Melchizedek, the blessing, and the tenth
After Abram’s return, the king of Sodom meets him in the Valley of Shaveh, the King’s Valley. Melchizedek, king of Salem, brings out bread and wine, “and he was priest of El Elyon” (BSB “since he was priest of God Most High”). He blesses Abram by El Elyon, qoneh of heaven and earth (BSB “Creator of heaven and earth”), and blesses El Elyon, “who has delivered” the foes into Abram’s hand. “And he gave him a tenth of all” names no subject (BSB “Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything”). Melchizedek is a historical king-priest who blesses Abram by El Elyon, and Abram gives him a tenth, as Hebrews reads from the BSB xrefs, not as a later dogmatic verdict. Keil writes that “This priestly reception Abram reciprocated by giving him the tenth of all”. Calvin records that “There are those who understand that the tithes were given to Abram”; the Apostle, he notes, speaks otherwise. Qoneh may mean “Creator” or “Possessor/Owner”; Calvin has both “'the Possessor of heaven and earth,'” and “by the title of Creator”, and Keil “founder and possessor:” the Greek has “who created.” No ruling is given on the participle, or on the reverse view of the tenth. Identity and Salem are taken up in the next note. See The blessing by El Elyon and the tenth and Gen 14:17–20 → Heb 7:1–4.
Claims
- SaysThe king of Sodom meets Abram in the King’s Valley; Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of El Elyon, brings out bread and wine, blesses Abram by El Elyon, qoneh of heaven and earth, and a tenth is given; BSB supplies “Creator” and the names of giver and receiver.
- ImpliesMelchizedek is a historical king-priest who blesses Abram by El Elyon, and Abram gives him a tenth, as Hebrews reads from the BSB xrefs, not as a later dogmatic verdict.
- UncertainQoneh may mean Creator or Possessor; some understand the tithes as given to Abram, which Calvin records and the Apostle, he notes, speaks otherwise; no ruling is given.
Citations
- BSB public domain Gen 14:17–20
- OSHB CC BY 4.0 Gen 14:17–20 (WLC/OSHB), cantillation removed
- LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 Gen 14:1–24, vol. 1, pp. 21–23 (oldtestamentingr01swetuoft, viewer leaves n52–n54), as recorded in the Greek language notes of this chapter
- Keil–Delitzsch, Pentateuch 1 public domain p. 207 (leaf n210)
- Calvin, Genesis (King) 1 public domain p. 392 (leaf n401)
- Calvin, Genesis (King) 1 public domain p. 392 (leaf n401)
- Calvin, Genesis (King) 1 public domain p. 392 (leaf n401)
- Keil–Delitzsch, Pentateuch 1 public domain p. 207 (leaf n210)
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2026-11-12
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