Melchizedek, king of Salem, was from the land that will later be called Jerusalem. He appeared out of no where, blessed Abraham and showed a tremendous faith in God. Either God worked on the hearts of other people outside the line of Abram or Melchizedek has a different identity.
Some say Melchizedek was Christ. This is not unusual since God spoke directly to Abraham (Genesis 12 & 15) and Abraham entertained celestial visitors (Genesis 18 and the three visitors at the Oaks of Mamre).
Hebrews 7 compares Melchizedek and Christ.
- His name means “king of righteousness”
- A man without genealogy (he comes out of nowhere)
- Abram gave the tithe to him, a sacrifice
- He has an eternal quality, as stated in Psalm 110:4 – “You are a priest forever, by the order of Melchizedek.”