Could Melchizedek be Shem?

[Marano]

Interesting that it's a possibility, honestly this might one of those we'll only truly find about in the resurection.


https://amazingbibletimeline.com/blog/melchizedek-and-shem/

 

[oldhermit]

It is a possibility that many have considered.

 

[Marano]

It is a possibility that many have considered.

You know what's funny? I wasn't doing research or studying the topic, it just hit me all of a sudden that shem couold be melchizedek, of course I'd never take credit for thinking it, it just might mean that it's a natural conclusion one gathers from reading the scripture.

 

[Desertsrose]

I think not.

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually. Hebrews 7:1-3

 

[oldhermit]

You know what's funny? I wasn't doing research or studying the topic, it just hit me all of a sudden that shem couold be melchizedek, of course I'd never take credit for thinking it, it just might mean that it's a natural conclusion one gathers from reading the scripture.

With regard to O.T timeline, the possibility is certainly plausible.There have been many speculations as to who exactly this Melchizedek was. The speculations range for the possible to the absurd. Here is a list of some of those speculations.
1. He was the pre-incarnate Christ. This is a popular notion.
2. He was the Holy Spirit.
3. He was an angel.
4. He was Enoch.
By the time Abraham meets Melchizedek, Enoch had been gone for more than a thousand years.
5. He was Shem, the son of Noah.
6. He was an extra-ordinary emanation of deity.
The only one of these speculation that bears any kind of merit is that he may have possibly been Shem the son of Noah. This is physically possible for Shem and Abraham were contemporaries. In fact, Shem did not die until after Isaac married. As far as any of the rest of the speculation as to the manner of being Melchizedek was, the Hebrew writer leaves no room for speculation. He was a man.

Melchizedek in not a proper name but a title. The ancient kings of pre-Israel Jerusalem were called the Tsedeks. Melchizedek is from Meleck meaning King and Tsedek meaning righteousness. Thus, king of righteousness. He was the King of Salem meaning peace. This Salem would later be called Jerusalem meaning foundation of peace. In Joshua 10:1 we encounter another Tsedek of Salem called Adoni-Tsedek meaning lord of righteousness. The difference between these to men in the deterioration of the worship from the time of Melch-Tsedek to Adoni-Tsedek.