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In 11Q13 from the Dead Sea Scrolls, Melchizedek defeats Belial and releases his captives from sin. Hebrews gives Jesus a comparable role in defeating the devil and making atonement, but makes his shared humanity and death the means of deliverance.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
11Q13 2:6-13
The Heavenly Prince Melchizedek
Dead Sea Scrolls, Biblical Interpretation
6 will bring them back to them. He will proclaim liberty to them, to release them from [the burden of] all their iniquities. And [thus] this thing will happen 7 in the first week of the jubilee that follows the nine jubilees. The Day of Atonement is the end of the tenth jubilee, 8 to atone on it for all the sons of [light] and the men of the lot of Melchizedek. […] … upon them … according to all their deeds, for 9 this is the time of the year of favor for Melchizedek and for his armies, the people of the holy ones of God, for a reign of judgment, as it is written 10 about him in the songs of David, who said, “God stands in the assembly [of El]; in the midst of the gods he judges.” And about him he said, “And above it 11 return to the heights; God will judge the peoples.” As for what he said, [“How long] will you judge unjustly and show favor to the wicked? Selah,” 12 its interpretation concerns Belial and the spirits of his lot, who […] … in their turning away from the statutes of God [to act wickedly]. 13 But Melchizedek will carry out the vengeance of the judgments of God, [and on that day he will] deliver them [from the hand of] Belial and from the hand of all the spirits [of his lot].
Hebrews 2:14-18
New Testament
14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil), 15 and set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death. 16 For surely his concern is not for angels, but he is concerned for Abraham’s descendants. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 For since he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
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Notes and References
“... Since I do not believe that Melchizedek in Hebrews is an
angelic or heavenly figure as in the 11Q, Melchizedek, it is
obvious that I would not posit a direct relationship between the
two. That does not mean, however, that the 11Q Melchizedek
should be considered irrelevant to Hebrews, but only that it is
not a direct source for Hebrews. If there is no direct relationship
between Melchizedek in the i iQ,Melchizedek and Melchizedek
in Hebrews, there are some parallels between Melchizedek in
the 11Q,Melchizedek and Christ in Hebrews which, in summary
form, might be listed.
1 Both Christ and Melchizedek are eschatological, redemp-
tive figures.
2 Both are exalted in the heavens.
3 Both make atonement for sin.
4 Both overcome the forces opposed to God.
5 Both bring the promise of a new age. [...] Initial excitement with this aspect of the relationship between
the 11Q, Melchizedek and Hebrews might potentially mask
more important areas of contact. Although this present work is
not devoted to the topic of the relationship of Qumran to
Hebrews, it would not be amiss to mention two areas in which
further investigation is indicated, (i) The theme of the sabbath
rest for the people of God (Heb. iv. 4, 9) is paralleled by the
theme of the last jubilee in nQMelch. i. 2, 7, 9, this jubilee
being reckoned as a sabbath of sabbath years (i.e. occurring
every 49 years) and in Dan. ix. 24-7 the end of days being
reckoned as the tenth such jubilee after the return from exile. In
this time there will be a release for the captives (1 iQMelch. i.
4-6; Heb. ii. 15). The value here is that the 11Q, Melchizedek
may make explicit what is only implicit in Hebrews. ...”
Horton, Fred L., Jr.
The Melchizedek Tradition: A Critical Examination of the Sources to the Fifth Century A.D. and in the Epistle to the Hebrews
(p. 167) Cambridge University Press, 1976
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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