Smoodock's Blog

The Biblical figure, Melchizedek, is one whose identity has been debated from ancient times to even our own modern day. The Jews have a long tradition that it is Shem, which would account for him being greater than Abraham, but contradictory in that Melchizedek had no lineage. His appearance with Abraham is somewhat of a surprise, especially as the Priest of the Most High God, a title claimed later by the Jews’ Levitical priesthood. Even more surprisingly, he refreshes Abraham and his party with bread and wine, symbols used by Christians for the Lord’s Supper, thousands of years later. The fact that Abraham recognizes him as a priest of higher rank than himself is also unexpected, especially since Abraham is called the friend of God, and all the patriarchs of that day were priests. Every sacrifice to the Most High God that is recorded in Genesis in Abraham’s day was offered by Abraham. So, who is Melchizedek, and why is he considered to be the Priest of the Most High God, but Abraham, the friend of God, holds no such title?

The text reveals very little about Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:1), saying only that he was the priest of the Most High God and the King of Salem. He went out to meet Abraham at Shaveh and blessed him there, as Abraham returned from the slaughter. At that time Abraham gave Melchizedek tithes of all the spoils of the war (Genesis 14:17-20; cp. Hebrews 7:2, 4), but where is Shaveh? According to Josephus, Shaveh is a place in the Kidron Valley that is approximately two furlongs (or stadia) from Jerusalem.[1] This same place is known as the Kings Dale (Genesis 14:17; 2Samuel 18:18), where Absalom set up a memorial for himself, because he had no son.

Paul tells us that the meaning of the name, Melchizedek, is King of Righteousness, and his title, King of Salem, means King of Peace (Hebrews 7:2), but are these titles in and of themselves, or was Melchizedek really the King of Jerusalem? He is the only righteous patriarch whose genealogy isn’t mentioned in Genesis. Neither his birth nor his death are recorded there or anywhere else in the Scriptures. Paul seems to be drawing from the fact that Melchizedek is like the Son of God and remains a priest perpetually (Hebrews 7:3).

Psalm 2 is a Messianic Psalm sung at the coronation of the kings of Judah. There the King (Messiah) is declared to be the Son of God, but, according to Paul, this was done with power at Jesus’ resurrection: “This day (i.e. on the day of Jesus’ resurrection) I have begotten you!” (Psalm 2:7; Romans 1:4; Colossians 1:18; 1Corinthians 15:20-23). The Jews were taught that the Messiah never dies (John 12:34), but such a doctrine caused the Jews to miss Jesus’ death and resurrection. It included only the time after Jesus gained the Kingdom, which was after he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven (Luke 19:12; cf. Acts 1:9; Daniel 7:13-14). Therefore, Melchizedek, who had neither a record of his birth or death nor of having a father or mother, encapsulates the idea of an eternal High Priest (Hebrews 7:3).

Although most Jews believed Melchizedek was Shem, the son of Noah, others thought he may have been an early appearance of the Messiah. Some third and fourth century Christian leaders thought he might be an angel, others in the fourth and fifth centuries AD believed he was simply the Power, Virtue or Influence of God. Some even believed he was superior to Christ, but others identified him as the Holy Spirit. Epiphanius, a fourth century bishop, claimed some in the Church had the erroneous belief that Melchizedek was a human manifestation of the one who would later become Jesus.

Modern writers also join in the guessing game to add figures like Job or a descendent of Shem, Ham or Japheth or Canaan, himself, or even the patriarch, Enoch. Yet, none of these guesses can be proved. Some are very contradictory to the Scriptures, but the guesses go on and on. So, who is Melchizedek? If opinions matter, I believe with those fourth century Christians whom Epiphanius claimed were in error. I think Melchizedek was the one who would later become Jesus. If the **King** of Righteousness and the **King** of Peace mean anything at all in Scripture, they point to Jesus. They are, after all, titles that belong to him alone. Anyone else who would assume such a thing could never be righteous nor could he be peaceful, if such titles were taken in rebellion against God. Nevertheless, the text is not explicit, so only God knows who Melchizedek really was, while we may only guess. However, we need to keep in mind that our ‘guesses’ need to be in agreement with what the Scriptures tell us, if we wish our guesses to honor God. While such suppositions may be wrong, at least they wouldn’t overtly deny what the Scriptures try to tell us.

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[1] Two stadia or two furlongs is equal to 800 cubits (cir. 1400 feet); see Josephus: Antiquities of the Jews 7.10.3 and The Complete Works of Josephus [translated by William Whiston; Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49501]: Weights and Measures page 727.