The Study of Melchizedek
The very first time the bible mentions Melchizedek is in
Genesis 14. The story is a time when four minor kings rebelled and made war with
the five major kings that were joined together in the Vale of Siddim which was a
river valley at the salt sea. The minor kings revolted and took all from Sodom
and Gomorrah including the family of Abraham. Abraham received word by one man
who escaped. Abraham took his men and went after his family. He was successful
in retrieving his family, all the people, and all goods that were taken this is
known as the Slaughter of Chedorlaomer. At Abraham’s return he was met by the
king of Sodom and the other four kings that were with him. It is at this time
that Melchizedek king of Salem (A Canaanite King) brought forth bread and wine
in what appears to be the first partake of what we know now as communion. In the New Testament before Jesus was taken into custody he observed the Passover with his disciples where like Melchizedek he had bread and wine and told his disciples that as often as they do this to remember him. This would be their last supper together and told them the bread was his body and the wine his blood that would be shed. We now observe this as communion in remembrance of the sacrifice Jesus gave for all of us. Back to the meeting of Abram and Melchizedek after receiving the bread and wine, Melchizedek blessed Abraham. This is
also where it says that Melchizedek was the priest of the Most High God. First
time someone had been called king and high priest at the same time. Melchizedek
blessed Abraham stating, “Blessed be Abram of the Most High God, possessor of
heaven and earth:” (Gen 14:19). Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek from all he
brought back with him. The king of Sodom offered Abraham to take the spoils, but
he refused to take any of it least that the king later would say that he himself
made Abraham rich.
Melchizedek is the first priest mentioned in the bible. There
are three references: Genesis 14; Psalms 110; and Hebrews 5, 6, 7. The story in
Genesis takes place decades before God’s law was given to Moses where Aaron was
to take the tribe of the Levites out from among the Israelites and cleanse them.
They were to be set apart for the work of the Lord as priests and high priests.
His law was specified that only those born of the tribe of Levi could serve as
priests (Numbers 8), and only those who were descended from Aaron were eligible
to become High Priest (Exodus 29:9, 29-30; Leviticus 8:12; 16:32). Now back to
Melchizedek who is made up of two words in Hebrew language: Melek meaning king
and tzedeq meaning righteous. It is understood as “my king is righteous.” It is
found to be a title rather than a man’s name. Just like with all things created
it can be found starting in the beginning of mankind with Adam being the very
first Melchizedek until he died. It was then passed to Seth as it was passed
from father to son. This is until we get to Noah the son of Lamech. Lamech died
before his own father Methuselah. Due to his death when Methuselah passed the
title was then handed down to Noah his grandson. The interesting part to note
here is that Methuselah was the seventh generation with this being passed down
to Noah it made him the eighth generational lineage. The number eight in the
bible represents new beginnings. We know that Noah and his family was saved and
begin a new world after the flood waters washed away all of creation. The word
also confirms that Noah was the eighth preacher of righteousness in 2 Peter 2:5.
Noah was the eighth man to hold the order of Melchizedek, the order of
righteousness. When Noah died, the order was then passed down to his son Shem.
It is believed that Shem was the high priest that blessed and took tithes from
Abram. Shem lived to be 600 years old (Genesis 11:10). In tracing the bloodline
through births and deaths in the seed line Abraham was born about 392 years
after Shem. Shem also outlived Abraham another 32 years. Shem’s father Noah
lived to be 950 years old so Abraham would have been 58. This was the time
Abraham left Ur to go to Canaan. When Noah died Shem inherited the title of
Melchizedek making it likely he was in fact the High Priest and king who blessed
Abraham. After Shem died, this title was then passed down from generation to
generation until it reached Jesus through his earthly father, Joseph, who was
from the tribe of Judah. These men are the men who carry the seed promise of
Genesis 3.
Melchizedek’s city was called Salem which derives from the term
Shalom that means peace. We know from the beginning of this study that in
Genesis 14 when Abraham came back from defeating Chedorlaomer that the king of
Sodom came out to meet him and that Melchizedek the king of Salem came out with
bread and wine as well and blessed Abraham. The king’s city in Psalms 76:2
implies that it is synonymous with Jerusalem. Also, in Genesis 14:17 reference
to the King’s Valley further confirms this. It was located on the southern part
of the Eastern Hill between the Kidron Valley and the Central Valley. In Genesis
it said that Abraham met Melchizedek in the King’s Valley also called the Valley
of Shaveh. This would have been at the end of the ridge of the city where the
Kidron and Hinnom valleys meet. King David would later make this city the
headquarters and Solomon would build God’s temple where the priesthood was set
up.
There is a Messianic prophecy in Psalms 110 that the coming Messiah will not
only be king, but also a High Priest by the order of Melchizedek. The Messiah
will not only rule over Israel, but globally. The order of Melchizedek was put
into motion more than 300 years before Israel received the law by Moses in
Exodus 20. The fact that the order of Melchizedek existed before the giving of
the law meant that it’s not bound by the same rules regarding the priesthood.
The Levitical priesthood was only intended for a short time and to be replaced
as explained in Hebrews 7. The priesthood of Aaron ran into many problems and
happened on and off. Because the order of Melchizedek existed before the law was
given it meant it was not bound by the same rules concerning the priesthood, and
Melchizedek’s priesthood would last for all eternity.
The author of Hebrews used
the priesthood of Melchizedek to prove the eternal high priest to be Jesus
Christ. He gave himself as the supreme sacrifice for all mankind. He taught and
did miracles during the three and a half years before his death. He then
resurrected after his death making him the high priest forever. Jesus opened the
way for people to approach the throne of grace for themselves instead of having
to go through a priest from the lineage of Aaron that ended with the old
covenant being broken at the death of Jesus. Making him our King of Kings and
High Priest for all eternity. This fulfilling the prophecy made in Psalms 110:4,
“The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest for ever
after the order of Melchizedek.”
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