Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 7:1

"For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him," — Hebrews 7:1 (ASV)

The writer begins his explanation of the significance of Melchizedek by referring to Ge 14:17–20. Melchizedek is “king of Salem,” which may mean “king of Jerusalem” (“Salem” is another name for Jerusalem in Ps 76:2). But it is curious that if the writer thought that Jerusalem was in fact where Melchizedek ministered, he does not mention the fact that Jesus suffered there (cf. 13:12). Perhaps he saw Salem as some other place; the LXX of Ge 33:18 seems to identify Shechem with Salem. Melchizedek was not only a king but a “priest of God Most High.” It was not uncommon for one person to combine the roles of priest and king in antiquity. It is, however, the special characteristics of this man rather than the dual offices that are noteworthy. The author ignores the fact that the king of Sodom, who had suffered defeat at the hands of the kings Abraham had just routed, went out to meet the triumphant patriarch, and that Melchizedek brought out bread and wine. Instead, he focuses on what will help him make the points he has in mind about the work of Christ. The first of them is that he “blessed him,” a point to which he will return in v.7.