Genesis 14:17-20

Genesis 14:17-20 introduces the rather enigmatic person by the name of Melchizedek he is called the king of Salem and the priest of the most high God. The passages further says that gave him tithes. (a tenth) There hare are two main theories on Melchizedek’s identity. One is that that he was Shem, the son of Noah. The other is that he was a preincarnate appearance of Jesus.

The view that Melchizedek was Shem has two main lines of support the first is the fact that Shem’s life did over lap Abraham’s life. The second comes from Chazalic literature which consist mainly of the rabbinic literature written from about 300 B.C. to about 650 AD. Chazalic literature gives Melchizedek as a nickname used to refer to Shem. If indeed Abraham and Shem knew each other then Shem could have given Abraham historical material on the Flood; of which Shem was a whiteness; and of event from creation to the Flood. This would provide an ordinary reason the Biblical account could be more factually reliable than the Babylonian flood account.

The view that Melchizedek was a preincarnate appearance of Jesus is supported the vary terms used to refer to him. Melchizedek means King of righteousness and Salem means peace so he is called the King of peace. This fact is state in Hebrews 7 along with statement of him having no mother and father no a beginning or en of life. Hebrews 7 further states that he was “made like unto the Son of God.” Only Jesus being God could literally fulfill this description.