Hebrews 7:5

To take tithes, &c.— According to the law, to take tithes of the people, that is, of their brethren. Our author's design is to magnify the priesthood of Melchisedec: in order whereto he magnifies the dignity of the Levitical priesthood, and then shews that the other, of Melchisedec, was to be preferred to it. Thus stands his argument: "It was a great honour conferred on theLevitical priesthood, that they were empowered to receive tithes of the whole nation who were their brethren; and this honour appears yet the greater, when it is considered that these their brethren came out of the loins of Abraham, the friend of God; for whom, and whose posterity, God had a particular regard, as appears by his promises; and who, therefore, it might be expected, should be exempted from such a burden. But Melchisedec appears to have had a yet much more honourable priesthood, because he received tithes of one who was not of his brethren, even of Abraham himself,—which shews him to be greater than Abraham, —and with a priestly authority blessed him: and hereby, in effect, he received tithes of Abraham's posterity, even of Levi, and that tribe which descended from him." This gives a satisfactory account of the word although, which at the first reading seems obscure.