Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 7:3
3. Without father, c.—explained by "without genealogy" (so the Greek is for "without descent) compare Hebrews 7:6, that is, his genealogy is not known, whereas a Levitical priest could not dispense with the proof of his descent. having neither beginning of days nor end of life—namely, history not having recorded his beginning nor end, as it has the beginning and end of Aaron. The Greek idiom expressed by "without father," c., one whose parentage was humble or unknown. "Days" mean his time of... read more
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 7:2
2. gave—Greek, "apportioned"; assigned as his portion. tenth . . . of all—namely, the booty taken. The tithes given are closely associated with the priesthood: the mediating priest received them as a pledge of the giver's whole property being God's; and as he conveyed God's gifts to man (Hebrews 7:1, "blessed him"), so also man's gifts to God. Melchisedec is a sample of how God preserves, amidst general apostasy, an elect remnant. The meeting of Melchisedec and Abraham is the connecting link... read more