Abram and Melchizedek – Genesis 14:17-24

This historical figure of Melchizedek (Hebrew for ‘my king is righteous’, or as some prefer, ‘king of righteousness’) was both a priest of El Elyon (El [God] Most High) and king of [Jeru]Salem (which David later captures and makes Israel’s capital), that is, ‘king of peace’.  In Israel Yahweh will separate the kingship and priesthood between the tribes of Judah and Levi, preventing too much power in one person.  But Psalm 110 declares that Messiah will be a priest according to the order of Melchizedek, possessing both kingship and priesthood in one person, the only person who can handle that much power righteously.  Melchizedek was a real person, but because no lineage or death is described for him in Scripture, he can be a type of Messiah, who is eternal king and priest of all mankind.

[17] 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). [18] And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) [19] And he blessed him and said,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20] and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. [21] And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” [22] But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, [23] that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ [24] I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.” (Genesis 14:17–24, ESV)

The king of Sodom was defeated by Chedorlaomer and fled, leaving his city open to plunder by Chedorlaomer, but Abram delivered Sodom’s inhabitants and valuables from Chedorlaomer and brought them back.  On his way back, near the city of Salem (later called Jerusalem), the king of Sodom shows up to retrieve his city’s inhabitants and valuables from Abram.  The king of Salem, Melchizedek, also comes out.  As Walton says,

Whether Melchizedek is Canaanite, Amorite, or Jebusite cannot be easily determined. The name of God that he uses to bless Abram, ʾel ʿelyon (“God Most High”), associates the common title Elyon with the name of El. In the Old Testament, Yahweh is referred to as El or, more frequently, as Elohim. El is also the chief Canaanite god in Ugaritic and Phoenician literature. The epithet Elyon is used parallel to the Canaanite El as well as Baal. Since El Elyon could represent the designation of a Canaanite god, we have no reason to think of Melchizedek as a worshiper of Yahweh or even as monotheistic. His joint role as king and priest is common in the ancient Near East.

But because Melchizedek identifies El Elyon as the “Possessor of heaven and earth,” Abram knows Melchizedek is indeed referring to Yahweh, if only by another title.  And Melchizedek acknowledges that it is Yahweh who gave Abram victory.  Consequently, Abram sees him as a receiver of his tithe (tenth) of the spoils.  This is the first mention in Scripture of one-tenth of one’s possessions as a standard for giving to God, a concept that precedes the Law of Moses and gives us reason to see it as a relatively universal principle for giving.  Melchizedek brings out bread and wine for a communal meal, something both a necessity for tired warriors and of spiritual and social significance conveying unity.  Why Melchizedek and Jerusalem or Salem were spared Chedorlaomer’s wrath is unknown.  Had they continued to pay tribute, or had they not been formerly conquered by Chedorlaomer?  But he could be grateful for Abram’s victory nonetheless, as temporarily at least, keeping a major player out of Canaan’s political life.

By paying a tithe to Melchizedek, Abram acknowledged Melchizedek’s superiority, a fact the author of Hebrews makes much of (Hebrews 7).  The king of Sodom, on the other hand, comes to Abram to negotiate, acknowledging Abram’s superior military might.  He offers Abram all the spoils and requests only his people back.  But “Abram refuses any share due him with the explanation that he is under oath to El Elyon (whom he identifies as Yahweh) not to profit from his military action” (Walton).  It is Yahweh alone who will make Abram rich!  Abram takes only what is necessary to pay his allies what they are due for their role in this battle (they are not under the same oath Abram is).

Abram is the new player in this region, but as the NIV Theology Study Bible says, “Abram will not use the military power available to him to take control of the land of Canaan; rather, he waits on God to reward him (cf. 15:1). Genesis condemns the misuse of violence as a perversion of humanity’s divinely given authority over the earth.