“Josephus, with many others, identifies Salem with Jerusalem, and adds that Melchisedech ‘supplied Abram's army in a hospitable manner, and gave them provisions in abundance . . . and when Abram gave him the tenth part of his prey, he accepted the gift’ (Ant., I, x, 2)… In the Epistle to the Hebrews the typical character of Melchisedech and its Messianic import are fully explained. Christ is ‘a priest forever according to the order of Melchisedech’ (Hebrews 7:6; Psalm 109:4); ‘a high priest forever,’ (Hebrews 6:20), i.e. order or manner (Genius), not after the manner of Aaron. The Apostle develops his teaching in Hebrews 7: Melchisedech was a type by reason of his twofold dignity as priest and king, by reason of his name, ‘king of justice’, by reason of the city over which he ruled, ‘King of Salem, that is, king of peace’ (v. 2), and also because he ‘without father without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but likened unto the Son of God, continueth a priest forever.’ (v. 3).The silence of Scripture about the facts of Melchisedech birth and death was part of the divine plan to make him prefigure more strikingly the mysteries of Christ's generation, the eternity of His priesthood. Abraham, patriarch and father of nations, paid tithes to Melchisedech and received his blessing. This was all the more remarkable since the priest-king was a stranger, to whom he was not bound to pay tithes, as were the children of Israel to the priests of the Aaronic line.” Newadvent.org
“Melchisedech was unheard of and unmentioned, except once, in all the long 2,000 years from Abraham to St. Paul. The voice which broke at the midpoint of the stillness of two millennia is that of David, the royal Psalmist of Israel. In a single verse of all his songs, Melchisedech's name is spoken. And it is on first thought strange enough that the king, whose court and nation are guided by an Aaronitic priesthood, should suddenly lift his voice and speak of another, an eternal priesthood: ‘The Lord hath sworn and will not repent: Thou art a priest forever according to the order of Melchisedech.’ (Psalm 110:4). Now the topic of this Psalm is the Messiah, the Anointed One or the Christ, who was promised to the nation in a hundred prophecies. The Messiah, then, is to be a priest, but not of the order of Aaron, not of the established national priesthood of Israel. He is to be of another manner and of another order.” Priest According to the Order of Melchisedech, McGARRY, S.J., Ph.D., S.T.D., Lic.S.S. (This article was taken from "Thought", a quarterly of the Sciences and Letters, September 1933.)
Melchizedek is the first person in the Torah to be titled a Kohen (priest). This title appeared way before Moses and the Levite priests. Was the term added by sources in later revisions? Even so, Melchizedek was the first priest. He was not only a Priest, but also a King. Abraham finally trusts fully in the covenant with God by Chapter 15 and Sodom was destroyed in chapter 19. In Chapter 14 Abraham refuses to let anyone but God enrich him. Commentaries, Catholic Study Bible.
This king of peace was the appearance of Christ himself in the Old Testament. He appeared to Abraham and blessed him because of Abraham’s willingness to die for his nephew’s life. Among other reasons. Lot “pitched his tent as far as Sodom.” Why is that significant? Because ”the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.” Lot calls the townspeople his “brothers,” chooses one of their own as his wife, and raises his two daughters in this pagan environment. This King and Priest, Melchisedech, participated with Abraham in the rescue of Lot on two separate occasions. These two episodes were lessons to demonstrate to Lot and to Abraham of the necessity of avoidance of sin and a surrender to the covenant of God. This first episode under examination had to have occurred before the total destruction of Sodom. Although God had made many appearances, this was the first of Christ. Melchisedech, as Christ, also appeared to Abraham the second time as one of the three men at his tent before the total destruction of Sodom. Lot, still acting as a gentile immersed in pagan culture, was saved again before the destruction of Sodom at the request of Abraham on His second appearance.
Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils to Melchisedech as an oblation, to someone who just mysteriously appears in the narrative. This King of justice brought bread and wine and fed the retainers of Abraham. Abraham, the warrior for Christ, was exalted by the other Kings for his generosity and established order again amongst the warring tribes. Lot can be portrayed as an unfaithful representative of a chosen people. Abraham was their obedient, earthly King. Melchisedech was their Savior. “Sit here at my right hand while I make thy enemies a footstool under thy feet.” Melchisedech was a mystery. He was not a real figure but instead a description of the entire event of the meeting of Abraham, Lot and the King of Sodom, a demonstration of a form of justice and advancement of a cause of peace. And now for my commentary. This scene was the beginning of the reestablishment of God’s Kingdom on earth. Christ’s death completed the reestablishment of the Kingdom since the Levitical priesthood never brought fulfillment.
“Melchisedech was unheard of and unmentioned, except once, in all the long 2,000 years from Abraham to St. Paul. The voice which broke at the midpoint of the stillness of two millennia is that of David, the royal Psalmist of Israel. In a single verse of all his songs, Melchisedech's name is spoken. And it is on first thought strange enough that the king, whose court and nation are guided by an Aaronitic priesthood, should suddenly lift his voice and speak of another, an eternal priesthood: ‘The Lord hath sworn and will not repent: Thou art a priest forever according to the order of Melchisedech.’ (Psalm 110:4). Now the topic of this Psalm is the Messiah, the Anointed One or the Christ, who was promised to the nation in a hundred prophecies. The Messiah, then, is to be a priest, but not of the order of Aaron, not of the established national priesthood of Israel. He is to be of another manner and of another order.” Priest According to the Order of Melchisedech, McGARRY, S.J., Ph.D., S.T.D., Lic.S.S. (This article was taken from "Thought", a quarterly of the Sciences and Letters, September 1933.)
Melchizedek is the first person in the Torah to be titled a Kohen (priest). This title appeared way before Moses and the Levite priests. Was the term added by sources in later revisions? Even so, Melchizedek was the first priest. He was not only a Priest, but also a King. Abraham finally trusts fully in the covenant with God by Chapter 15 and Sodom was destroyed in chapter 19. In Chapter 14 Abraham refuses to let anyone but God enrich him. Commentaries, Catholic Study Bible.
This king of peace was the appearance of Christ himself in the Old Testament. He appeared to Abraham and blessed him because of Abraham’s willingness to die for his nephew’s life. Among other reasons. Lot “pitched his tent as far as Sodom.” Why is that significant? Because ”the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.” Lot calls the townspeople his “brothers,” chooses one of their own as his wife, and raises his two daughters in this pagan environment. This King and Priest, Melchisedech, participated with Abraham in the rescue of Lot on two separate occasions. These two episodes were lessons to demonstrate to Lot and to Abraham of the necessity of avoidance of sin and a surrender to the covenant of God. This first episode under examination had to have occurred before the total destruction of Sodom. Although God had made many appearances, this was the first of Christ. Melchisedech, as Christ, also appeared to Abraham the second time as one of the three men at his tent before the total destruction of Sodom. Lot, still acting as a gentile immersed in pagan culture, was saved again before the destruction of Sodom at the request of Abraham on His second appearance.
Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils to Melchisedech as an oblation, to someone who just mysteriously appears in the narrative. This King of justice brought bread and wine and fed the retainers of Abraham. Abraham, the warrior for Christ, was exalted by the other Kings for his generosity and established order again amongst the warring tribes. Lot can be portrayed as an unfaithful representative of a chosen people. Abraham was their obedient, earthly King. Melchisedech was their Savior. “Sit here at my right hand while I make thy enemies a footstool under thy feet.” Melchisedech was a mystery. He was not a real figure but instead a description of the entire event of the meeting of Abraham, Lot and the King of Sodom, a demonstration of a form of justice and advancement of a cause of peace. And now for my commentary. This scene was the beginning of the reestablishment of God’s Kingdom on earth. Christ’s death completed the reestablishment of the Kingdom since the Levitical priesthood never brought fulfillment.
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