---------------------- COMMENTARY & CONTEXT ----------------------
Sha’ul
(and Yahusha) were masters at the technique of comparison and
contrast to make a point and teach a greater truth. As in Chapter
6:7-8 where Sha’ul uses rain falling on the ground to water the
crops which bring about either a useful crop or thorns and thistles
to illustrate how our witness (fruit) can be spoiled when we
backslide in our walk. He again uses this technique to teach
Yahusha’s rank as King and High Priest using the illustration of the
King of Salem who was a Ruling High Priest of his people.
Zadok means “righteous” and “Melki” means King. Melchizedek is a
title for King of Righteousness. It is the “name above every name”
or rather the highest title on Earth. Sha’ul is making a comparison
using this pagan priest whose army assisted Abraham in the battle of
the Kings. Sha’ul sets the scene where after the battle Abraham met
with the King of Salem in a tent to feast in light of their victory.
This was commonplace for the victors to meet after a battle to break
bread, drink wine, and divide up the spoils of war.
Tithe, spoils of war, or just a
portion of food at the table?
Not unusual all victors did this, bless and divide spoils. We know
this was not a Tithe in the same since as in The Law where you give
a tenth of all you own. In Genesis 14:21 they split only the spoils
of war i.e., “the slaves taken, and the goods recovered in battle”.
from Wikipedia entry for
Melchizedek
Due to an ambiguity in the Hebrew text, it is unclear who gave tithe
to whom or what/how much he gave: Did Abram give to the King of
Salem, or the King of Salem to Abram: the verse in question states
simply, "And [he] gave him tithe from all". Most translations of
this verse preserve the ambiguity, as in the Septuagint, which "he
gave to him", but some modern translations add the name Abram as the
mainstream interpretation of Abram being the giver and Melchizedek
the recipient. Abram is implied but not specified so we should tread
lightly... very lightly on this topic.
The Rogatchover Gaon, also understanding Abram to be the tithe
giver, comments that the presented tithe was not a standard tithe as
described in the Torah (given on an annual basis), but was a
one-time "tribute offering", such as Moses gave to God in Numbers
31:41 most probably a tenth of the spoils of war. Lebanese
Protestant scholar Kamal Salibi (1929–2011) observes that Hebrew:
which literally does mean tenth, might more loosely be used to mean
portion, and Hebrew for “from all” might refer just to food in the
giver's possession as the account is over a dinner, so that the
whole verse might mean He gave him a portion of food (Kamal Salibi,
The Bible Came from Arabia Jonathan Cape, 1985, chapter 12).
When reading the encounter between Abraham and the King of Salem, it
takes place in a tent after the battle is over and the two kings
dine together. The King of Salem brings the wine, and we see that a
“tenth” is specifically speaking of the spoils of war “take the
goods for yourself” not a tenth of all Abraham had as a tribute to
Yahuah.
Abraham did not “tithe” a tenth of all he had (the Law of the
Tithe), he gave a portion of the spoils of war to the King who came
to his aid, as was customary.
This has nothing to do with The Law of the Tithe and does not make
the King of Salem a “god incarnated King” or even a priest of
Yahuah’s as we are taught. It was just an account of two armies
victorious in battle, celebrating over a feast and dividing up the
spoils!
Genesis 14
19 He blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and Earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High, Who
has delivered your enemies into your hand." he gave him a tenth of
all (the
spoils of war).
21 The King of Salem said to Abram, "Give the slaves to me and
take the goods (spoils
of war)
for yourself.”
But, the King of Salem was a "priest of El Elyon"!
The problem here is this. El Elyon is NOT the name of the Creator
but a title given to all the head of the pagan gods in every
culture. Yahuah revealed Himself to Abraham and chose his
descendants not some ancient pagan King and his people.
The priesthood was established with Levi, High Priest with Aaron NOT
some pagan king.
Reincarnation is a pagan concept and Yahusha is NOT the
reincarnation of the pagan King of Salem.
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/el
"In the Bible, El was the deity worshiped by the Hebrew patriarchs,
for example as El Shaddai (God Almighty) or El Elyon (God Most High)
before the revelation of his name Yahweh to Moses. But El was also
worshiped by non-Israelites, such as the King of Salem (Genesis
14:9). Scholars have found much extra-biblical evidence of Canaanite
worship of El as the supreme deity, creator of heaven and earth, the
father of humankind, the husband of the goddess Asherah, and the
parent of many other gods. Canaanite mythology about El may have
directly influenced the development of the later Greco-Roman stories
of the gods."
----- Sanchuniathon's Account -----
The supposed writings, by the
legendary Phoenician writer Sanchuniathon, partially preserved by
the early church historian Eusebius of Caesaria, provide a
fascinating account of the way in which the El of Canaanite
mythology may have influenced later Greek myths. The writings are
thought to be compilations of inscriptions from ancient Phoenician
temples dating from possibly 2000 B.C.E. Here, Ēl is called both by
the name Elus and its Greek equivalent of Cronus. However, he is not
the creator god or first god. El is rather the son of Sky and Earth.
Sky and Earth are themselves children of Elyon—the "Most High." El
is the father of Persephone and Athene. He is the brother of the
goddesses Aphrodite/Astarte, Rhea/Asherah, and Dione/Baalat, as well
as of the gods Bethel, Dagon, and an unnamed god similar to the
Greek Atlas.
----- El and Poseidon -----
A bilingual inscription from Palmyra
dated to the first century equates Ēl-Creator-of-the-Earth with the
Greek god Poseidon. Earlier, a ninth century B.C.E. inscription at
Karatepe identifies Ēl-Creator-of-the-Earth with a form of the name
of the Babylonian water god Ea, lord of the watery subterranean
abyss. This inscription lists Ēl in second place in the local
pantheon, following Ba‘al Shamim and preceding the Eternal Sun.
----- Norse Mythology ------
Odin, in keeping with the Norse
skaldic tradition of kennings, a poetic method of indirect
reference. The name Alföðr ("Allfather," "father of all") appears in
Snorri Sturluson's Younger Edda, though it probably originally
denoted Tyr, as it fits the pattern of referring to Sky Gods as
"father."
The King of Salem was a pagan priest there is no doubt. There is NO
priesthood outside of Levi - Aaron - Zadok - MelchiZADOK is the High
Priest from the House of Zadok/Yahusha
1
As the King of Salem, the priest of El Elyon (this
was not Yahuah all pagans had a “most high” among their gods that was a
common pagan label) who is
called King of Righteousness (again,
all pagan kings called themselves things like “King of Kings”, and were
seen as righteous in thought and deed, etc., They were not righteous in
the eyes of Yahuah or His Law), returned from the slaughter of
the Kings he met Abraham (to feast with him in
victory) and blessed him, 2 And Abraham also gave him
a tenth part of all the spoils of war (as a
tribute to the King).
---------------------- COMMENTARY & CONTEXT ----------------------
In Hebrew names weren’t names as we think
of them. They were used to express their renown, fame, or reputation
and as such were what we think of as titles more than common names.
Ancient Hebrew Research Center
A common mistake
in Biblical interpretation is to make a distinction between a name
and a title. For example, “King David”, is often understood as
containing the “name” “David” (an identifier) and his “title,”
“King”. The Hebrew word
דויד
(David) literally means; “beloved”, or “one who loves” and is
descriptive of David's character. The Hebrew word
מלך
(melek) literally means “ruler” or “one who rules” and is also
descriptive of David's character. The Hebrews made no such
distinction between a name and a title. The phrase “King David” is
Hebraically understood as “the one who rules is the one who loves”,
a very fitting title for the great benevolent king of Israel and the
friend of God. Hebrew names have meanings that are lost when
translated into English.
h8034 ‘shem’
– name/title/reputation
NASB Translation
byword (1), defamed* (1), defames* (1), fame (8), famous (3),
famous* (1), memorial (1), Name (3), name (654), name's (11), name*
(4), named (7), named* (66), names (80), renown (6), renowned (1),
report (1), repute (1), same names (1).
First, his title (8034. Shem ‘renown,
reputation, title’) Melchizedek being translated means,
King of Righteousness, and then also his title as king of Salem,
means King of Peace (his name wasn’t
Melchizedek any more than it was King of Peace, those are
titles).
3
This Righteous King’s father and mother were not recorded in the
genealogies for Yahuah’s people, neither was when he was born or when he
died (appointed unto all men to die - Hebrews
9:27) --but he was a representation of the son of Yahuah to come
(in that he was both King and High Priest of
his people), and in the sense that he remains a priest forever (immortalized
in Genesis, all we know is that he lived nothing more there is no
genealogy for him recorded).
4
Now consider how great this man was (he was a
King), to whom the patriarch Abraham (who
was a tribal leader not a King) gave a tenth of the plunder
(as a tribute of war, just a tenth of the
plunder not all Abraham had as in the Law of the Tithe so IF this was an
incarnate demi-god Abraham cheated him).
5
And truly, those who are of the sons of Levi, who received the office of
the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people
according to the Law, which means: from their brothers, even though
their brothers are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man,
whose genealogy is not traced from Levi, received a tenth of the
spoils of war from Abraham, and blessed him who had the promises (commonplace
as they dinned in the tent after the battle).
7
No one disputes (g485. ‘Antilogia’)
that the lesser person in rank (g5010 –
‘taxis’) is blessed by the greater in rank (at
such an occasion as a celebratory victory feast after receiving the
spoils of war).
---------------------- COMMENTARY & CONTEXT ----------------------
Strong's Concordance
G485 - ‘antilogía’: dispute
g5010 - ‘taxis’: an arranging, order, rank
Usage: order,
(a) regular arrangement, (b) appointed succession, (c) position,
rank.
8
Today mortal men receive tithes, but back then, this man (being
greater in rank than Abraham) received a tenth of the spoils of
war, and the only testimony we have about him, was that he lived (it
is not recorded when he died so he “lives on” immortalized in the Book
of Genesis). 9 And Levi, who receives tithes, also
paid tithes through Abraham so to speak; 10 For Levi had not
yet been born when the (man called by the
title) King of Righteousness met Abraham (Sha’ul
is saying the Law of the Tithe was foreshadowed when Abraham gave the
King of Salem a tenth of the spoils).
11
Therefore, if perfection were through the office of Levitical
Priesthood, for under it the people have been furnished with the Law,
what further need was there that another High Priest should arise
according to the rank (g5010. ‘Taxis’)
of King of Righteousness (descending
from King David through Joseph his father), and not simply a High
Priest according to the rank of Aaron (from
whom Yahusha descended from his mother Miriam making him the Ruling High
Priest just like the King of Salem)?
12
For when there is a transfer in the priesthood (from
Aaron who was just a High Priest to Yahusha who is the Eternal Ruling
High Priest given the highest title Melchizedek), out of
necessity there is a transfer of position (g3331
– ‘metathesis’ - transposition) of The Law from physical
to Spiritual (to give Yahusha the authority to
make Spiritual Sacrifices).
---------------------- COMMENTARY & CONTEXT ----------------------
In Hebrews 7:12, when speaking about the change in The Law
from the Abrahamic Covenant to The Yahushaic Covenant; we see
the word “metathesis” that was translated "change". It is
Strong’s #g3331. The proper translation of this word is NOT "change"
as in “abolished” as taught by Christianity. Rather, it is "transferred
to Heaven"... transposition from physical to Spiritual.
Sha’ul is speaking of ‘physical to Spiritual parallels’, as
he illustrates that both the King of Salem and the Levitical
Priesthood was given to help us understand physically what Yahusha
would do Spiritually as Ruling High Priest before Yahuah.
Yahusha would have no authority as High Priest, without The Law (that
defines the role of the High Priesthood). The Law was not
abolished, it was transposed.
Strong’s
g3331 – metathesis; transposition, i.e. transferal (to
heaven), disestablishment (of a Law from physical to Spiritual): --
change to, removing (as in from one place to another), translation.
13
For he of whom these things are spoken also belongs to a different tribe
than just Levi; and no one from the tribe of Judah has ever served at
the altar (that right comes from The House of
Zadok on Miriam’s side of the family tree). 14 For it
is evident that our High Priest from the House of Zadok also descended
from the Tribe of Judah of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning
the priesthood (giving him the right to be
King and High Priest).
15
And this (that Yahusha descends from Judah AND
Zadok) becomes more plainly evident, when another Priest arises
who also bears the like manner (3665.
‘Homoiotés’) of a Righteous King; 16 who has
become an Eternal High Priest, not on the basis of a Law in the
Commandments or his carnal flesh (g4560.
‘Sarkinos’)
---------------------- COMMENTARY & CONTEXT ----------------------
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
G3665
– ‘Homoiotés’ - likeness, in like manner, after the
likeness (of)
Dodson Greek Dictionary
g4560: ‘sárkinos’ - fleshly, consisting of flesh, carnal.
but on the basis of the power of the resurrection (to
fulfill the PROMISE to The House of Zadok to have an eternal priesthood
- Numbers 25:13, Romans 1:2-4)
that leads to eternal life.
---------------------- COMMENTARY & CONTEXT ----------------------
Romans 1
3 concerning His Son, who was born a King the descendant of David
according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power
by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of
holiness Yahusha our King.
Numbers
25:13
To High
Priest Phineas the son of High Priest Eleazar the son of High Priest
Aaron. Behold I give to him My Covenant of Peace and will be with
him and his descendants after him (The
House of Zadok),
I grant him a Covenant of Everlasting Priesthood in turn of his
zealousness for his Elohim, and the right (for
the House of Zadok)
to atone for the sons of Israel.
17 For Yahuah
testifies: You are a priest forever a rightful king by My decree
(New Jewish Publication Society of America
Tanakh, (1985 edition)).
---------------------- COMMENTARY & CONTEXT ----------------------
New Jewish Publication
Society of America Tanakh
The most respected Jewish translation authority translated Psalm
110:4 to read “a rightful king by My Decree”. This is quoted
by Sha’ul in Hebrews 7.
Wikipedia
The New Jewish Publication Society of America Tanakh, first
published in complete form in 1985, is a modern Jewish 'written from
scratch' translation of the Masoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible into
English. It is based on revised editions of earlier publications of
subdivisions of the Tanakh such as the Torah and Five Megillot which
were originally published from 1969–1982. This translation emerged
from the collaborative efforts of an interdenominational team of
Jewish scholars and rabbis working together over a thirty-year
period. These translators based their translation on the Masoretic
Hebrew text, and consistently strove for a faithful, idiomatic
rendering of the original scriptural languages.
18
On the one hand there comes about the annulment of the weak and
unprofitable priesthood (because death
prevented them from continuing in office), because of the Law
which came before it (which demanded their
death for sin) -- 19 For the Law concerning priesthood
perfected nothing (because of the Death
Decrees), but the physical priesthood is an introduction (physical
to Spiritual parallel) of a better hope (of
an Eternal Spiritual High Priesthood), through which, the
Eternal High Priest, we draw near to the Altar of Yahuah (Hebrews
10:20). 20 And it was not without an oath (promised
to The House of Zadok - Numbers 25:13); 21 For
Levitical priests became priests through The Law without an oath, but
Yahusha with an oath by Yahuah Who said to him: Yahuah has vowed (an
eternal priesthood to The House of
Zadok) and will not relent; You are a priest forever, a
rightful king by My decree (New Jewish
Publication Society of America Tanakh, 1985 edition). 22
And by this oath, the priesthood is so much better, because Yahusha has
become the guarantor of the covenant of peace (promised
to The House of Zadok - Numbers 25:13).
23
Now there truly were many priests, because they were prevented by death
from continuing in office; 24 But Yahusha is the final High
Priest, because he lives forever by the power of the resurrection
according to the Spirit of Holiness (Romans
1:2-4) and has an untransferable priesthood (promised
to him through The House of Zadok - Numbers 25:13). 25
Therefore, he is able also to save, continuously to the end, those who
come to Yahuah in covenant through him, since he always lives to make
intercession for them. 26 For such an Eternal High Priest is
fitting for us, who now that he is raised incorruptible (1
Corinthians 15:52), he is holy, undefiled, separate from sinners,
and seated on the Throne in The Heavenly Scroll (Revelation
5:6, Hebrews 8:1, Hebrews 9:24); 27 Who, unlike
those mortal High Priests, does not need offer up sacrifices for
his own sins and then for the people's daily; for Yahusha offered up
sacrifices for his own sin and the sin of the people once for all, when
he offered up himself as a sin offering. 28 For the Law
concerning priesthood appoints men who have weaknesses as High Priests,
but the word of the oath to The House of Zadok (Numbers
25:13) promised to appoint Yahusha the Eternal High Priest who
has been perfected as High Priest forever through the resurrection.
---------------------- COMMENTARY & CONTEXT ----------------------
Which “priesthood” serves eternally in the
Kingdom Temple. Is it some mythical “Melchizedek Priesthood”
descending from the pagan King of Salem? Or is it The Zadok
Priesthood of which Yahusha is “King” i.e., MelchiZADOK?
We
see in Ezekiel 40:45-46 AFTER the resurrection of the dead when the
Living Stones of the final Temple are laid in place, it is the sons
of Zadok exclusively who serve in that Spiritual Temple.
Ezekiel 40:45-46
…45 Then the man said to me: “The
chamber that faces south is for the priests who keep charge of the
temple, 46 and the chamber that faces north is for the priests who
keep charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, the only
Levites who may approach Yahuah to minister before Him.”
