Melchizedek, which looks throughout the Old testament, plays a role in biblical customs just like the he was both king and you may priest, related to Jerusalem, and you can respected of the Abraham, which repaid good tithe to your. For Abraham to identify the new authority and you may credibility of an effective Canaanite priest-queen try surprising and it has zero synchronous inside biblical literary works.
Melchizedek is a vintage Canaanite term definition “My King Is [the new goodness] Sedek” or “My personal Queen Was Righteousness” (the meaning of your own equivalent Hebrew cognate).
The fresh jesus who Melchizedek serves as priest is “El ?Elyon,” a reputation off Canaanite supply, probably designating the higher jesus of its pantheon.
Melchizedek, together with spelled Melchiseent), a figure worth focusing on when you look at the biblical customs while the he was both queen and you may priest, was about Jerusalem, and you may try respected from the Abraham, exactly who reduced a beneficial tithe so you can your
Melchizedek is believed to own come new queen from Jerusalem. Salem, from which he could be supposed to be king, is really probably Jerusalem. Psalm 76:dos means Salem in a fashion that ensures that it was similar to Jerusalem, and site during the Genesis in order to “the latest King’s Valley” next verifies this character.
He appears as a person simply during the an interpolated vignette (Genesis –20) of your own tale from Abraham preserving his kidnapped nephew, Package, because of the beating an effective coalition out of Mesopotamian leaders under Chedorlaomer.
About episode, Melchizedek fits Abraham on their come back off race, gives your bread and you may wine (that has been translated by some Religious scholars because a forerunner of your own Eucharist, to make certain that Melchizedek’s identity registered the latest cannon of your Roman bulk), and you can blesses Abraham throughout the label away from “Jesus Really Highest” (into the Hebrew Este ?Elyon). Reciprocally, Abraham brings him a great tithe of your own butt.
Melchizedek try a vintage Canaanite name meaning “My personal King Is actually [the new goodness] Sedek” or “My Queen Is actually Righteousness” (the definition of your comparable Hebrew cognate). Salem, at which he or she is allowed to be king, is very most likely Jerusalem. Psalm 76:dos identifies Salem in a manner that means they are similar to Jerusalem, while the reference in Genesis so you’re able to “brand new King’s Valley” next verifies that it identification. New jesus exactly who Melchizedek functions as priest was “Este ?Elyon,” again a name of Canaanite source, probably designating this new higher goodness of the pantheon. (Afterwards, the latest Hebrews modified various other Canaanite identity as an appellation to own Jesus.)
Abraham spending a good tithe in order to Melchizedek is actually a translation, no matter if a likely one, of your brand-new biblical text message, where the number is not clear; it seems incongruous you to definitely Abraham offers a 10th of the booty so you’re able to Melchizedek and then will not bring some of they to possess themselves (verses 22–23)
To have Abraham to identify the new power and credibility out-of a good Canaanite priest-king is startling possesses no parallel in biblical literature. So it facts have achieved its final ingredients regarding weeks out of Queen David, serving as the https://datingranking.net/nl/lavalife-overzicht/ a keen apologia to own David’s and make Jerusalem their head office and setting-up the newest priesthood indeed there. Abraham’s investing tribute to a Jerusalem priest-queen after that create enjoy enough time whenever Abraham’s descendants do provide tithes to the priests from Jerusalem ministering in the retreat at the the fresh new Davidic resource. The story also can relate with brand new conflict within Levite priests descended away from Abraham while the Zadokite priests away from Jerusalem, exactly who afterwards changed the allegiance so you can Yahweh, the newest Hebrew god. The latest Zadokites monopolized brand new Jerusalem priesthood until forcibly recinded in order to Babylon, from which date Levite priests asserted their particular hegemony; the latest Melchizedek episode you will let you know the brand new reascendancy off Zadokite energy.
The brand new biblical account plus presents textual issues. Once more, specific scholars enjoys mentioned that it will be strange for an composer of Davidic minutes to create a narrative which have a good Canaanite protagonist.
