Heb 7:1-10 | EE | STEP | Melchizedek was the King of a city called Salem. He was also a priest of God who rules over all. Melchizedek met Abraham when Abraham was returning from a war. Abraham’s men had just won against 4 kings with their armies. At that time, Melchizedek asked God to bless Abraham.

Hebrews 7:1-10

About Melchizedek

1 Melchizedek was the King of a city called Salem. He was also a priest of God who rules over all. Melchizedek met Abraham when Abraham was returning from a war. Abraham’s men had just won against 4 kings with their armies. At that time, Melchizedek asked God to bless Abraham. 2 Also, Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth part of everything that he had won in the fight. ^{▼▼7:2 Genesis 14:18-20 describes the time when Melchizedek met Abraham.} The name ‘Melchizedek’ means ‘King of everything that is right’. His other name, ‘King of Salem,’ means ‘King of peace’. 3 Nobody wrote down that Melchizedek had a father or a mother. Nobody wrote down that he had any ancestors. Nobody wrote about when he was born or when he died. In that way, it seems like Melchizedek was a priest for ever. He is like the Son of God who continues to be a priest for all time.

4 So, think about how great this man, Melchizedek, was! Even Abraham, the ancestor of all Israel’s people, gave gifts to Melchizedek. Abraham gave him a tenth part of everything that he had won in the fight. 5 Men from Levi’s family group who become priests receive gifts from their own people. God’s Law says that the people must give the Levite priests a tenth part of what they have. But the priests and the other people are all Israelites. They all come from Abraham’s family. 6 As for Melchizedek, he did not come from Levi’s family. But he still received a tenth part of what Abraham had. He also asked God to bless Abraham. But Abraham was the one who had already received God’s promises.

7 It is always the more important person who asks God to bless a less important person. We certainly know that! 8 The Levite priests receive gifts, and they are people who one day will die. Melchizedek also received gifts, but we are told that he continues to live. 9 ^{▼▼This verse is empty because in this translation its contents have been moved to form part of verse Heb 7:10.} ^{▼▼In this translation, this verse contains text which in some other translations appears in verses Heb 7:9-Heb 7:10.}10 The Levite priests receive their gifts from the people. But we could say that Levi himself gave a tenth part of what he had to Melchizedek. When Abraham gave his tenth part to Melchizedek, it was like Levi was there inside him. At that time, Levi was not yet born, but Abraham was his ancestor. ^{▼▼7:9-10 Levi was one of the sons of Jacob. He was ancestor of one of Israel’s tribes. All the men from Levi’s family had to serve God in his house. But only those men from Levi’s grandson Aaron’s family could become priests. See Numbers 1:50 and Exodus 28:1. All Israel’s people had to give a tenth part of what they had to the men from Levi’s family. Then all the other men in Levi’s family gave a tenth part of this to the priests. See Numbers 18:21-32.}