Who was this Malkitzedek? Why is he offering bread and wine? And what's the deal with Salem? The Rabbis of Bereshit Rabbah, that rich collection of early Jewish interpretations of Genesis, had a lot to say about it.
The verse itself is intriguing, isn't it? This Malkitzedek appears almost out of nowhere, offering sustenance to Abraham after his victory over the four kings. But the Rabbis see more than just a friendly gesture. They see layers of meaning connected to righteousness, Jerusalem, and even the future of the Jewish people.
The Rabbis in Yalkut Shimoni connect Malkitzedek to a verse in Psalms (45:13): "Daughter of Tzor, the wealthiest of the people will seek your favor with gifts." They interpret "Daughter of Tzor" as a reference to Abraham, who "distressed" (hetzer) the four kings, and who was also distressed by them. And "the wealthiest of the people" refers to Malkitzedek, who sought Abraham's favor with gifts – the bread and wine.
But what about Salem? Bereshit Rabbah tells us that Salem is actually a shortened form of Yerushalayim, Jerusalem (see Psalms 76:3). The Rabbis suggest that this place—Jerusalem—makes its inhabitants righteous. That's why he was called Malkitzedek – King of Righteousness (tzedek). We even find another king of Jerusalem called Adoni Tzedek (Joshua 10:1), which means "lord of righteousness." Jerusalem itself is called righteousness, as Isaiah (1:21) says, "Justice [tzedek] abided in it." It's all connected.
And here's a fascinating detail from Rabbi Yitzḥak the Babylonian: Malkitzedek was born circumcised! The Hebrew, Melekh Shalem, can mean both "king of Salem" and "the perfect king," suggesting he was born in a perfected state, needing no further ritual.
Now, about that bread and wine. What did they signify? Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman suggests that Malkitzedek was revealing to Abraham the laws of the High Priesthood. The "bread" alludes to the showbread (described in Leviticus 24:5–9), and the "wine" alludes to the libations. The Rabbis, however, offer a different take: he was revealing Torah precepts to him, citing Proverbs 9:5, "Come, partake of my bread, and drink of the wine that I have mixed," where divine wisdom, the Torah, is metaphorically represented as bread and wine.
But here's where it gets a little darker. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana and Rabbi Levi debate the significance of the wine. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana notes that wine often has negative connotations in the Torah (think of Noah and Lot). Rabbi Levi, however, argues that even here, the wine isn't entirely positive, because immediately after this, God decrees that Abraham's descendants will be enslaved and oppressed (Genesis 15:13).
So, what do we make of Malkitzedek? He's not just a random king offering refreshments. He's a figure steeped in symbolism, connected to Jerusalem, righteousness, the priesthood, and even the future suffering of Abraham's descendants. The Rabbis, through their interpretations, transform a single verse into a window into the heart of Jewish thought and history.
It makes you wonder, doesn't it? How much more lies hidden within the verses we think we know? How much deeper can we dive into the well of Torah to uncover new meanings and connections? The story of Malkitzedek reminds us that the journey of understanding is never truly over.