ArchaeologySalem, the city Melchizedek is said to rule, is traditionally identified with Jerusalem (Psalm 76:2), a site whose great antiquity is attested archaeologically by the Egyptian Execration Texts (c. 19th–18th century BCE, as 'Rushalimum') and the 14th-century Amarna letters of its ruler Abdi-Heba (city 'Urusalim'). These attest the city's Bronze Age kingship, not Melchizedek himself, who is named in no such find.
Egyptian Execration Texts naming Rushalimum — Berlin group (ed. K. Sethe, 'Die Ächtung feindlicher Fürsten, Völker und Dinge', 1926) and Saqqara/Brussels group (ed. G. Posener, 'Princes et pays d'Asie et de Nubie', 1940); Amarna letters of Abdi-Ḫeba of Urusalim, EA 285–290 (ed./trans. W.L. Moran, 'The Amarna Letters', Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 1992).
Life, role & deeds
Scan by NYPL — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)Ancient writersMelchizedek became a major figure in ancient interpretation: Josephus makes him the first priest and founder-king of Jerusalem, Philo allegorizes him as the Logos-priest, and the Qumran scroll 11QMelchizedek (11Q13) casts him as an exalted heavenly deliverer. These are reception traditions expanding the brief Genesis notice, not external attestation of a historical individual.
Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 1.180–181 (cf. Jewish War 6.438); Philo, Legum Allegoriae 3.79–82; 11QMelchizedek (11Q13), Qumran Cave 11, editio princeps A.S. van der Woude, 'Melchisedek als himmlische Erlösergestalt', Oudtestamentische Studiën 14 (1965).
Name & titles
ScholarlyMalki-tzedek means 'my king is righteous(ness)' or 'Zedek is my king' — the ending -tzedek may be the divine element also seen in Adoni-zedek, another king of Jerusalem (Joshua 10:1). The parallel points to a recurring Jerusalemite royal naming pattern, possibly invoking a deity named Zedek, and Hebrews 7:2 renders it 'king of righteousness.'
West-Semitic onomastics; the -ṣedeq / -ṣdq element compared with Adoni-zedek and the Ugaritic/Amorite theonym Ṣidqu.
Now if there were perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
“And blessing him, said, May the blessing of the Most High God, maker of heaven and earth, be on Abram: And let the Most High God be praised, who has given into your hands those who were against you. Then Abram gave him a tenth of all the goods he had taken.”— Genesis 14:19-20
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
In art
02 Christ the King Tulsa (Melchizedek) Alfonso Iannelli · NateBergin — CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Château de Langeais - château Renaissance, intérieur (44) · Fab5669 — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)L'offrande de Melchisédech (Genesis 14 18) • invenit James Tissot • pinxit James Tissot • excudit Maurice de Brunoff apud Philip de Vere • praesentat Phillip Medhurst. · Phillip Medhurst — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Biserica de lemn Sf.Arhangheli din Libotin (13) · ro:User:Țetcu Mircea Rareș — CC BY 2.5 (via Wikimedia Commons)Ingres - MI.867.4008, Abel et Melchisédec · Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)Abraham Refreshed by Melchisedek · Creator:P.M. — CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)BOWYER BIBLE GENESIS 126. Melchizedek. Genesis cap 14 v 18. Schenck · Phidev74 — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)BOWYER BIBLE GENESIS 127. Melchizedek. Genesis cap 14 v 18. after Rubens · Phidev74 — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Verdun Altar (Stift Klosterneuburg) 2015-07-25-017 · Hans A. Rosbach — CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Émaux du trésor de la cath tombeaux des comtes de Champagne 03430 · G.Garitan — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)AltarFuldaClunyJRS · Dick Stracke — CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Abraham Refreshed by Melchisedek · Creator:P.M. — CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
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Scan by NYPL — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Ancient writersMelchizedek became a major figure in ancient interpretation: Josephus makes him the first priest and founder-king of Jerusalem, Philo allegorizes him as the Logos-priest, and the Qumran scroll 11QMelchizedek (11Q13) casts him as an exalted heavenly deliverer. These are reception traditions expanding the brief Genesis notice, not external attestation of a historical individual.
