Melchizedek Traditions in Second Temple Judaism

Abstract

This chapter surveys Melchizedek traditions in Second Temple Judaism. The interpretations surveyed here neatly divide into two major categories, understanding Melchizedek either as a historical Canaanite king and priest or as a heavenly, angelic figure. Among texts clearly dated to the Second Temple period, the latter view is explicit only in the Dead Sea Scrolls, and even there in a moderate form compared to subsequent speculations. Melchizedek appears in several texts from the Second Temple period - Genesis Apocryphon, Jubilees, Pseudo-Eupolemus, Josephus, Philo, and the Qumran literature. The discussion of the figure in this literature varies widely - most authors of these texts address Melchizedek's encounter with Abram (Abraham), demonstrating a particular desire to smooth out the rough edges of the Genesis 14, but do not concern themselves with Psalms 110:4. Three Qumran texts instead present a heavenly understanding of Melchizedek, presumably deriving this interpretation from the statement 'a priest forever' in Ps 110:4. Keywords:Abraham; angelic figure; Canaanite king; Dead Sea Scrolls; Genesis Apocryphon; Judaism; Melchizedek traditions; priest; Qumran literature; second temple