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We automatically aassume ariant interpretations mutually exclude each other. Can we understand that they may complement one another in some way not yet evident to uas in our current state of evolving (cosmically?)
Rabbi Hana bar Bizna citing Rabbi Simeon Hasida identified Melchizedek as one of
the four craftsmen of whom Zechariah
wrote in Zechariah 2:3. (Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 52b; see also Song of Songs
Rabbah 2:33 (crediting Rabbi Berekiah in the name of Rabbi Isaac).) The Talmud teaches that David wrote the Book of Psalms, including in it the work of
the elders, including Melchizedek (in Psalm 110).
(Babylonian Talmud Baba Batra 14b-15a.)
The Zohar finds in “Melchizedek king of
Salem” a reference to “the King Who rules with complete sovereignty,” or
according to another explanation, that “Melchizedek” alludes to the lower world
and “king of Salem” to the upper world. (Zohar 1:86b-87a.)
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Shem and Melchizedek
Shem lived five hundred years after
fathering Arphaxad, and then died at the age of six hundred (Gen. 11:10,
11). Therefore, his death took place thirteen years after the death of Sarah
(1881 B.C.) and ten years after Rebecca and Isaac married (1878 B.C.) In that
light, it has been opined that it is possible that Shem
might have been Melchizedek (which does translate to King of Righteousness), the
priest-king to whom Abram paid tithes (Gen 14: 18-20).
This interpretation was supported by Jewish midrashim.
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Melchizedek in the Dead Sea Scroll 11Q13
11Q13 (11QMelch) is a fragment (that
can be dated end II century or start I century BCE) of a text about Melchizedek
found in Cave 11 at Qumran in Israel and which comprises part
of the Dead Sea Scrolls. In this eschatological text Melchizedek is
seen as a divine being and Hebrew titles as Elohim are applied to him.
According to this text Melchizedek will proclaim the "Day of Atonement" and he will atone
for the people who are predestined to him. He also will judge the peoples. [3]
because he "without father without mother, without genealogy, having
neither beginning of days nor end of life, but likened unto the Son of God,
continueth a priest forever." (v. 3).
