Journey Through HebrewsSample

OT in Hebrews: Behind the Text

There are other Jewish sources beside the Bible that inform the “sermon” of Hebrews. One ambiguous person may be, to us, a surprising “type” of Christ.

Melchizedek in Second Temple Jewish Literature

Outside of Jesus himself, Melchizedek may be the most enigmatic human character in the Bible. He’s introduced in Genesis 14 as the “King of Salem,” but appears to bless Abraham with prophetic authority and is called a “priest of the Most High God.” His brief appearance in Genesis raises more questions than it provides answers, and Bible commentators have been exploring his identity since ancient times.

The ancient historian Josephus and the philosopher Philo of Alexandria were both interested in Melchizedek as a historical figure. Each noted the significance of the name Melchizedek which combines the Hebrew words for “king” (melek) and “righteousness” (zedek). Josephus suggests that the city of Salem referenced in Melchizedek’s title is really another name for the biblical city of Jerusalem. Philo suggests that Salem (Hebrew for “peace”) is a reference to the type of ruler Melchizedek was.

Ancient apocalyptic literature, like that found at Qumran among the Dead Sea Scrolls, is more interested in projecting the role of this righteous king in the future. In fact, one Dead Sea Scroll, commonly known as 11QMelchizedek, anticipates the role of Melchizedek in the end times. Selections from this ancient commentary are provided as follows.

Source: Josephus, Antiquities, 1.180-181

Contribution: That name (Melchizedek) signifies, “The righteous King”: and such he was without dispute; insomuch that, on this account, he was made the Priest of God. However, they afterward called Salem Jerusalem.

Past or Future? Past

Source: Philo, Allegorical Interpretation of Genesis, 3.79-82

Contribution: Melchizedek, too, has God made both king of peace, for that is the meaning of “Salem," and His own priest …. For he is entitled “the righteous king,” and a "king is a thing at enmity with a despot, the one being the author of laws, the other of lawlessness.”

Past or Future? Past

Source: Philo, On Mating with the Preliminary Studies, 99

Contribution: Melchizedek … received a self-instructed and self-taught priesthood.

Past or Future? Past

Source: Dead Sea Scrolls (11QMelchizedek, also known as 11Q13)

Contribution: (In the last days Melchizedek) will proclaim to (the people) liberty, forgiving them [the wrongdoings] of all their iniquities.
And Melchizedek will avenge the vengeance of the judgments of God … and he will drag [them from the hand of] Belial and from the hand of all the sp[irits of] his [lot].

Past or Future? Future

Hebrews combines aspects of these two perspectives as it locates the significance of Melchizedek in the story of the Church. It recalls this righteous king of the past to acknowledge both what Jesus has done and what he continues to do for believers looking forward to the last judgment.

Sources for table:

"Flavius Josephus of the Antiquities of the Jews - Book I." Arch of Augustus. http://penelope.uchicago.edu/josephus/ant-1.html

F. H. Colson, R. Marcus, and G. H. Whitaker. Philo. Supplement, 1953, pp. 353-357.

James C. VanderKam, Dead Sea Scrolls Today, 1994, pp. 73-74.

"The Works of Philo." Saint Justin Martyr: Dialogue with Trypho (Roberts-Donaldson). http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/yonge/book18.html