And as l may so say,.... With truth, and with great propriety and pertinence:
Levi also who receiveth tithes; or the Levites, who receive tithes according to the law of Moses from the people of Israel:
paid tithes in Abraham; that is, to Melchizedek; and therefore Melchizedek must be greater than they, and his priesthood a more excellent one than theirs; since they who receive tithes from others gave tithes to him.