Melchizedek: Difference between revisions

===Priest Blessing People through Bread and Wine===

In the 20th century B.C., a war broke out between the five countries around the Dead Sea and the allies led by Kedorlaomer king of Elam. At this time, Abraham’s nephew Lot became a captive by the allies of Elam, and Abraham led a neighboring tribe and 318 trained men born in his household to save Lot and fought against the allies of Elam, and he won.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=Genesis+14%3A9-16&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 |title=Genesis 14:9–16 |quote=}}</ref> On his way back to his land, the king of Sodom met him; and Melchizedek king of Salem, the priest of God, blessed Abraham through bread and wine. In return, Abraham gave him a tenth of the spoils.

In the Old Testament times, it was very unusual offering bread and wine to worship God and ask blessings. The time of Abraham was before the [[Sacrifice in Old Testament|sacrificial system of the Old Testament]] was codified, but it was common to sacrifice an animal to God since [[Cain and Abel|Abel]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=Genesis+4%3A4&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 |title=Genesis 4:4 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=Genesis+8%3A20&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 |title=Genesis 8:20 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Interestingly, Melchizedek did not offer a burnt offering but blessed Abraham through bread and wine. Among the priests in the Old Testament times, Melchizedek was the only priest who blessed people through bread and wine.