Melchizedek (sources)
Survey of ancient sources on Melchizedek.
Overview
Jewish sources
Book of Genesis
Gen 14:18-20 (NRSV) -- 18 And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. 19 He blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, maker of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!" And Abram gave him one tenth of everything.
Book of Psalms
Psalm 110 (NRSV)-- [1] The LORD says to my lord, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool." 2 The LORD sends out from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your foes. 3 Your people will offer themselves willingly on the day you lead your forces on the holy mountains. From the womb of the morning, like dew, your youth will come to you. 4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." 5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. 6 He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter heads over the wide earth. 7 He will drink from the stream by the path; therefore he will lift up his head.
Melchizedek Scroll (11Q13)
11Q13 (11QMelch): “The year of grace” [will come]; it is the time for Melkisedek and his armies, the nation of the holy ones of God, and for the role of judgment, as it is written about him in the songs of David… “A elohim will stand in the assembly of God” (Ps 82)… Melkisedek will carry out the vengeance of God’s Judgment, and on that today he will free [the children of light] from the hands of Belial and of the evil spirits…
2 Enoch
2 Enoch (71-73): And behold, the wife of Nir, Sothonim… conceived in her womb, but the brother of Noah, Nir the priest had not slept with her… Nir became very ashamed about her and said to her: “What is this that you have done, O wife?”… And the archangel Gabriel appeared to Nir and said to him..: “This child who is to be born of her is a righteous fruit”… Sothonim died… and a child came out from the dead Sothonim and Nir and noah saw the child sitting beside the corpse and having his clothing on him… The child was fully developed physically… The badge of priesthood was on his chest, and it was glorious in appearance… Noah and Nir washed the child and dressed him in the garments of priesthood and … called his name Melchizedek.
And the Lord appeared to Nir in a night vision: “Concerning the child, don’t be anxious, Nir; because in a short while I shall send my archangel Gabriel. And he will take the child, and put him in the paradise of Eden… Melchizedek will be my priest to all priests…” And Nir arose from his sleep and blessed the Lord… saying: “Blessed is the Lord, The God of my fathers… because by his word he has created a great priest, in the womb of Sothonim, my wife… Melchizedek will be the head of the priests in another generation… Melkisedek will become the head of priests reigning over a royal people who serve you, O Lord”… And the archangel Gabriel took the child Melchizedek on the same night on his wings, and he placed him in the paradise of Eden…
Early Christian sources
Hebrews
Heb.5.6 as he says also in another place, “ You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
Heb.5.10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Heb.6.20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Heb.7.1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
Heb.7.10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
Heb.7.11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?
Heb.7.15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,
Heb.7.17 For it is witnessed of him, “ You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”