Giving and Taking– the different cultural norms of Sodom and Yerushalayim.
Following Avraham’s victory over the four kings, the kings of Sodom and Shalem went to greet him. The Torah’s description of these two meetings encapsulates the difference between these two cultures. “And the king of Sodom came out toward him.” (14:17) - empty-handed, whereas “Malkizedek the king of Salem brought out bread and wine.” (14:18)
The contrast is even starker when one considers that the king of Sodom had every reason to be grateful to Avraham for having saved his city and to shower him with gifts, whereas Malkizedek was not even involved in the battle. The difference between the two cultures is also evident in the names of their kings. We already know that the people of Sodom were “very evil and sinful against the Lord.” (13:13) and it is only symbolic that their king should be called “BeRa” (14:2). The king of Shalem was called “Malkizedek” (14:18) as fitting the king of Yerushalayim whose ideal is the “city of righteousness, faithful city” (Isaiah 1:26)
This is why Avraham later refuses to accept any gifts from the king of Sodom so there could be no possibility of the king stating “I have made Avraham wealthy.” (14:23), thus proclaiming that he did not wish to have anything to do with Sodom and its culture. In contrast, we see that Avraham gave ma’aser to Malkizedek in appreciation of the culture that values giving to others and to demonstrate that they both believe in the same God “the Most High God, Who possesses heaven and earth.” (14:19)