The Torah portion לח לח Lech-Lecha (Genesis 12-17) includes Abraham being called out of Ur of the Chaldeans. But there’s a specific event in Genesis 14 that deserves special focus: Abraham’s encounter with the mysterious Melchizedek. We meet this ancient pre-Israel king of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) again in the books of Psalms and Hebrews. Why is he so important, and what does he have to do with Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus the Christ)?

At this point, Lot and Abraham have separated. Lot has chosen to go to the land towards Sodom and Abraham stays in the Promised Land to the west.

As we read through Genesis 14, we find out that war came to Sodom where Lot and his family were now living. The kings who had come to war against Sodom and the other cities of the area, had kidnapped Lot and his family and taken all their possessions as well.

“Then a fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew. Now he was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner, and these were allies with Abram. When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the people.” (Genesis 14:13–16 NASB)

Abraham with his 318 men as well as several other local allies and their trained me and chased down the invaders and conquered them and sent them back to the east where they belonged.

“Then after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ He gave him a tenth of all. The king of Sodom said to Abram, ‘Give the people to me and take the goods for yourself.’ Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I have sworn to the LORD God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share.'” (Genesis 14:17–24 NASB)

My King is righteous

I was asked to specifically focus on the story of Melchizedek. There are many ideas and opinions about who Melchizedek, King of Salem, is and I don’t believe most of them.

I limit my attention to what the Scriptures tell us about him. Melchizedek’s name is in two parts:

* Melchi means my king

* Zedek means righteous or may be a reference to a pagan diety.

We don’t actually know for certain what town Salem is, but in Psalm 76, we are given a big clue. Keep in mind that this was written by Asaph many centuries after the events recorded in Genesis 14.

“God is known in Judah; His name is great in Israel. His tabernacle is in Salem; His dwelling place also is in Zion. There He broke the flaming arrows, The shield and the sword and the weapons of war. Selah.” (Psalms 76:1–3 NASB)