This sheet on Genesis 14 was written by Gili Zivan for 929 and can also be found here
In Chapter 14 we hear about the blessing of Melchizedek, the king of the city Salem, who blesses Abraham after the rescue of Lot and all the other captives who were captured in battle. Melchizedek celebrates the rescue with a sumptuous meal and a blessing to Abraham and to the God Most High.
Our Sages did not like the order of the blessings, as Rabbi Zechariah said in the name of Rabbi Yishmael: "The Holy Blessed One wanted the priesthood to emerge from Shem, as it is stated: “and he was priest of God the Most High”(Genesis 14:18). Once Melchizedek (traditionally identified as Shem) placed the blessing of Abraham before the blessing of the Omnipresent, God had the priesthood emerge from Abraham in particular, and not from any other descendant of Shem. As it is stated: “And he blessed him and said: Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and blessed be God the Most High” (Genesis 14:19-20). Abraham said to him: And does one place the blessing of the servant before the blessing of his master? Immediately God gave the priesthood to Abraham, as it is stated: “And he was priest of God the Most High” (Genesis 14:18), which emphasizes that he, Melchizedek, is a priest, but his children will not be priests (Tractate Nedarim 32b).
Although our Sages viewed unfavourably the fact that Melchizedek places the blessing of Abraham before the blessing of God, I believe that Melchizedek, King of Shalem, has many merits, and may be considered the first copywriter. A few moments after he coins the wonderful phrase "God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth” (14:19), Abraham warmly adopts this designation of God, and in his response to the King of Sodom, he says: "I swear to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth:" (14:22).
Since then, many years have passed and every Friday night, when the Amidah prayer in the synagogue ends, the congregations blesses aloud: "Blessed are You, the Lord our God and the God of our forefathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, the great, mighty, and awesome God, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth." It seems that despite everything, the religious slogan that Melchizedek coined penetrated deeply into the liturgical discourse and to the descriptions of the Creator’s glory.
Our Sages did not like the order of the blessings, as Rabbi Zechariah said in the name of Rabbi Yishmael: "The Holy Blessed One wanted the priesthood to emerge from Shem, as it is stated: “and he was priest of God the Most High”(Genesis 14:18). Once Melchizedek (traditionally identified as Shem) placed the blessing of Abraham before the blessing of the Omnipresent, God had the priesthood emerge from Abraham in particular, and not from any other descendant of Shem. As it is stated: “And he blessed him and said: Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and blessed be God the Most High” (Genesis 14:19-20). Abraham said to him: And does one place the blessing of the servant before the blessing of his master? Immediately God gave the priesthood to Abraham, as it is stated: “And he was priest of God the Most High” (Genesis 14:18), which emphasizes that he, Melchizedek, is a priest, but his children will not be priests (Tractate Nedarim 32b).
Although our Sages viewed unfavourably the fact that Melchizedek places the blessing of Abraham before the blessing of God, I believe that Melchizedek, King of Shalem, has many merits, and may be considered the first copywriter. A few moments after he coins the wonderful phrase "God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth” (14:19), Abraham warmly adopts this designation of God, and in his response to the King of Sodom, he says: "I swear to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth:" (14:22).
Since then, many years have passed and every Friday night, when the Amidah prayer in the synagogue ends, the congregations blesses aloud: "Blessed are You, the Lord our God and the God of our forefathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, the great, mighty, and awesome God, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth." It seems that despite everything, the religious slogan that Melchizedek coined penetrated deeply into the liturgical discourse and to the descriptions of the Creator’s glory.
Dr. Gili Zivan is a member of Kibbutz Sa’ad, a lecturer at the Yaacov Herzog College, and a member of the faculty at the School for Leadership at the Mandel Institute.
929 is the number of chapters in the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, the formative text of the Jewish heritage. It is also the name of a cutting-edge project dedicated to creating a global Jewish conversation anchored in the Hebrew Bible. 929 English invites Jews everywhere to read and study Tanakh, one chapter a day, Sunday through Thursday together with a website with creative readings and pluralistic interpretations, including audio and video, by a wide range of writers, artists, rabbis, educators, scholars, students and more. As an outgrowth of the web-based platform, 929 English also offers classes, pop-up lectures, events and across North America. We invite you to learn along with us and be part of our dynamic community.
To join 929's listserv for new and dynamic content each week click here
To join 929's listserv for new and dynamic content each week click here
