In any bible study on the epistle to the Hebrews, there is, inevitably, the figure of Melchizedek, who may not be quite mysterious in the epistle, due to the epistle writer's interpretations. To unravel who this figure is, in the Hebrew bible, where he originates, is not quite as easy a task. Some have commented, and even concluded, that the mystery of Melchizedek is finally solved. These solutions, though, are interpretations, not exegesis of the original material.
I am revisiting the mystery hoping to shed more light on the emergence of this character, in order to understand the retrospect picture presented through interpretation or even hermeneutics. This presentation and revisit is not intended to refute those interpretations but rather seeks to elucidate on the picture seen by the pre-New Testament readers.
Melchizedek in the Hebrew Bible
There are two references to Melchizedek in the Hebrew bible - once in Genesis and the second time in Psalms.
In Genesis 14:18 we read the following: "And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High". In verses 19 and 20 Melchizedek blessed Abraham - then he was still Abram - with these words: "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, maker of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!" Then, Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.
The Context:
In a battle of four kings against five in the Dead Sea valley, "the four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food;... They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot, and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom" (Genesis 14:11-12). Abraham, aided by 318 of his trained fighters went out to rescue his nephew.
Upon his return, Abraham was met by the king of Sodom in the Valley of Shaveh, also known as the King's Valley. It was at this point that Melchizedek brought bread and wine to Abraham and pronounced the blessing.
Five Points to consider:
There are five points we need to observe closely. All of them have been interpreted in the epistle to the Hebrews or in light of it, but here we are trying to see their significance to Abraham and in later interpretations of the Hebrew bible
1. The name Melchizedek literally means "king (melech) of righteousness (tzedek). This meaning would have been obvious to Abraham, that "my visitor's name is king of righteousness". The question I am raising here, is: what, in fact, did Abraham associate with the name of his visitor? Did he interpret anything at all from the name?
2. Salem: Salem here is Jerusalem, and it means "peace". This is the only reference in the whole Torah - Pentateuch - where Jerusalem is mentioned by name. Furthermore, as a descendant of Shem, Abraham received from Melchizedek the blessing in the place that will ultimately become the religious and royal center of the people of Israel.
3. God Most High is the translation of El Elyon the name for God used forty five times in the Hebrew bible, twenty of those in the Psalms. The usages of this title are, most of the times, very closely linked to temple service.
El Elyon emphasizes exaltation and absolute lordship and thus combines priestly service with monarchical lordship. These nuances are well interpreted in the epistle to the Hebrews with regard to the High Priest and the Messiah.
4. Bread and wine: From the perspective of the New Testament and Jesus' institution of the Eucharist, Melchizedek bringing out bread and wine is understood in retrospect. The question I pose is: What, if any, was Abraham's interpretation?.
In Exodus 25:30 we read about the bread of the Presence, or holy bread. There are more references in 1 Samuel 21:4, 6 where we read: "The priest answered David, 'I have no ordinary bread at hand, only holy bread... So the priest gave him the holy bread; for there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence... ". This holy bread was actually twelve loaves placed before God as a sacrificial offering every Sabbath, to be eaten only by the priests
5. Melchizedek in Psalm 110:4
It was pointed out above that the only other reference to Melchizedek in the Hebrew bible is in Psalm 110:4 where we read as follows: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek". What we can gather here is that Melchizedek becomes the founder of a royal priesthood distinct from the later Levitical priesthood.
Based on this text, the Epistle Reading for the Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost (Hebrews 7:23-28) makes the following interpretation: "For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever" (verse 28).
Conclusions:
Without the New Testament, and especially the epistle to the Hebrews, the figure of Melchizedek remains very mysterious indeed. Later, the Essenes assigned him an eschatological interpretation in the Dead Sea Scrolls. The early church, on the other hand, found a typological interpretation.
For additional reading see:
Melchizedek in Theological Dictionary of the Bible, edited by Walter A. Elwell.
Corrie ten Boom - The Roots of the Jerusalem Prayer Team Unspectacularly Supernatural Walking After Emptiness
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