and he blessed Abram and said:
Melchizedek blesses Abram in the name of God Most High, the possessor of heaven and earth.
This verse places Abram’s victory under divine blessing.
17After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine — since he was priest of God Most High — 19and he blessed Abram and said: 20and blessed be God Most High, 21The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the goods for yourself.” 22But Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share for the men who went with me— Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. They may take their portion.”