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Melchizedek
 

This article is about the biblical figure. Alternatively, you may be looking for the article on Melchisédech Thévenot (ca. 1620-1692)

Melchizedek or Malki-tzédek (מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק / מַלְכִּי־צָדֶק "My king is Zedek", Standard Hebrew Malki-ẓédeq / Malki-ẓádeq, Tiberian Hebrew Malkî-ṣéḏeq / Malkî-ṣāḏeq), sometimes written Malchizedek, Melchisedec, Melchisedech, Melchisedek or Melkisedek, is a character in the Old Testament who appeared in Genesis to the patriarch Abraham. He is called "king of Salem" (believed to be ancient Jerusalem) and "priest of the most high God" in Genesis 14:18.

In the Hebrew Bible

In the Tanakh, Melchizedek brought bread and wine to Abraham (then called Abram) after Abraham's victory over the four kings who had besieged Sodom and Gomorrah and had taken his nephew Lot prisoner (described in Genesis 14). (Gen. 14:18.) Melchizedek blessed Abraham in the name of “God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.” (Gen. 14:19.) In return, Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth, a tithe, of the spoils gained from the battle. (Gen. 14:20.)

In some translations, Psalm 110:4 names Melchizedek as representative of the priestly line through which a future king of Israel's Davidic line was ordained. Alternatively, the term in Psalm 110:4 can be read “rightful king.” (E.g., New JPS Tanakh.)

In Rabbinic interpretation

In the Midrash, the Rabbis identified Melchizedek with Shem son of Noah. (E.g., B. Talmud Nedarim 32b; Genesis Rabbah 46:7; Genesis Rabbah 56:10; Leviticus Rabbah 25:6; Numbers Rabbah 4:8.) Rabbi Isaac the Babylonian said that Melchizedek was born circumcised. (Genesis Rabbah 43:6.) Melchizedek called Jerusalem “Salem.” (Genesis Rabbah 56:10.) The Rabbis said that Melchizedek instructed Abraham in the Torah. (Genesis Rabbah 43:6.) Rabbi Eleazar said that Melchizedek’s school was one of three places where the Holy Spirit manifested itself. (B. Talmud Makkot 23b.) The Rabbis taught that Melchizedek acted as a priest and handed down Adam’s robes to Abraham. (Numbers Rabbah 4:8.) Rabbi Zechariah said on Rabbi Ishmael’s authority that God intended to bring forth the priesthood through Melchizedek’s descendants, but because Melchizedek blessed Abraham before he blessed God (in Gen. 14:19-20), God brought the priesthood forth from Abraham’s descendants. (B. Talmud Nedarim 32b; see also Leviticus Rabbah 25:6 (crediting Rabbi Ishamel).)

Rabbi Judah said in Rabbi Nehorai's name that Melchizedek’s blessing yielded prosperity for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Genesis Rabbah 43:8.) Ephraim Miksha'ah the disciple of Rabbi Meir said in the latter's name that Tamar descended from Melchizedek. (Genesis Rabbah 85:10.)

Rabbi Hana bar Bizna citing Rabbi Simeon Hasida identified Melchizedek as one of the four craftsmen of whom Zechariah wrote in Zechariah 2:3. (B. Talmud Sukkah 52b; see also Song of Songs Rabbah 2:33 (crediting Rabbi Berekiah in the name of Rabbi Isaac).) The Talmud teaches that David wrote the Book of Psalms, including in it the work of the elders, including Melchizedek (in Psalm 110). (B. Talmud Baba Batra 14b-15a.)

The Zohar finds in “Melchizedek king of Salem” a reference to “the King Who rules with complete sovereignty,” or according to another explanation, that “Melchizedek” alludes to the lower world and “king of Salem” to the upper world. (Zohar 1:86b-87a.)

The Melchizedek Priesthood and Christianity

Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah spoken of as "a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek" (Ps. 110:4), and so Jesus plays the role of High Priest once and for all. Jesus is considered a priest in the order of Melchizedek because, like Melchizedek, Jesus was not a Levite, and thus would not qualify for the Levitical priesthood (Heb. 7:13-17). The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews in the New Testament discussed this subject considerably, listing the following reasons for why the priesthood of Melchizedek is superior to the Aaronic priesthood:

  1. Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek; later, the Levites would receive tithes from their countrymen. Since Aaron was in Abraham's loins then, it as if the Aaronic priesthood were paying tithes to Melchizedek. (Heb. 7:4-10)
  2. The one who blesses is always greater than the one being blessed. Thus, Melchizedek was greater than Abraham. As Levi was yet in the loins of Abraham, it follows that Melchizedek is greater than Levi. (Heb. 7:7-10)
  3. If the priesthood of Aaron were effective, God would not have called a new priest in a different order in Psalm 110. (Heb. 7:11)
  4. The basis of the Aaronic priesthood was ancestry; the basis of the priesthood of Melchizedek is everlasting life. That is, there is no interruption due to a priest's death. (Heb. 7:8,15-16,23-25)
  5. Christ, being sinless, does not need a sacrifice for his own sins. (Heb. 7:26-27)
  6. The priesthood of Melchizedek is more effective because it required a single sacrifice once and for all (Jesus), while the Levitical priesthood made endless sacrifices. (Heb. 7:27)
  7. The Aaronic priests serve (or, rather, served) in an earthly copy and shadow of the heavenly Temple, which Jesus serves in. (Heb. 8:5)

The epistle goes on to say that the covenant of Jesus is superior to the covenant the Levitical priesthood is under. Some Christians hold that Melchizedek was a type of Christ, and some heterodox Christians hold that Melchizedek indeed was Christ. Reasons provided include that Melchizedek's name means "king of righteousness" according to the author of Hebrews, and that being king of Salem makes Melchizedek the "king of peace." Heb. 7:3 states, "Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he (Melchizedek) remains a priest forever." Melchizedek gave Abraham bread and wine, which Christians consider symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, the sacrifice to confirm a covenant.

The Dual Offices of Melchizedek. An Evangelical view

The passage in Genesis 14:18-20 notes that Melchizedek was "Priest of God Most High" and also "King of Salem" or King of Shalom or Peace. The dual offices of the Order of Melchizedek has been the intriguing aspect of this early minister/ruler of Jerusalem. He was both priest and king. From our perspective he occupied two offices of authority, that of the priesthood (religion) and that of king, (the state or politics). Ezekiel was given a picture of these two anointings or authorities in the vision of the "two sticks" (Ezek.37). Both sticks were united to become one in his hand. Similarly the prophet Zechariah saw the two olive trees feeding two flows of oil. The two flows of anointing were flowing into a single bowl. The oil then went on to supply a lampstand with seven lamps. (Zech.4)

Conceptually these combined authorities in the Order of Melchizedek represents an extremely high level of authority and power. Here is where the plot thickens. Some ambitious men in this present age have presumed to use the name Melchizedek to try to establish powerful organizations over and above the current sovereignties of the nations. They use Melchizedek's name to try to establish global banking, political, and religious authorities. But King David in Psalm 110 reports that YHVH/God has declared that the King David's Master, or Lord, the promised "Son of David", or Messiah is the One who is worthy of the name and the high office that comes with this. King David's Lord, the greater "Son of David" is declared to be "a priest forever after the Order of Melchizedek".

Psalm 110 NKJV (Mod) 1 A Psalm of David. "The Lord, (YHVH), said to my Lord, (Master), 'Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.' 2 The Lord, (YHVH), shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! 3 Your people shall be volunteers In the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth. 4 The Lord has sworn And will not relent, "You are a priest forever according to the Order of Melchizedek." 5 The Lord, (YHVH) is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath. 6 He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries." (Psalm 110 1-6)

Here in this passage is a picture of Messiah coming to earth to fulfill and to establish the Order of Melchizedek. Therefore the only One who has any right to lay claim to the dual offices within the Order of Melchizedek is the coming Messiah of Israel. He was the spotless sinless Sacrifice Lamb. The blood He shed at Calvary for the sins of the world renders Him worthy to minister across this world as High Priest. And by virtue of His victory over death and Hades at His resurrection He alone has the right to global rule as King of Kings. The returning Messiah of Israel will both minister and rule over this earth. He will oversee both offices of the Order of Melchizedek in the coming Millennium of Messiah.

See also

External links

History of Jerusalem | Tanakh people | Torah people | Canaan | Melchisedech | Melchisedec | מלכיצדק | Melchizedek | Melquisedeque | Melkisedek | 麥基洗德

 

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