Heb 7:1-28. CHRIST'S HIGH PRIESTHOOD AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDEC SUPERIOR TO AARON'S.
1. this Melchisedec--
(Heb 6:20;
Ps 110:4).
The verb does not come till
Heb 7:3,
"abideth."
king . . . priest--Christ unites these offices in
their highest sense, and so restores the patriarchal union of these
offices.
Salem--Jerusalem, that is, seeing peace; others make
Salem distinct, and to be that mentioned
(Ge 33:18;
Joh 3:23).
the most high God--called also "Possessor of heaven and earth"
(Ge 14:19, 22).
This title of God, "the Most High," handed down by tradition from the
primitive revelation, appears in the Phœnician god "Elion," that
is, Most High. It is used to imply that the God whom Melchisedec
served is THE TRUE GOD, and not one of the gods of
the nations around. So it is used in the only other cases in which it
is found in the New Testament, namely in the address of the demoniac,
and the divining damsel constrained to confess that her own gods were
false, and God the only true God.
who met Abraham--in company with the king of Sodom
(Ge 14:17, 18).
slaughter--perhaps defeat, as ALFORD
translates. So
Ge 14:17
(compare
Ge 14:15)
may be translated. Arioch, king of Ellasar, lived and reigned after the
disaster [BENGEL]. However, if Chedorlaomer and
Amraphel and Tidal were slain, though Arioch survived,
"slaughter of the kings" would be correct.
blessed him--As priest he first blessed Abraham on God's part;
next he blessed God on Abraham's part: a reciprocal blessing. Not a
mere wish, but an authoritative and efficacious intercession as a
priest. The Most High God's prerogative as "Possessor of heaven and
earth," is made over to Abraham; and Abraham's glory, from his victory
over the foe, is made over to God. A blessed exchange for Abraham
(Ge 14:19, 20).
JFB.
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