Why Melchizedek Lost the Priesthood to Abraham

Midrash Aggadah, Genesis 14:19

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And he blessed him and said, [Blessed be Abram... and blessed be God Most High]." Because he gave precedence to the blessing of Abraham over the blessing of the Holy One, blessed be He, therefore the priesthood was taken from him and given to Abraham, as it is said, "The Lord has sworn and will not relent: You are a priest forever" (Psalms 110:4).

Themes

PriesthoodAbraham

Biblical References

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Legends of the JewsThe Ishmaelites Betray Jewish Exiles With Salty FoodThe ancient texts are filled with such accounts, stories that chill us to the bone and make us question the very nature of humanity. And when it comes to treachMekhilta DeRabbi YishmaelWhen the Israelites Ran Out of Food in the DesertWhen the Israelites ran out of food in the desert, they did not handle it well. (Exodus 16:2) records that "the entire congregation of the children of Israel caYalkut Shimoni on TorahFrom Stoking The Furnace To High Priest Like AdamThe sages offer a parable to capture the leap God asked of Abraham. A king enters a province and notices a handsome young man covered in soot, feeding wood intoYalkut Shimoni on TorahMelchizedek King of Shalem Brings Out Bread and WineWhen Abraham returned from war, a mysterious figure came out to meet him: Melchizedek, king of Shalem, bearing bread and wine. The sages mined his name and his Yalkut Shimoni on TorahThe Priesthood Is Taken from Shem and Given to AbrahamMelchizedek is called "priest to God Most High," yet the tradition reads his priesthood as a thing he lost in the very moment of this meeting. Rabbi Abba bar KaYalkut Shimoni on TorahRabbi Akiva Says the Trial Was Real and Abraham Won Priesthood and KingshipTwo sages weighed what the trial meant. Rabbi Yose the Galilean read it as elevation: God raised Abraham high, like the banner on a ship's mast. Rabbi Akiva ins