Melchizedek, the blessing, and the tenth, in early reading
Says “Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High” (Gen 14:18; לְאֵל עֶלְיוֹן); he blessed Abram, and “Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything” (14:20). Abram swore by “the Lord God Most High” (14:22; יְהוָה אֵל עֶלְיוֹן). Hebrews says Melchizedek was “Without father or mother or genealogy” and that “Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder” (Heb 7:3–4).
Pseudo-Jonathan reads “Malka Zadika, who was Shem bar Noah, the king of Yerushalem”; the Jerusalem Targum also calls him Shem, “the great priest of the Most High”. Josephus explains, “That name signifies, The righteous King”, and says that he “accepted of the gift”. Augustine writes that Abraham “was then openly blessed by Melchizedek”. Jubilees breaks off here; its editor, Charles, notes that the gap “told of the pursuit, and the meeting with Melchizedek”. Calvin reports that “many imagine Melchizedek to have been Shem”, but is “hindered from subscribing”. Keil rejects the views of “Church fathers, Rabbins, and others” and sees “a type of the God-King and eternal High Priest Jesus Christ”. These are their readings.
Implies Melchizedek appears as a real king-priest who blesses Abram by God Most High and receives a tenth (14:18–20; Heb 7:1–4), and in 14:22 Abram names the Lord as God Most High.
Uncertain Whether Melchizedek was Shem or is read as a type only is open; these readings do not fix the meaning of 14:17–24.
Claims
- SaysGen 14:18–22: Melchizedek king of Salem, priest of God Most High, brought out bread and wine and blessed Abram, and Abram gave him a tenth of everything; Abram swore by the Lord God Most High. Heb 7:3–4 says Melchizedek was without father, mother or genealogy and that Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder.
- ImpliesBecause Melchizedek is named as king of Salem and priest of God Most High who blesses Abram and receives a tenth (14:18–20; Heb 7:1–4), and Abram swears by “the Lord God Most High” (14:22), the narrative presents him as a real king-priest and Abram as naming the Lord as God Most High.
- UncertainWhether Melchizedek was Shem or is read as a type only is open; the early readings do not fix the meaning.
Citations
- BSB public domain Gen 14:18, 14:20, 14:22; Heb 7:3–4
- OSHB CC BY 4.0 Gen 14:18, 14:22
- Etheridge public domain Etheridge, vol. 1 (1862), Targum of Palestine (Pseudo-Jonathan) and Jerusalem Targum on Gen 14:18, p. 199 (leaf n211); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
- Josephus (Whiston) public domain Ant. 1.10.2 = 1.180–182 (Whiston, 1817, vol. 1), p. 30 (leaf n39); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
- Augustine, City of God (NPNF1 vol. 2) public domain Civ. 16.22 (trans. Dods, NPNF¹ 2; CCEL npnf102.iv.XVI.22), p. 323 (leaf n346); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
- APOT public domain Jubilees 13:22–29 (Charles, APOT vol. 2, 1913), Charles’s footnote on 13:25, p. 33 (leaf n52); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
- Calvin, Genesis (King) 1 public domain Calvin, Genesis 1 (King, CTS 1847), on Gen 14:18, p. 387 (leaf n396); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
- Keil–Delitzsch, Pentateuch 1 public domain Keil, Pentateuch vol. 1 (Clark, Martin trans., 1868), on Gen 14:18–20, p. 209 (leaf n212); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
2026-11-12
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