I. Malki-Tzedek, King of Shalem vs. the King of Sedom
(יב) אַבְרָ֖ם יָשַׁ֣ב בְּאֶֽרֶץ־כְּנָ֑עַן וְל֗וֹט יָשַׁב֙ בְּעָרֵ֣י הַכִּכָּ֔ר וַיֶּאֱהַ֖ל עַד־סְדֹֽם׃ (יג) וְאַנְשֵׁ֣י סְדֹ֔ם רָעִ֖ים וְחַטָּאִ֑ים לַה' מְאֹֽד׃
(12) Abram remained in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the Plain, pitching his tents near Sodom. (13) Now the inhabitants of Sodom were very wicked sinners against the LORD.
(17) When [Avram] returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh, which is the Valley of the King. (18) And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was a priest of God Most High. (19) He blessed him, saying, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. (20) And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your foes into your hand.” And [Abram] gave him a tenth of everything. (21) Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the possessions for yourself.” (22) But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I swear to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth: (23) I will not take so much as a thread or a sandal strap of what is yours; you shall not say, ‘It is I who made Abram rich.’ (24) For me, nothing but what my servants have used up; as for the share of the men who went with me—Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre—let them take their share.”
(א) הוציא לחם ויין לפום ריהטא היה לו לכתוב ויאמר מלך סדום אל אברם תיכף אחר ויצא מלך סדום לקראתו אלא לפי שהיה אברהם עתיד לומר אם מחוט ועד שרוך נעל ויאמרו השומעים אם כדבריו של אברהם ממה מתפרנס הוא וכל בני חילו ולכך הפסיק וכתב בינתיים ומלכי צדק מלך שלם הוציא לחם ויין ללמדנו כי אמת השיב אברהם למלך סדום אם אקח מכל אשר לך אך נהנה משל מלכי צדק.
(1) "He brought out bread and wine;” by the rules of syntax it should have said "The King of Sodom said to Avram (v. 21)" right after "the king of Sodom came out to meet him (v. 17)." However, because Avraham would say "I will not take so much as a thread or sandal strap (v. 22)," those who heard this would have wondered based on Avaraham's words, how he and his soldiers would be supported. Therefore it interrupted to say in the meantime that Malkitzedek the King of Shalem brought out bread and wine to teach us that Avraham answered the King of Sodom "I will not take from anything that is yours," however he would enjoy that which belonged to Malkitzedek.
II. Lavan vs. Yitro: The Battle of the Fathers-in-Law
(י) אַרְבַּע מִדּוֹת בָּאָדָם. הָאוֹמֵר שֶׁלִּי שֶׁלִּי וְשֶׁלְּךָ שֶׁלָּךְ, זוֹ מִדָּה בֵינוֹנִית. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים, זוֹ מִדַּת סְדוֹם. שֶׁלִּי שֶׁלְּךָ וְשֶׁלְּךָ שֶׁלִּי, עַם הָאָרֶץ. שֶׁלִּי שֶׁלְּךָ וְשֶׁלְּךָ שֶׁלָּךְ, חָסִיד. שֶׁלִּי שֶׁלִּי וְשֶׁלְּךָ שֶׁלִּי, רָשָׁע:
(10) There are four temperaments among men: the one who says "what is mine is mine, and what is yours is yours" -- that's an [average] temperament. And there are some who say that is the temperament of Sodom. [A second type is one who says] "what is mine is yours, and what is yours is mine" -- [that's an] am ha'arets (uneducated person). [A third type is one who says] "what is mine is yours, and what is yours is yours" -- [that's a] pious person. [A final type is one who says] "what is yours is mine, and what is mine is mine" -- [that's a] wicked person.
III. Pharaoh vs. Bat Pharaoh