Hebrew Bible Study
Hebrew Bible Study

Commentary for Genesis 14:18

וּמַלְכִּי־צֶ֙דֶק֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ שָׁלֵ֔ם הוֹצִ֖יא לֶ֣חֶם וָיָ֑יִן וְה֥וּא כֹהֵ֖ן לְאֵ֥ל עֶלְיֽוֹן׃

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine; and he was priest of God the Most High.

Rashi on Genesis

ומלכי צדק AND MELCHIZEDEK — A Midrashic explanation is that he is identical with Shem, son of Noah (Nedarim 32b).
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Ramban on Genesis

AND MELCHIZEDEK KING OF SALEM. This is Jerusalem, just as it is said, In Salem is set His tabernacle.173Psalms 76:3. In the days of Joshua, its king was also called Adoni-zedek.174Joshua 10:1. Since time immemorial the nations knew that this place, which was the choicest of all places, is in the center of the inhabited region. Or perhaps they knew of its superiority by tradition, i.e., that it is exactly opposite the Heavenly Sanctuary, where the Divine Glory of the Holy One, blessed be He, who is called Tzedek (Righteousness) abides.175This explains why the early inhabitants of Jerusalem called their king Malki tzedek, literally, “My king is righteousness.”
In Bereshith Rabbah17643:6. [we find that Jerusalem is called Tzedek because] “this place makes its inhabitants righteous. And Melchizedek means ‘the lord of Zedek.’177The Midrash is thus teaching that his name was not “Tzedek” but that he was the lord of a place called Zedek. Jerusalem is called Tzedek, as it is said, ‘Tzedek’ (Righteousness) lodged in it.”178Isaiah 1:21.
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Sforno on Genesis

הוציא לחם ויין, to all those returning from battle who were tired.
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