From Genesis to Hebrews: Identifying Melchizedek Wave Nunnally, PhD Evangel University Assemblies of God Theological Seminary Center for Holy Lands Studies
Hebrew Bible/Old Testament
Genesis 14:15-17 15 And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. 16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the people. 17 Then after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). >
Genesis 14:18-20 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tenth of all. >
Genesis 14:21-23 21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give the people to me and take the goods for yourself." 22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have sworn to the LORD God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich.'
Abram Genesis 12-14 Melchizedek Genesis 14; MBA high place Balaam Numbers 22:9-12 (Elohim); Numbers 22:13 (YHVH) Ahkenaten/Amenhotep IV (c. 1352-1336 BC) BAR 7-8/2015; BAS May 14, 2018
Psalm 110:1, 4-6 A Psalm of David. The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand, Until I make thine enemies a footstool for thy feet. 4 The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, "Thou art a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." 5 The Lord is at Thy right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath. 6 He will judge among the nations, He will fill them with corpses, He will shatter the chief men over a broad country.
Intertestamental Literature
11Q13Melchizedek 2:4-25 4 [Its interpretation] for the last days refers to the captives, who [ ] and whose 5 teachers have been hidden and kept secret, and from the inheritance of Melchizedek, fo[r ] and they are the inherita[nce of Melchize]dek, who 6 will make them return. And liberty will be proclaimed for them, to free them from [the debt of] all their iniquities 8 atonement shall be made for all the sons of [light and] for the men [of] the lot of Mel[chi]zedek for >
9 it is the time of the year of grace of Melchizedek, and of [his] arm[ies, the nat]ion of the holy ones of God, of the rule of judgment, as is written 10 about him in the songs of David, who said: Elohim will [st]and in the assem[bly of God,] in the midst of the gods he judges [Ps 82:1]. And about him he sai[d: And] above [it,] 11 to the heights, return: God will judge the peoples [Ps 7:8-9]. >
As for what he sa[id: How long will you] judge unjustly and show partia[lity] to the wicked? [Se]lah [Ps 82:2]. 12 Its interpretation concerns Belial and the spirits of his lot, wh[o ] turn[ing aside] from the commandments of God to [commit evil.] 13 But, Melchizedek will carry out the vengeance of Go[d s] judgments, [and on that day he will fr]e[e them from the hand of] Belial and from the hand of all the sp[irits of his lot.] >
14 To his aid (shall come) all the gods of [justice ; and h]e is the one w[ho ] all the sons of God, and [ ] 15 This [ ] is the day of [peace about whi]ch he said [ through Isa]iah the prophet, who said: [How] beautiful 16 upon the mountains are the feet [of] the messen[ger who] announces peace, of the mess[enger of good who announces salvati]on, [sa]ying to Zion: your God [reigns Isa 52:7]. >
17 Its interpretation: The mountains [are] the prophet[s ] 18 And the messenger i[s] the anointed of the Spir[it] about whom Dan[iel] said [about him: Until an anointed, a prince, it is seven weeks. And the messenger of] 19 good who announ[ces salvation] is the one about whom it is written that [ ] 20 To comfo[rt] the [afflicted, its interpretation:] to instruct them in all the ages of the wo[rld ] >
23 [ ] as it is written about him: [Saying to Zi]on: your God rules [Isa. 52:7]. [Zi]on i[s] 24 [the congregation of all the sons of justice, those] who establish the covenant, those who avoid walking [on the pa]th of the people. And your God is 25 [ Melchizedek, who will fr]e[e them from the ha]nd of Belial (DSSSE 2:1207, 1209).
Jubilees and the Septuagint Salem is located on Mt. Gerizim
Josephus Melchizedek is a Canaanite chief/king
Philo Melchizedek is the Logos and functions as a priest
Second Enoch Melchizedek was born of a virgin
Rabbinic Literature Melchizedek is actually Shem, the son of Noah, who survived the flood by being taken to the Garden of Eden by Michael or Gabriel.
The New Testament
Hebrews 7:1-26 1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.
3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he abides a priest perpetually. 4 Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. 5 And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest's office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham.
6 But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham, and blessed the one who had the promises. 7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 And in this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.
9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. 11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?
12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. 13 For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.
15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of Him, "Thou art a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."
23 And the former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers, because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but He, on the other hand, because He abides forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens
Conclusions