Melchizedek, The Servant of Righteousness

The Hebrew words malkiy-tsedeq literally means "my King is righteousness". Salem of course means peace and I have yet to see any convincing evidence any place at that time was called Salem. I have little doubt, if any at all, that this individual called Melchizedek, was none other than Shem. Many scholars agree that Melchizedek only defines who this individual was, and why he was significant at that time.


This identification of Melchizedek with Shem, son of Noah, descendant of Methuselah and Lamech by men like Rabbi Ishmael ben Elisha was well accepted in rabbinic literature. There were other rabbinic scholars like Pirke R. El. and Gen. Rab. Pirke R. El. that attest to Melchizedek as being Shem.

"Noah handed on the tradition to Shem, and he was initiated in the principle of intercalation; he intercalated the years and he was called a priest, as it is said, ‘And Melchizedek king of Salem ... was a priest of God Most High’ (Gen 14:18). Was Shem the Son of Noah a priest? But because he was the first-born, and because he ministered to his God by day and by night, therefore was he called a priest."¹

This idea of Shem being a priest in the family of Noah because he was the first born in that family is so well documented, but so completely misunderstood, that people actually think there is no need for a priesthood, or that the Levites somehow replaced that tradition. All over Israel for the first four hundred years of its existence there was a priest and king in every family. They consisted of the Father and eldest son of each family.

The Levites never replaced that office within the family, but they did function as a part of a national priest hood of congregational charity. They developed a national altar of social assurance, an official network of charity based upon hope and faith.

Lot’s father had died but he was still the grandson of Shem the same as Abraham. He also tithed to his natural grandfather Shem. Shem had lots of other sons and grandsons who took another path than that of Abraham.

"Rabbi Joshua said: Abraham was the first to begin to give a tithe. He took all the tithe of the kings and all the tithe of the wealth of Lot, the son of his brother, and gave (it) to Shem, the Son of Noah, as it is said, 'And he gave him a tenth of all.'" ²

The story of Cain and Abel was well known in those days, and while Abraham walked in the way of Abel, his relative Chedorlaomer, along with his chosen allies, chose the way of Cain and became an aggressive conquerer. Chedorlaomer was seeking power and domination but Abraham sought justice. But still, men were killing men and some of these men were descendants of this Melchizedek who had great authority among many people.

"Fear not, Abram. Whom did he fear? Rabbi Berekiah said: He feared Shem (whose descendants, viz. Chedorlaomer and his sons, Abraham had slain), as it is written, 'The isles saw, and feared' (Isa 41:5): just as islands stand out in the sea, so were Abraham and Shem outstanding in the world. And feared: Each one feared the other. The former (Abraham) feared the latter, thinking, Perhaps he nurses resentment against me for slaying his sons. And the latter (Shem) feared the former, thinking, Perhaps he nurses resentment against me for begetting wicked offspring."³

This passage makes reference that not only Melchizedek was Shem, but the four kings allied with Chedorlaomer were all descendants of Shem as well. They were probably not his natural sons but, perhaps sons as allies or, even sons-in-law since it was common to give a daughter or niece in marriage in order to consummate a treaty.

Often times men would call their rulers "father" because all government was based on the law of the family. In order to keep the people safe and to maintain their loyalty a number of schemes were employed. It was common to build walls around a city which the people became dependent upon. This was usually a large civic project that required collection of funds. This often lead to the call for a central treasuries as well as ways to identify you as a member upon entering and leaving. Not only were others kept out but you, your goods and gold were kept in. It was common to issue some for of substitute for money and gold was held only by the government. In Egypt the gold was held in a national treasury and the people used ceramic scarabs and script as money. When the Israelites went into the desert they attempted to do the same thing with their gold calf but Moses objected and put an end to that practice. Even Jesus warned against such treasuries. Such policies make the people dependent and weak and tempt governments of men to exercise more power and authority over the people.

On the other hand, the kingdom of God does not rely on a particular locality built within barricaded walls. The people remain in possession of the wealth of a nation and it is not stored where theives and robbers can break in and steal it or usury and corruption can eat it away. The kingdom is not dependent upon a place or single city but upon what is written in the heart and mind of those who love God and each other. It was organized but by the initiative of the individual not the rulership of so called benefactors who exercised authority on over the other.

"And Melchisedech, king of Jerusalem - he is Shem the Great - brought out bread and wine, for he was the priest who ministered in the high priesthood before the most High God" ⁴

Interestingly, it appears that in the days of Abraham, there was no city named either SalemorJerusalem. Again, according to the most accurate archeological records, the names of both cities connote the meaning of peace. Jerusalem simply means double-peace.

This government of God promoted and taught by Abraham, Moses and Jesus relied on freewill offerings, brotherly love, forgiveness and thanksgiving. It was a system of liberty that operated on faith, hope and charity.

It was also the foundation of a government of the people, for the people and truly by the people. It had its priests and ministers but they had no exercising authority. This is what Shem did as well and if we went back to the beginning we would find the altars of Abel and Seth operating the same way according to God’s design. Nevertheless, Cain had a different idea.

“Shem son of Noah, the king of Yerushalem” went out to meet Abram, and brought him bread and wine; at that time he was ministering before God Most High."⁵

Could Shem have still been alive at that time?

Many Biblical chronologist estimate that Shem outlived Abraham by 35 years and was still alive at the time of their meeting after the defeat of Chedorlaomer. According to Genesis 11:10-26, Shem lived 500 years after the birth of his son Arphaxad. There were 290 years between the birth of Arphaxad and the birth of Abram. When Abram was born, Shem lived for another 210 years. According to Genesis 25:7 Abraham only lived 175 years.
Another important point in identification of Shem and Melchizedek is the fact that the blessing of Shem in Genesis 9:26 has evident parallels with the blessing given by Melchizedek to Abraham.⁶

The Shem identification is extremely common⁷ and is the only thing that makes sense understanding the concept of a family priest and the role of Fathers and families in the social structure before Cains advent of the civil or corporate state. It has been so well accepted and popular that even Martin Luther preferred it, as well as what some call early Christian Fathers like Jerome, Ephrem, and Theodore of Mopsuestia. ⁸

The New Testament clearly seems to agree with this understanding of Shem's identity, and once we understand the purpose and role of the Church appointed by Jesus, to minister to the kingdom of God; and, the Church in the wilderness appointed by Moses to perform the same we may begin to understand the purpose of altars and ministers.

Besides the term Melchizedek being used as a title there is another title attributed to Shem, and that was Adonizedek. Further references to the truth of these two titles belonging to one and the same man, can be found in numerous historical texts, including the book of Jasher, mentioned twice in the Bible.

"And Adonizedek king of Jerusalem, the same was Shem, went out with his men to meet Abram and his people, with bread and wine, and they remained together in the valley of Melech. And Adonizedek blessed Abram, and Abram gave him a tenth from all that he had brought from the spoil of his enemies, for Adonizedek was a priest before God.”⁹

Shem, the son of Noah was called the High Priest. He was known throughout the land by the title Melchizadek, and was hailed as King of peace and when he judged Abraham as a faithful son he blessed him as his rightful heir. Jesus came and preached the same message that people must govern themselves as free souls under God in the righteous liberty and peace of Shem. This is the message from Abel to this present day.

Shem came to serve, not to rule over men: to free, not to oppress and dominate them. He returned every man to his family and every man to his possessions. His kingdom was a kingdom of liberty, freedom and peace.

And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. The law and the prophets [were] until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth¹⁰ into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.Luke 16:15-17

Jesus preached the same Way as did that righteous Shem and faithful Abraham and liberating Moses. The message, the mission and the hope has always been the same. Can people govern themselves as free souls under God according to the perfect law of liberty. This is the kingdom of God as Shem passed down to Abraham, the lesson Moses taught to the Israelites and John the Baptist preached in the wilderness. This is the straight way, the narrow way. This is the gospel of the kingdom of Heaven at hand.

As he saith also in another [place], Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Hebrews 5:6

Abraham would not take even a shoelatch from Sodom because it operated anti to the ways of Shem and righteousness.

Ezekiel 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

In a time of affluence the people and their leaders of the city of Sodom did not strengthen the poor but made them weaker and more vulnerable to men like Chedorlaomer and Darius.

And, again, Chedorlaomer and Darius are not personal names but descriptive titles. It has been a common practice of translators to refrain from translating certain words which are descriptive words or titles, which would often lead to a complete misunderstanding of some very basic facts and principles.

And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Hebrews 7:15

As we have seen the Hebrew words malkiy-tsedeq literally mean "my King is righteousness" and that is the message of the Prince of Peace.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

See also Tithing

See also Nimrod

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