There is much mystery surrounding the famous figure of Melchizedek. Who was he? Was he known by any other names? Could he be Jesus, or was he just a picture, and a foreshadowing of someone yet to come? These questions have been pondered throughout the ages, and his person has been thrown into many writings, such as Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, as a symbol of divine intervention, and mystery.
Melchizedek, whose name means “King of Righteousness,” is a figure of much controversy. (voiceofawatchman) He is said to be the King of Salem, the name of which means “peace” and was the early name of Jerusalem. (voiceofawatchman) Melchizedek is mentioned three times in the Bible. The first time is in Genesis when he meets Abraham: …show more content…
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything” (Genesis 14: 17-20). In its original form however, the Bible does not specify who tithed to whom, so although it has traditionally been acknowledged that Abraham tithed to Melchizedek, there are those who believe that Melchizedek could have been the one doing the tithing. (voiceofawatchman) However, upon looking closely, it seems as if this could not have been the case. Though Abraham was chosen by God to become …show more content…
“And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek, (talking of Jesus, in chapter 5, verses 9-10),” “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. (chapter 6 verses 19-20)” and “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.” (Hebrews 7:1-3). Here we see that Melchizedek could not be Jesus, the Son of God, because he is said to resemble him. Hebrews chapter seven then goes on to talk even further about Melchizedek. “See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are