Who was Melchizedek?
Abraham (then called Abram), met Melchizedek. Let's take a look at this mysterious Melchizedek.
Abram came back from battle where he, along with some allies, defeated his enemies and rescued captives and freed them. On his way back after his victory, he met Melchizedek. Who is this mysterious figure?
Let's take a look at this passage in the Bible:
When Abram heard that his nephew had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred eighteen of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and routed them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. Then he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his nephew Lot with his goods, and the women and the people. After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said,
Abram came back from battle where he, along with some allies, defeated his enemies and rescued captives and freed them. On his way back after his victory, he met Melchizedek. Who is this mysterious figure?
Let's take a look at this passage in the Bible:
When Abram heard that his nephew had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred eighteen of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and routed them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. Then he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his nephew Lot with his goods, and the women and the people. After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
maker of heaven and earth;
maker of heaven and earth;
and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”
And Abram gave him one-tenth of everything.
Genesis 14: 14-20
It appears that there is no completely clear-cut answer as to who Melchizedek was.
Jewish scholars interpret this kingly person as one of the original line of the priesthood that dates back to Adam. However, because Melchizedek made the mistake of blessing Abram before praising God, the line of the priesthood passed from Melchizedek to Abram (see reference 1).
Among Christian scholars, there is no clear consensus. Some believe that Melchizedek is a Theophany (appearance of Christ). Others believe Melchizedek was an angelic being and messenger. Yet others believe that he was a priest of a special and higher order, but likely still human.
Yet another carefully considered Christian interpretation puts forward the view that Melchizedek is a type of priest that is higher than Abraham. (Melchizedek blessed Abraham, and Abraham paid tithes to him; the greater blessing the lesser.) The key part of the interpretation is that Melchizedek is a type of priest that points the way to Jesus, but is not Jesus incarnate (see reference 2).
Although it is difficult to be certain about which of these is the correct interpretation of Melchizedek, they all agree that Melchizedek was considered greater than Abram. Besides that point, they all differ. Ultimately, I don't think that there is enough mention in the Bible to make it 100% clear who Melchizedek was.
Certainly, in Melchizedek Abram met someone greater than himself, which was a sharp contrast with the other king he met that day (the king of Sodom).
Abram then makes a wise choice in aligning himself with God's wishes and not with those of the king of Sodom:
Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself." But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have sworn to the Lord, God Most High, maker of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal-thong or anything that is yours, so that you might not say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their share.”
Jewish scholars interpret this kingly person as one of the original line of the priesthood that dates back to Adam. However, because Melchizedek made the mistake of blessing Abram before praising God, the line of the priesthood passed from Melchizedek to Abram (see reference 1).
Among Christian scholars, there is no clear consensus. Some believe that Melchizedek is a Theophany (appearance of Christ). Others believe Melchizedek was an angelic being and messenger. Yet others believe that he was a priest of a special and higher order, but likely still human.
Yet another carefully considered Christian interpretation puts forward the view that Melchizedek is a type of priest that is higher than Abraham. (Melchizedek blessed Abraham, and Abraham paid tithes to him; the greater blessing the lesser.) The key part of the interpretation is that Melchizedek is a type of priest that points the way to Jesus, but is not Jesus incarnate (see reference 2).
Although it is difficult to be certain about which of these is the correct interpretation of Melchizedek, they all agree that Melchizedek was considered greater than Abram. Besides that point, they all differ. Ultimately, I don't think that there is enough mention in the Bible to make it 100% clear who Melchizedek was.
Certainly, in Melchizedek Abram met someone greater than himself, which was a sharp contrast with the other king he met that day (the king of Sodom).
Abram then makes a wise choice in aligning himself with God's wishes and not with those of the king of Sodom:
Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself." But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have sworn to the Lord, God Most High, maker of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal-thong or anything that is yours, so that you might not say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their share.”
Genesis 14: 21-24
From my reading so far, it seems that the take-home message is that Abram had the discernment to go with God's wishes and receive the blessing of a wise man (Melchizedek) instead of falling in Satan's trap by going with the king of Sodom's wishes. This is probably more what we are being asked to focus on, instead of trying to determine exactly who Mechizedek was.
From my reading so far, it seems that the take-home message is that Abram had the discernment to go with God's wishes and receive the blessing of a wise man (Melchizedek) instead of falling in Satan's trap by going with the king of Sodom's wishes. This is probably more what we are being asked to focus on, instead of trying to determine exactly who Mechizedek was.
Cited sources:
1. Rabbi Menachem Posner. Who was Melchizedek? in Chabad.org
2. Msgr. Charles Pope. Who was Melchizedek? in Catholic Standard
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2. Msgr. Charles Pope. Who was Melchizedek? in Catholic Standard
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