Texts in Conversation
Genesis Apocryphon from the Dead Sea Scrolls retells the story of Abraham and Melchizedek, preserving an early Jewish tradition when his priesthood was still honored, before later traditions reduced his role and emphasized Abraham’s authority.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Genesis 14:18
Hebrew Bible
17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet Abram in the Valley of Shaveh (known as the King’s Valley). 18 Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (Now he was the priest of the Most High God.) 19 He blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by the Most High God, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 Worthy of praise is the Most High God, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.
1Q20 22:14
Genesis Apocryphon
Dead Sea Scrolls, Biblical Retellings
12 the captives that they had taken he brought back. And the king of Sodom heard that Abram had brought back all the captives 13 and all the plunder, and he went up to meet him. And he came to Salem, which is Jerusalem, while Abram was camped in the valley of 14 Shaveh, which is the valley of the king, the valley of Beth-hakerem. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out 15 food and drink for Abram and for all the men who were with him. And he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed 16 Abram and said, “Blessed is Abram by God Most High, Lord of heaven and earth, and blessed is God Most High, 17 who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all the property of the king of Elam and his allies. 18 Then the king of Sodom drew near and said to Abram, “My lord Abram,
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Notes and References
"... Why, then, is the Talmudic discussion silent on the matter of Melchizedek’s circumcision? Given the thrust of the discussion, one might reasonably suggest that the text takes for granted that Melchizedek was indeed circumcised, in order to fulfil the priestly office. But then why does it emphasize instead the transfer of priesthood to Abraham? An explanation of this difficulty may, once more, originate in pre-Rabbinic attitudes to Melchizedek. Again, evidence from Qumran, this time in the shape of the Genesis Apocryphon from cave 1 (1Qap-Gen) provides assistance. (See D.A. Machiela, The Genesis Apocryphon (1Q20): A Reevaluation of its Text, Interpretive Character, and Relationship to the Book of Jubilees) This Aramaic ‘re-writing’ of episodes from Genesis certainly pre-dates the Christian era, and is intent on presenting Abraham as a sacrificing priest ..."
Hayward, Robert
Targums and the Transmission of Scripture into Judaism and Christianity
(pp. 384-385) Brill, 2010
* 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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