Did Melkezidek tith to Abraham or did Abraham tithe to Melkezadek?

[shunyadragon]

It is central to the Christian belief that Abraham tithed to Melkezidek, but many if not most Jews believe that Melkezidek tithed to Abraham. Why is there a difference, and who is correct?

[PatrickHenry]

Is that true, shunyadragon?

I know that the reference is to Abram after he had conquered the kings who grabbed his nephew, Lot. Abram also recovered much loot from those warriors and when he visited Melchizedek there was a tithe. See Genesis 14:18-20

Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek the king of Salem brought forth bread and wine. And he was the priest of the most high God. 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of Heaven and earth. 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, who has delivered your enemies into your hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

MKJV

The phrase "he gave him tithes of all" is interpreted in Christian circles as being Abram tithing to Mel. But if the Jewish scholars think it was the other way around, I can see how the text could be read that way.

It makes more sense to think that Abram gave the tithe, because he was the possessor of the loot, and the discussion of the disposal of the loot goes on in the subsequent verses. Also the writer of Hebrews in chapter 7, vs 2 says that the tithe was from Abram to Mel. But then the Jewish scholars don't ascribe to Hebrews.

What is the reference you have to Mel tithing to Abram? Anything from some of the Jewish writings?

Edit: I found this...JewishEncyclopedia.com - SHEM.

Legends. (about Shem) The Rabbis identify Shem with Melchizedek, King of Salem, who is termed "a priest of the Most High," and who came to meet Abraham after the latter had defeated the four kings led by Chedorlaomer (Gen. xiv. 18-20). According to this account, Shem, as a priest, came to Jerusalem (with which Salem is identified by the Rabbis), of which city he became king, it being the proper place for the establishment of the cult of Yhwh. He went to meet Abraham to show him that he was not angry with him for having killed the Elamites, his descendants (Midr. Agadah on Gen. l.c.). Shem, however, forfeited the priesthood by mentioning in his blessing Abraham's name before that of God, so that God took his office from him and gave it to Abraham (Ned. 32b; Pirḳe R. El. xxvii.). According to the Midrash Agadah (l.c.) Shem himself asked God to give the priesthood to Abraham, as he, in his prophetic capacity, knew that he (Shem) would have no children eligible for the sacerdotal office. Contrary to the Pirḳe R. El. and Gen. R. (xliii. 10), the Midrash Agadah explains that it was Shem who gave tithes to Abraham, showing that he recognized him as priest (see Gen. R. xliii. 7). The Rabbis point out that in certain cases Shem ranked as the equal of Abraham; so that the latter was afraid lest Shem might be angry at him for having slain the Elamites and might curse him (Gen. R. xliv. 8; Tan., Lek Leka, 19). In another instance God made a compromise between Shem and Abraham, namely, with regard to the name of the Holy City, the place of the Temple, which Abraham had called "Jireh" (Gen. xxii. 14; see Jehovah-jireh) and which Shem had called "Salem." God united both names; and thus arose the name "Jerusalem" (Gen. R. lvi. 16).

I asked one of my Christian friends his views on Melchizedek... and he said that he thought it was Shem in the last days of his very long life on earth.

[shunyadragon]

Quote by: PatrickHenry Is that true, shunyadragon? I know that the reference is to Abram after he had conquered the kings who grabbed his nephew, Lot. Abram also recovered much loot from those warriors and when he visited Melchizedek there was a tithe. See Genesis 14:18-20 MKJV The phrase "he gave him tithes of all" is interpreted in Christian circles as being Abram tithing to Mel. But if the Jewish scholars think it was the other way around, I can see how the text could be read that way. It makes more sense to think that Abram gave the tithe, because he was the possessor of the loot, and the discussion of the disposal of the loot goes on in the subsequent verses. Also the writer of Hebrews in chapter 7, vs 2 says that the tithe was from Abram to Mel. But then the Jewish scholars don't ascribe to Hebrews. What is the reference you have to Mel tithing to Abram? Anything from some of the Jewish writings? Edit: I found this...JewishEncyclopedia.com - SHEM. I asked one of my Christian friends his views on Melchizedek... and he said that he thought it was Shem in the last days of his very long life on earth.

I have been studying this for some time, and found some interesting information. I will start by defining some terms and early Judaic concepts.

First, Melchezedek better translates as sons of Zadoke, or equivalent to Zadokites Zaddiks. It would not be a name of a person, but a title, as possibly the title of Shem. Zadoke or Zedoke means righteous, and Order of Melchezedek refers to the Priesthood of the sons of Zadoke. Claims of geneology is one way that Jews would claim to be of the Zadokite Priesthood, as with the geneology of Jesus in the NT, which is similar to other older post-Babylonian invasion. Like the geneologies of Jesus, others who claimed similar geneologies as being of the Davidic/Solomonic High Priest lineage, Ezekial and Ezra, the geneologies are riddled with gaps and inconsistencies, most likely due to lost geneologies in the Babylonian Invasion. Essentially the Zadokites were considered 'righteous defenders of the Judaic Law, and earned the title Zealot as Zealous defenders of the law. Another way some claimed to be of the Priesthood of Zadokites is by earning the title as being 'righteous' defenders of the Judaic Law.

Jesus and his brother James both claimed to be the lineal descendents of Zadokites. In the Qumran literature we see a possible messianic Zadokite movement, and possibly a following of Jesus's brother James as the 'righteous' successor of the Zadokite priesthood. In the NT the Letter from James depicts one who has a preference to following the law.

Next I will give an analysis of the translation of the Genesis text that refers to the tithing, and other Biblical references to this incident.