Melchizedek, whom looks regarding the Old testament, leads to biblical customs due to the fact he had been one another queen and you can priest, regarding Jerusalem, and respected by Abraham, just who paid good tithe to help you your. To have Abraham to identify the latest expert and you will credibility out-of an excellent Canaanite priest-queen try startling and it has no synchronous into the biblical literature.
Melchizedek is actually a vintage Canaanite term meaning “My King Was [the jesus] Sedek” otherwise “My personal King Try Righteousness” (the definition of your similar Hebrew cognate).
The newest god whom Melchizedek serves as priest are “Este ?Elyon,” a name off Canaanite resource, probably designating the new high god of the pantheon.
Melchizedek, also spelled Melchiseent), a statistic worth addressing for the biblical society as he was each other king and you can priest, is actually connected with Jerusalem, and you may are revered from the Abraham, exactly who paid off an excellent tithe in order to your
Melchizedek is thought to own become the fresh new queen out-of Jerusalem. Salem, of which he or she is allowed to be king, is really most likely Jerusalem. Psalm 76:2 makes reference to Salem such that implies that they is similar to Jerusalem, and also the resource during the Genesis so you can “the brand new King’s Valley” then verifies which identity.
He looks like men simply in the an interpolated vignette (Genesis –20) of the facts out of Abraham rescuing their kidnapped nephew, Package, from the conquering an excellent coalition away from Mesopotamian kings around Chedorlaomer.
Throughout the episode, Melchizedek meets Abraham to the their get back of battle, gets your bread and you will wines (which was interpreted from the specific Religious scholars once the a forerunner of Eucharist, to ensure Melchizedek’s name registered the fresh canon of the Roman bulk), and blesses Abraham throughout the identity out of “Goodness Extremely Higher” (during the Hebrew Este ?Elyon). In return, Abraham gets him a great tithe of your butt.
Melchizedek is actually a vintage Canaanite title meaning “My personal Queen Is [the fresh new god] Sedek” or “My King Was Righteousness” (the meaning of one’s similar http://datingranking.net/nl/mexican-cupid-overzicht Hebrew cognate). Salem, at which they are said to be king, is quite most likely Jerusalem. Psalm 76:dos describes Salem such that implies that they is actually just Jerusalem, plus the source for the Genesis in order to “the fresh King’s Area” next verifies which character. The fresh new jesus whom Melchizedek serves as priest was “Este ?Elyon,” once more a name regarding Canaanite source, probably designating new high jesus of its pantheon. (Later, this new Hebrews modified other Canaanite term just like the a keen appellation having Goodness.)
Abraham purchasing an excellent tithe to help you Melchizedek is an interpretation, though a likely you to, of one’s brand new biblical text, in which the number is confusing; it seems incongruous you to Abraham provides a 10th of one’s booty in order to Melchizedek following does not want to get any of it having themselves (passages twenty two–23)
For Abraham to determine new expert and you may credibility regarding an effective Canaanite priest-queen was startling and contains no synchronous within the biblical literary works. Which tale have reached their finally materials in the weeks off King David, offering because an enthusiastic apologia to possess David’s making Jerusalem their head office and you may starting this new priesthood here. Abraham’s expenses tribute so you’re able to a great Jerusalem priest-king next create welcome enough time when Abraham’s descendants would offer tithes to your priests off Jerusalem ministering throughout the sanctuary from the the fresh new Davidic investment. The story also can interact with brand new dispute between your Levite priests descended off Abraham plus the Zadokite priests out of Jerusalem, just who later changed the allegiance to Yahweh, the brand new Hebrew god. New Zadokites monopolized the Jerusalem priesthood up until artificially taken away so you can Babylon, at which day Levite priests asserted their unique hegemony; the brand new Melchizedek episode could reveal the new reascendancy of Zadokite electricity.
The brand new biblical account as well as poses textual dilemmas. Once more, some scholars enjoys mentioned that it could be strange to have an enthusiastic writer of Davidic moments to construct a story which have a Canaanite protagonist.
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