Topical Bible: Jerusalem: Melchizedek Was Ancient King of

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Jerusalem, one of the most significant cities in biblical history, is first mentioned in the context of Melchizedek, an enigmatic figure who appears in the Book of Genesis. Melchizedek is described as the king of Salem, which is widely understood to be an ancient name for Jerusalem. This connection establishes Jerusalem as a city of great antiquity and spiritual significance.

Melchizedek in Genesis

The account of Melchizedek is found in Genesis 14:18-20. After Abram (later Abraham) rescues his nephew Lot and defeats the coalition of kings, Melchizedek, king of Salem, brings out bread and wine and blesses Abram. The passage reads:

"Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High—and he blessed Abram and said: 'Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.' Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything." (Genesis 14:18-20)

Melchizedek is unique in that he is both a king and a priest, serving as a priest of God Most High. This dual role prefigures the later understanding of Jesus Christ as both King and High Priest, as elaborated in the New Testament, particularly in the Book of Hebrews.

Jerusalem's Early Significance

The mention of Melchizedek as king of Salem highlights Jerusalem's early importance as a center of worship and governance. The city's association with a priest-king who serves the Most High God suggests that Jerusalem was recognized as a place of spiritual authority and blessing even in the patriarchal period.

Typology and Messianic Foreshadowing

Melchizedek's appearance in Genesis is often viewed as a typological foreshadowing of Christ. The Epistle to the Hebrews draws a direct parallel between Melchizedek and Jesus, emphasizing the eternal priesthood of Christ. Hebrews 7:1-3 states:

"This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means 'king of righteousness.' Then also, 'king of Salem' means 'king of peace.' Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time." (Hebrews 7:1-3)

This passage underscores the belief that Melchizedek's priesthood is a precursor to the eternal priesthood of Christ, who is both the King of Righteousness and the Prince of Peace.

Jerusalem's Continued Role

Throughout biblical history, Jerusalem remains a focal point for God's interaction with His people. It becomes the city of David, the site of Solomon's Temple, and the center of Jewish worship. The city's early association with Melchizedek as a priest-king sets the stage for its enduring role as a spiritual and political center in the biblical narrative.

In summary, the figure of Melchizedek as king of Salem provides a foundational understanding of Jerusalem's ancient and ongoing significance in biblical theology. His role as a priest-king foreshadows the coming of Christ and establishes Jerusalem as a city of profound spiritual heritage.

Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 14:18
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The King.
... fancy the glad march to the ancient Hebron, where ... of the Jebusites, the city of
Melchizedek, which had ... king and his men went to Jerusalem." Established there ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/ix the king.htm

Moses and his Writings
... This is why Abraham honoured Melchizedek so highly. ... 'Jeru-salem' means city of peace.
So, as we see from these ancient letters, Jerusalem was called the ...
/.../duff/the bible in its making/chapter iii moses and his.htm

The First-Fruits of the Gentiles
... is headed by the mysterious Melchizedek, and includes ... Nobody in Jerusalem knew anything
about their King ... the fact that this, the most ancient interpretation of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the first-fruits of the gentiles.htm

"In the Volume of the Book it is Written of Me" (Heb. . .
... just before the first mention of Melchizedek, the priest-king ... in the Sept., which
is the ancient name of ... followers of David being driven from Jerusalem into the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/in the volume of the.htm

Index.
... Jerusalem, the church of, 9, 85; the heavenly, 153. ... soul, 102; on Abraham's faith,
216; on Melchizedek, 115; on ... Uhlhorn, Charity in the Ancient Church, 316. ...
/.../edwards/the expositors bible the epistle to the hebrews/index 2.htm

Chapter xiv
... Damm??seq is the ancient city of Damascus, known also ... from the fact that kings,
especially Melchizedek met with ... seek this valley northeast of Jerusalem, in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xiv.htm

The God who Dwells with Men
... the barred gates of the ancient Jebusite city. ... have looked down, perhaps, upon
Melchizedek, King of Salem ... of Sennacherib insolently threatened Jerusalem, so the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the god who dwells with.htm

Letter Xlvi. Paula and Eustochium to Marcella.
... you will find that this was the city over which Melchizedek held sway ... the martyrs,
the divines, who have come to Jerusalem from a ... Hymns Ancient and Modern, No. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter xlvi paula and eustochium.htm

The Epistle to the Hebrews
... away (xiii.2). The doom of Jerusalem was approaching (x ... sometimes more appropriate
to the ancient tabernacle than ... High Priest, shadowed forth by Melchizedek (vii ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter xviii the epistle to.htm

A Source Book for Ancient Church History
A Source Book for Ancient Church History. <. ... Cyril of Jerusalem, 348, 354.
Cyrus of Alexandria, 520, 660; formula of union, 661 f. ... Melchizedek, 173. ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/index 2.htm