Facts about Melchizedek

Rabbi Hana bar Bizna identified Melchizedek as one of the four craftsmen of whom the prophet Zechariah wrote in Zechariah 2:3 (Sukkah 52b).

The Melchizedek Priesthood is a central concept in Latter Day Saints spirituality.

treated Melchizedek as an allegorical figure representing Reason (Greek: Logos), a "righteous king" over the human being.

Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and Hebrews teaches that it is he who was spoken of as "a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek" in Psalm 110:4.

Ephraim Miksha'ah, the disciple of Rabbi Meir, opined that Tamar descended from Melchizedek (Genesis Rabbah 85:10).

Here it is revealed that Melchizedek is indeed identical with Jesus Christ..

Rabbi Eleazar said that Melchizedek’s school was one of three places where the Holy Spirit manifested itself (Makkot 23b).

Hebrews 7:3 states, "Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he (Melchizedek) remains a priest forever."

Some Christians hold that Melchizedek was a type of Christ, and some even believe that Melchizedek indeed was Christ, since Jesus pre-existed his birth.

Melchizedek blessed Abraham in the name of El Elyon, and in return for these favors, Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe from the spoils gained in the battle.

Rabbi Judah said that Melchizedek’s blessing yielded prosperity for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis Rabbah 43:8).

Called a priest of "God Most High," Melchizedek was the king of Salem, later called Jerusalem.

According to this tradition, Melchizedek was king over the wicked people of Salem, but because of his righteousness, his people repented of their wickedness and became a peaceful city.

Melchizedek's name can be translated (from Hebrew) either as "Zedek is my king" or as "My king is righteous."

Melchizedek acted as a priest and handed down Adam’s robes to Abraham (Numbers Rabbah 4:8).

The collection of early Gnostic scripts found in 1945, known as the Nag Hammadi Library, contains a a document pertaining specifically to Melchizedek, and which has been assigned Melchizedek as its title.

Some ancient views also regarded menstruation as a cleansing of the body and compare it to bloodletting as a major medical treatment of pre-modern times.

Melchizedek brought bread and wine to Abraham (then called Abram) after Abraham's victory over the four kings who had besieged the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and taken Abraham's nephew Lot prisoner.

Reasons provided include that Melchizedek's name means "king of righteousness" according to the author of Hebrews, and that being king of Salem makes Melchizedek the "king of peace."

Jesus is considered a priest in the order of Melchizedek because, like Melchizedek, Jesus was not a Levite, and thus would not qualify for the Levitical priesthood (Heb.

The Book of Mormon of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints describes the work of Melchizedek in Alma 13:17-18.

Melchizedek gave Abraham bread and wine, which Christians consider symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, the sacrifice to confirm a covenant.

Rabbi Isaac the Babylonian said that Melchizedek was born circumcised (Genesis Rabbah 43:6) Melchizedek instructed Abraham in the Torah (ibid).

Various legends grew up around the mysterious figure of Melchizedek in both Christian and Judaic traditions.