The Superiority of Melchizedek's Priesthood

1

This Malki-Tzedek, king of Shalem, a cohen of God Ha‘Elyon, met Avraham on his way back from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him;

2

also Avraham gave him a tenth of everything. Now first of all, by translation of his name, he is “king of righteousness”; and then he is also king of Shalem, which means “king of peace.”

3

There is no record of his father, mother, ancestry, birth or death; rather, like the Son of God, he continues as a cohen for all time.

4

Just think how great he was! Even the Patriarch Avraham gave him a tenth of the choicest spoils.

5

Now the descendants of Levi who became cohanim have a commandment in the Torah to take a tenth of the income of the people, that is, from their own brothers, despite the fact that they too are descended from Avraham.

6

But Malki-Tzedek, even though he was not descended from Levi, took a tenth from Avraham. Also, he blessed Avraham, the man who received God’s promises;

7

and it is beyond all dispute that the one who blesses has higher status than the one who receives the blessing.

8

Moreover, in the case of the cohanim, the tenth is received by men who die; while in the case of Malki-Tzedek, it is received by someone who is testified to be still alive.

9

One might go even further and say that Levi, who himself receives tenths, paid a tenth through Avraham;

10

inasmuch as he was still in his ancestor Avraham’s body when Malki-Tzedek met him.

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