Hebrews 7:1

CHAPTER VII.

Concerning the greatness of Melchisedec, after whose order

Christ is a high priest, 1-4.

The Levites had authority to take tithes of the people; yet

Abraham, their representative, paid tithes to Melchisedec,

5-10.

Perfection cannot come by the Mosaic law, else there could be no

need for another priest after the order of Melchisedec,

according to the prediction of David in Psalm cx., which priest

is sprung from a tribe to which the priesthood, according to

the law, did not appertain; but Christ is a priest for ever,

not according to the law, but after the order of an endless

life, 11-17.

The law, therefore, is disannulled, because of its

unprofitableness and imperfection; and Christ has an

unchangeable priesthood, 18-24.

He is therefore able always to save them that come unto him,

being in every respect a suitable Saviour; and he has offered

up himself for the sins of the people, 25-27.

The law makes those priests who have infirmity; but he who is

consecrated by the oath is perfect, and endures for ever, 28.

NOTES ON CHAP. VII.

Verse Hebrews 7:1. For this Melchisedec, king of Salem] See the whole of this history largely explained in the notes, See "Genesis 14:18", c., and the concluding observations at the end of that chapter.

The name Melchisedec, מלכי צדק is thus expounded in Bereshith Rabba, sec. 43, fol. 42, מצדיק את יושביו matsdie eth Yoshebaiv, "The Justifier of those who dwell in him" and this is sufficiently true of Christ, but false of Jerusalem, to which the rabbins apply it, who state that it was originally called Tsedek, and that it justified its inhabitants.

Salem is generally understood to be Jerusalem; but some think that it was that city of Shechem mentioned Joshua 20:7. St. Jerome was of this opinion.