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| ] 7:3 in the ] refers to Melchizedek as a king "without father or mother or genealogy", a reference which some Christians take as referring to Melchizedek's true nature as an ] or even as Jesus himself, appearing thousands of years before his earthly incarnation. | ] 7:3 in the ] refers to Melchizedek as a king "without father or mother or genealogy", a reference which some Christians take as referring to Melchizedek's true nature as an ] or even as Jesus himself, appearing thousands of years before his earthly incarnation. | ||
| Some ] scholars identify Melchizedek with ]'s son Shem. The account of Melchizedek given in the ] has also divided scholars into two camps, one that touts his existence as a mortal man and another that identifies him with the ]. | Some ] scholars identify Melchizedek with ]'s son ]. The account of Melchizedek given in the ] has also divided scholars into two camps, one that touts his existence as a mortal man and another that identifies him with the ]. | ||
| According to ] tradition, Melchizedek's blessing of ] at ] is a priesthood authority whose keys were restored to ] along with the keys of ]'s priesthood. See ] and ]. | |||
Revision as of 01:03, 17 April 2004
Melchizedek (Hebrew king of righteousness) is a Biblical who appeared in Genesis to the patriarch Abraham. Though called "king of Salem (ancient Jerusalem)" and "priest of the most high God" in Genesis 14:8, whether he actually existed as a person or as an abstraction remains a mystery.
Melchizedek first appeared in the Bible's Old Testament bringing bread and wine to Abraham after his victory in Genesis 14 over the four kings who had besieged Sodom and Gomorrah and taken his nephew Lot prisoner. In turn, Abraham gives Melchizedek as priest a tithe of the bounty that he took in battle.
Psalm 110:4 names Melchizedek as representative of the priestly line through which a future king of Israel's Davidic line was ordained. The future king -- in Christian belief, Jesus Christ -- is referred to as a "priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek".
Hebrews 7:3 in the New Testament refers to Melchizedek as a king "without father or mother or genealogy", a reference which some Christians take as referring to Melchizedek's true nature as an angel or even as Jesus himself, appearing thousands of years before his earthly incarnation.
Some rabbinic scholars identify Melchizedek with Noah's son Shem. The account of Melchizedek given in the Dead Sea Scrolls has also divided scholars into two camps, one that touts his existence as a mortal man and another that identifies him with the archangel Michael.
According to LDS tradition, Melchizedek's blessing of Abraham at Salem is a priesthood authority whose keys were restored to Joseph Smith along with the keys of Aaron's priesthood. See Melchizedek Priesthood and Aaronic Priesthood.