² tn Grk “before Abraham was.”

² tn Or “Our father is Abraham.”

² tn Heb “and Abraham weighed out.”

² tn Heb “And Abraham added and took.”

¹ tn Heb “answered Abraham saying to him.”

² tn Heb “the servant.” The word “Abraham’s” has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

³ sn The short phrase if not provides a ray of hope and inspires Abraham’s intercession.

³ tn Grk “have come from the loins of Abraham.”

² tn Grk “those who are of the faith of Abraham.”

² tn Grk “the ‘in-uncircumcision faith’ of our father Abraham.”

¹ tn Heb “the sons of the concubines who [belonged] to Abraham.”

² tn Heb “the servant”; the word “Abraham’s” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

¹ tn Heb “the man”; the referent (Abraham’s servant) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

¹ tn Heb “and the servant.” The word “Abraham’s” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

³ tn The Hebrew verb used here means “to steal; to rob; to take violently.” The statement reflects Abraham’s perspective.

¹ sn The point of the phrase still in his ancestor’s loins is that Levi was as yet unborn, still in his ancestor Abraham’s body. Thus Levi participated in Abraham’s action when Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek.

¹ tn Heb “and may he give to you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your offspring with you.” The name “Abraham” is an objective genitive here; this refers to the blessing that God gave to Abraham.

¹ sn Abraham had taken another wife. These events are not necessarily in chronological order following the events of the preceding chapter. They are listed here to summarize Abraham’s other descendants before the narrative of his death.

¹ sn Abraham built an altar there. The theme of Abraham’s altar building culminates here. He has been a faithful worshiper. Will he continue to worship when called upon to make such a radical sacrifice?

³ sn God gave…the covenant. Note how the covenant of promise came before Abraham’s entry into the land and before the building of the temple.