] was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. Genesis 14:14-16

 

The three hundred-eighteen servants were most likely nomadic herdsman, also trained as warriors to protect the Abramic household as they traveled through a land where roving tribes pillaged.  It was a time when kings of small city-states formed coalitions to attack and dominate other smaller city-states as is evident in the entire Genesis 14 account. The three hundred-eighteen were born to Abram’s retinue of servants, possibly inherited when his father died in Haran.  Perhaps, they were even kinsmen of Abram and Sarai. They were devoted to Abram; they were disciplined in their outlook and demeanor.

 

Some bible numerologists theorize the number 318 spells Eliezer, using the Hebrew numbering system, letters representing numbers. Whether or not true, it does point to the example of Abram’s head servant, Eliezer; one trustworthy enough to have received Abram’s fortune and be his heir, had not Jehovah promised a biological heir to Abraham.  Eliezer may have helped lead the other warriors into the fray. This concept speaks to the faithfulness of these 318 warrior-herdsmen to follow Abram to rescue Lot and his family as well as the other hostages taken by Chedorlaomer and his confederation.

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The idea of “trained servants,” comes from the Hebrew Chaniyk (H 2593 in Strong’s.) Chaniyk, Khaw-neek, means, “initiated” as in trained or practiced.  This comes from a root word (H 2596 in Strong’s), Chanak, Khaw-nak, which properly means to narrow, but used often in a figurative sense to mean; discipline, initiate, dedicate, train-up.

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So, we have the idea of a group of warrior servants, trained and practiced in the use of the arms of the day, initiated into the understanding of Abram’s God, Jehovah; dedicated to Abram in complete service and obedience.  We can say this based on Genesis 17 where God established the covenant of circumcision with Abraham (now called this as a further step in receiving God’s promise.)  Abraham, Ismael, his son by Hagar, and all males in his household, both those born in his household and those bought, were circumcised as an act of obedience and dedication to God. 

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Now for the practical application to modern Christians.  We are privileged to be part of God’s household through the perfect blood covenant, bought for us by the blood of the only sinless man who ever lived.  God’s only begotten Son, Jesus, (Yeshua) gave his life that we might be heirs also in Jehovah’s great household of faith. As Christians we are also sojourners in a restless, uncertain land.  We circumcise our hearts according to Romans 2:29. We dedicate ourselves to service for our Lord.  We prepare ourselves for battle against Satan, the “god of this world,” through practice in using the sword of the Word of God. The scripture says the sword of the Word is two-edged, dividing asunder mind and body, soul and spirit, the thoughts and intents of the heart.

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The core value of Jesus, Prince of Light Ministries is to daily dedicate ourselves to relationship with our Father through our Lord Jesus, Christ.  In doing so, we desire to help others grow in their own relationship to the Father and his only Son as well.  Our art and teaching are designed by the great Creator-Artist who is self-existent, all-powerful, all-knowing, and pure love.  Our service to Him is to yield, follow, and be obedient to his training and discipline.

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As you peruse this website, if you see something in our ministry that speaks to you and you want to be a part, we invite you to join us as one of our three-hundred-eighteen warrior servants who are servants of God, and warriors against Satan and his sinful, stranglehold on God’s creation.   To learn more about becoming a warrior-servant in our ministry, go to our contact page.  You may reach us by telephone, email, or fill out your contact information and let us know you are interested in learning more.

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Thank you for taking the time to read this.  May God, our Father, bless you. May Jesus, our Lord, keep you, and may the Holy Spirit guide you into all truth.