Genesis 14:18-20

Context

In Genesis 14 a coalition of four kings, among them Chedorlaomer, attacks the region around Sodom and carries off Abram's nephew Lot. Abram (later Abraham) pursues them with 318 trained servants "born in his own house" and recovers Lot and the goods. On his return, the king of Sodom meets him in "the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale." At this point Melchizedek, king of Salem, brings out bread and wine and blesses Abram. In the Old Testament, Melchizedek appears only in this scene and in Psalm 110; nothing is recorded of his genealogy or later life. In the verses that follow (21-24), Abram refuses the goods offered by the king of Sodom and swears by "the LORD, the most high God." Here Abram identifies the God whom Melchizedek invoked as the LORD.

Interpretation

• The reading of Hebrews: Hebrews 7 reads Melchizedek as a type (a figure that foreshadows something to come) of the eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ. Hebrews interprets his name as "King of righteousness" and the title king of Salem as "King of peace." It further argues that because Abraham gave him a tenth and received his blessing, Melchizedek is greater than the Levitical priests.
• A foreshadowing of the Eucharist: Some of the early church fathers saw the bread and wine as a type of the Eucharist. The traditional Eucharistic Prayer of the Catholic Mass also mentions the offering of Melchizedek. By contrast, John Calvin and other Reformers regarded the bread and wine not as an offering presented to God but as food provided for Abram and his men.
• A tithe before the Law: The passage is read as an instance of the tithe existing before the Mosaic Law was given.

Debates and Issues

• Application to tithing: Some argue that because this episode precedes the Law, the principle of the tithe remains valid today. Others counter that the passage merely records a single gift from the spoils of war and is a narrative description rather than a command. This question is treated in more detail in the article on the tithing debate.
• Translation issue: The Hebrew text of verse 20 reads "he gave him a tenth of all," without naming the giver. The Korean Revised Version and the New Korean Revised Version make explicit that Abram gave to Melchizedek, which agrees with the understanding of Hebrews 7:4.
• The identity of Melchizedek: He is generally understood to have been a historical Canaanite king and priest. A minority view holds that he was a preincarnate appearance of Christ, and a Jewish tradition identifies him with Shem, the son of Noah. Salem is commonly identified with Jerusalem on the basis of Psalm 76:2.

In the Korean Church

In sermons on tithing, this passage is frequently cited alongside Malachi 3:8-10 as evidence that the tithe existed even before the Law.

Related Passages

• Psalm 110:4
• Hebrews 7:1-10
• Genesis 28:20-22
• Malachi 3:8-10