Genesis 14:18

18. Melchizedek king of Salem This mysterious stranger here suddenly emerges from the dim background of the old Canaanitish heathenism, “without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days nor end of life,” (Hebrews 7:3,) that is, without any recorded genealogy, (a matter of prime importance with a Hebrew,) or mention of birth, age, or death . His name and title are significant, “first being, by interpretation, king of righteousness, and after that also king of Salem, which is, king of peace . ” Hebrews 7:2. His bringing forth bread and wine suggests to the Christian the symbols of the holy Eucharist, and his benediction on Abram, his receiving tithes of him, and his position and title as priest of the most high God, (a title never used of Abraham,) place him above the father of the faithful. No wonder the psalmist, a thousand years later, caught inspiration from the name, and, in prophetic vision, used this sacred character as a type of the Messiah. Psalms 110:4.

From the earliest times there have been strange speculations and various conjectures as to this mysterious person. Some have identified him with the patriarch Shem, supposing that survivor of the flood to have lingered until Abram’s time. But if so, why should his name have been changed to Melchizedek, and how could it be said of Shem, with Genesis 11:10-27, before us, that he was without pedigree? Hebrews 7:3. Others have maintained that Melchizedek was the Son of God himself, appearing in human form . But such a Christophany, without a word of explanation, is scarcely supposable, and the sublime comparisons drawn in Psalms 110:4, and Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:3, are reduced to the empty platitude of making Christ like himself . A sect called Melchizedekians arose in the third century, and were so named because of their strange doctrine that Melchizedek was not a man, but some heavenly power, an intercessor for the angels, and so superior even to Jesus Christ . For other notions, unnecessary to record here, see the Bible Dictionaries .

Doubtless the proper view to take of this mysterious character is to regard him as an exceptional instance in that early time of a venerable Hamite, or perhaps, like Abram, a Shemite, who had been kept pure from the prevailing idolatry of the world, and like Job and Jethro was a worshipper of the one true God. Nor need we deem it strange that such an example of righteousness should have been living in that place and time. God has had, in all ages and nations, men eminent for uprightness and even sanctity of life. The Noachic covenant, of which the rainbow is the gracious sign, embraces “in every nation him that feareth God and worketh righteousness.” Acts 10:35. The mystery which invests Melchizedek is chiefly owing to our utter lack of knowledge of his pedigree, his subsequent life, and his death. His name breathes a strange charm, and may have indicated his far-famed eminence for righteousness. Some take the words king of Salem as a title, melek-shalem, (king of peace,) and urge that Hebrews 7:2, favours this view . But such suppositions are not to be pressed, for the writer to the Hebrews evidently uses the meaning, both of his name and residence, homiletically . Salem is undoubtedly the name of a place, the residence of this saintly king, and is probably the archaic name of Jerusalem, as used also in Psalms 76:2. Identification with Shalem, of Genesis 33:18, or Salim, of John 3:23, is far less satisfactory . See notes on Hebrews 7:0.

Melchizedek came forth from his royal city, and was, like the king of Sodom, grateful to Abram for ridding the land of its invaders and oppressors. He also brought forth bread and wine, general terms for food and refreshments, in token of his gratitude, and of his appreciation of the services of the noble Hebrew. On the use of divine names in this passage, see on Genesis 14:19; Genesis 14:22.