Monday (Epiphany 3 Year 2)
Commemoration of Thomas Aquinas
Today’s assigned readings:
Genesis 14:1-24, Hebrews 8:1-13, John 4:43-54
And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, maker of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”
Genesis 14:18-20a
One possible translation of “Melchizedek” is “My Righteous King”. Another is that “Sedek is my King”. And, finally, the entire phrase, “King Melchizedek of Salem” could be rendered as “The King, the Righteous King of Salem” or even “My King, the Just King of Salem.”
But the curious phrase is “God Most High” a translation of “El Elyon” which has nothing to do with Abram’s God - understood by later readers to be “YHVH”. The King of Salem is bringing out the blessings of a pagan deity.
And Abram is accepting them: and making an offering to him!
Ah… we like politics. Could this be a Pro-Jerusalem retelling of some kind of kingly foundation myth?
For your meditation, here are the Wiki Articles on:
El Elyon
Melchizedek
Much love,
Huw