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;
This Melchisedec (Hebrews 6:20; Psalms 110:4). The verb does not come until Hebrews 7:3 "abideth."
King ... priest. Christ (Zechariah 6:13) unites these offices in their highest sense.
Salem Jerusalem; ie seeing peace (Psalms 76:2); not the Salem (Genesis 33:18) which is distinguished by the Salem - Jerusalem; i:e., seeing peace (Psalms 76:2); not the Salem (Genesis 33:18) which is distinguished by the adjunct, "a city of Shechem." Among the kings conquered by Joshua, no king of Salem distinct from Jerusalem is mentioned. Adonizedek ('lord of righteousness'), king of Jerusalem, was plainly a successor of Melchisedek. "The king's dale" (2 Samuel 18:18), identified in Genesis 14:17 with Shaveh, is placed by Josephus and tradition near Jerusalem.
The most high God - called also "Possessor of heaven and earth" (Genesis 14:19; Genesis 14:22). This title, "the Most High," handed down by tradition from primitive revelation, appears in the Phoenician х `Elyown (H5946)],
i.e. Most High. It implies that the God whom Melchisedek served is THE TRUE GOD, not one of the gods of the pagan. So in the only other cases in which it is found in the New Testament-namely, the demoniac and the divining damsel confessing other gods are false, and God alone is to be exalted (Mark 5:7; Acts 16:17).
Who met Abraham - in company with the king of Sodom.
Slaughter, х kopees (G2871)] defeat (Alford). So Genesis 14:17 (cf. verse 15) may be translated. Arioch, king of Ellasar, lived and reigned after the disaster (Bengel). But if Chedorlaomer, Amraphel, and Tidal were slain, though Arioch survived, "slaughter of the kings" is correct.
Blessed him. As priest, he first blessed. Abraham, on God's part; next, he blessed God on Abraham's part: a reciprocal blessing. Not a mere wish, but authoritative intercession as a priest. The Most High God's prerogative as "Possessor of heaven and earth" is made over to Abraham; and Abraham's glory from his victory is made over to God: a blessed exchange for Abraham.