Melchizedek: King of Righteousness
There are names in sacred history that stand as pillars between heaven and earth—names that join the generations of the fathers with the destinies of the last days. Among these is Melchizedek, the King of Salem and Priest of the Most High God. His appearance in Scripture is brief, yet the weight of his story spans centuries and binds together the priesthood of Adam with the ministry of Christ, “a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” Genesis 14:18–20, Psalm 110:4, Hebrews 5:6; 7:1–17.
Melchizedek lived through the first five centuries after the Flood—an age in which the earth was rebuilt by the hands of Noah’s posterity. His lifetime overlapped every major transformation of the ancient world: the rise of the Early Dynastic city-states of Sumer, the dominance and collapse of the Akkadian Empire, the Gutian interregnum, the restoration of Ur under Ur-Nammu and Shulgi in the Ur III period, and the early Middle Bronze migrations that reshaped the lands of Aram and Canaan. Through these changing eras the covenant line remained unbroken, for the priesthood passed directly from Noah to Shem—and Shem is remembered in the ancient traditions as Melchizedek, King of Righteousness Genesis Rabbah 46:7, Genesis Rabbah 56:10, Targum Jonathan on Genesis 14:18, Book of the Bee 21, Cave of Treasures 14–16.
This record is not a blending of myth and conjecture. It is a gathering of the preserved witnesses: the King James Bible, the Apocrypha, and ancient writings treasured by the early fathers—Jubilees, Jasher, Genesis Rabbah, the Cave of Treasures, the Book of the Bee, and others that maintain the memory of the beginning. Through them a single truth emerges: Melchizedek was not an isolated wonder, but the living continuation of the divine order that began with Adam and passed through the patriarchs—Adam to Seth, Seth to Enos, Enos to Cainan, Cainan to Mahalaleel, Mahalaleel to Jared, Jared to Enoch, Enoch to Methuselah, Methuselah to Lamech, Lamech to Noah, and Noah to Shem Book of the Bee 21, Genesis 5:1–32.
For God is the same yesterday, today, and forever; His covenants do not change, nor does His government Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8. The priesthood that existed in the beginning of the world will exist again in the end, during the “restoration of all things” foretold by the prophets Acts 3:20–21, Isaiah 2:2–4, Isaiah 11:1–10.
Melchizedek’s ministry stands as the living center of that eternal chain—Adam to Noah, Noah to Shem, Shem to Abraham, and Abraham to Christ, who did not abolish the ancient order but magnified it Matthew 5:17–19, Hebrews 7:11–24. For the priesthood of the fathers—with its laws of patriarchal family, consecration, stewardship, and sacrifice—was honored and fulfilled by Christ John 8:39, Hebrews 9:11–14, and will rise again in the last days Jubilees 1:27–29, Testament of Levi 18, Shepherd of Hermas, Similitudes IX, Revelation 5:10.
This story therefore tells how the covenant passed from father to son, how the ancient order survived the Deluge, how the nations fell again into idolatry under the sons of Ham and the dominion of Nimrod, and how Melchizedek—Shem himself—kept the flame of righteousness burning in a world turning once more toward darkness Genesis 10:8–12, Jubilees 10:18–28, Jasher 7:23–47.
The purpose of this work, and of the greater series called The Ancient Order, is to restore the understanding of God’s family government—posterity, priesthood, and property—the eternal household established by Adam, preserved through the patriarchs, and now rising again as a sign that the promises of God are faithful and true Genesis 1:26–28, Genesis 9:1–7, Jubilees 6:1–10, Isaiah 51:1–3.
Melchizedek’s story is therefore not a relic of vanished antiquity but a prophecy of what is to come. For as it was in the beginning, so shall it be in the end: righteousness shall reign, and peace shall cover the earth Isaiah 11:9, Psalm 72:7, Revelation 21:1–3.
References
Genesis 14:18–20 (KJV) – “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.”
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Psalm 110:4 (KJV) – “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”
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Hebrews 5:6; 7:1–4 (KJV) – “As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”; “For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.”
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Genesis Rabbah 46:7 (Soncino) – “Rabbi Zechariah said in the name of Rabbi Ishmael: The Holy One, blessed be He, intended that the priesthood should go forth from Shem… for it is written, ‘And he was priest of God Most High.’”
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Genesis Rabbah 56:10 (Soncino) – “Shem said to Abraham: The blessings are entrusted to thee. For thou art the one chosen to carry the priesthood henceforth.”
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Targum Jonathan on Genesis 14:18 – “And Melchizedek, king of Jerusalem—he is Shem the Great—brought out bread and wine, for he was priest before the Most High God.”
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Book of the Bee 21 (Budge) – “Shem was Melchisedek, king of Salem; he received the priesthood from his father Noah… and he blessed Abram when he returned from the slaughter of kings.”
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Cave of Treasures 14–16 (Budge) – “Shem, who is Melchisedek, ministered as priest of God Most High… and reigned in Salem after the Flood, keeping the laws of righteousness delivered unto the fathers.”
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Genesis 5:1–32 (KJV) – The generations from Adam to Noah: “Adam… Seth… Enos… Cainan… Mahalaleel… Jared… Enoch… Methuselah… Lamech… Noah.”
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Malachi 3:6 (KJV) – “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
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Hebrews 13:8 (KJV) – “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
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Acts 3:20–21 (KJV) – “…the heavens must receive him until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets.”
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Isaiah 2:2–4 (KJV) – “In the last days… all nations shall flow unto it… for out of Zion shall go forth the law.”
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Isaiah 11:1–10 (KJV) – “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse… with righteousness shall he judge the poor… the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD.”
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Matthew 5:17–19 (KJV) – “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
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Hebrews 7:11–24 (KJV) – “If perfection were by the Levitical priesthood… what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec?”
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John 8:39 (KJV) – “If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.”
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Hebrews 9:11–14 (KJV) – “Christ being come an high priest of good things to come… entered in once into the holy place… having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
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Jubilees 1:27–29 (R.H. Charles) – “And they shall return to Me with all their heart and with all their soul… and I will build My sanctuary among them, and I shall dwell with them forever.”
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Testament of Levi 18 (Charles) – “A new priest shall arise… in whose priesthood the heavens shall be opened, and paradise shall be opened unto men.”
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Shepherd of Hermas, Similitudes IX (Lightfoot) – “The tower which thou seest being built is myself, the Church… built upon the name of the Son of God.”
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Revelation 5:10 (KJV) – “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
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Genesis 10:8–12 (KJV) – “And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth… And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel… in the land of Shinar.”
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Jubilees 10:18–28 (Charles) – Describes how unclean spirits led the sons of Noah astray into idolatry until Noah prayed for deliverance.
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Jasher 7:23–47 (1840) – Tells of Nimrod’s rise, his dominion over nations, and how many turned aside from the worship of God.
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Genesis 1:26–28 (KJV) – “And God said, Let us make man in our image… be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it.”
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Genesis 9:1–7 (KJV) – “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply… and the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast.”
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Jubilees 6:1–10 (Charles) – Describes Noah renewing the covenant, setting the feast days, and establishing the ordinances forever.
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Isaiah 51:1–3 (KJV) – “Look unto Abraham your father… For the LORD shall comfort Zion… and he will make her wilderness like Eden.”
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Isaiah 11:9 (KJV) – “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”
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Psalm 72:7 (KJV) – “In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.”
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Revelation 21:1–3 (KJV) – “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth… And I heard a great voice… saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men.”
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