Hebrews 7:5-10
Summary for Heb 7:5-6: 7:5-6a a Collecting the tithe was a requirement and an honor for the priests under the law of Moses (Num 18:21-32 b).• from the rest of the people of Israel: The reference is to the people of Israel as a whole.
• Although Melchizedek was not a descendant of Levi, he collected a tenth from Abraham, the ancestor of the Levites. This demonstrates Melchizedek’s eminence over both Abraham and his descendants, including the priests (Heb 7:8-10 c).
Summary for Heb 7:6-7: 7:6b-7 d Melchizedek placed a blessing upon Abraham: Gen 14:19-20 e; this is an example of the kind of blessing that a superior would give a subordinate—e.g., a father would bless his son, and a priest would bless his people (Gen 49:1-28 f; Num 6:22-27 g). The power to give a blessing demonstrates that Melchizedek is greater than Abraham.
7:8 h Melchizedek’s “immortality” (7:3 i) is one aspect of his superiority to the Levites: The Levites are men who die, but Melchizedek lives on.
Summary for Heb 7:9-10: 7:9-10 j we might even say: The author recognizes that what he is about to say, that the Levites . . . paid a tithe to Melchizedek, is not literally true, since Levi wasn’t born yet. Abraham represented all his descendants in paying his tithe to Melchizedek. Levi was united with Abraham because the seed from which he came was in Abraham’s body. All the people issuing from Abraham were one with him. Thus, his act could be considered their act.
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