I have to write this in installments as 'this is the age of the half read page.' --- This is a longer history than can be put in one post and I can come back to respond to individual posts later. --- Unfortunately, not too many of us read the 'Minor Prophets.'
--- Yes, in the time of King David, Abiathar and Zadok are mentioned as priests, but later, it said of Solomon that he sometimes acted as his own priest, and it says, quote: “In Solomon’s time, were priestly duties carried out improperly or by non-priests resulted in dire consequences.”
The priests were no longer dedicated to the Lord, like the Pharisees later, --- so when the priesthood failed to fill the role, and the kings after Solomon were self seeking, except for one or two, God allowed some changes to preserve His people. The ten Northern tribes were taken to Assyria in 722 BC, and many from Judah were taken to Babylon in about 600 BC for the 70 year captivity. --- The Jews from Assyria didn’t return to Israel, but were dispersed throughout the world. The Jews in Babylon were revived under the miraculous teaching and miracles accompanying the Prophets, Ezekiel and Daniel. Many returned after the captivity under Joshua the Priest and Zerubbabel, the Governor. --- Later Ezra the Priest and scribe, led another group back to Jerusalem and restored worship. --- However, within a few years the Priesthood again began to fail to the level of what it said in Malachi 1:7 “You offer defiled food on My altar, but say, ‘In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying, ‘The table of the Lord is contemptible.’ 8 And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?” Says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 2:7 “For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. 8 But you have departed from the way; You have caused many to stumble at the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” Says the Lord of hosts.
--- The name, 'the Lord of hosts' is used from 1 Samuel to the end of Malachi, but not in the New Testament.
So from God’s perfect government of King, Priest and Prophet, --- all that was left were His Prophets. The Kingship and Priesthood that had been handed over to men had failed. --- But God is never without resources. --- In that time, about 470 BC the Prophet Zechariah was given this, in Zechariah 6:12 “And say to him, Thus says the Lord of hosts: [You, Joshua] behold (look at, keep in sight, watch) the Man [the Messiah] whose name is the Branch, for He shall grow up in His place and He shall build the [true] temple of the Lord.
13 Yes, [you Joshua are building a temple of the Lord, but] it is He Who shall build the [true] temple of the Lord, and He shall bear the honor and glory [as of the only begotten of the Father] and shall sit and rule upon His throne. And He shall be a Priest upon His throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between the two [offices—Priest and King]."
--- Yes, in the time of King David, Abiathar and Zadok are mentioned as priests, but later, it said of Solomon that he sometimes acted as his own priest, and it says, quote: “In Solomon’s time, were priestly duties carried out improperly or by non-priests resulted in dire consequences.”
The priests were no longer dedicated to the Lord, like the Pharisees later, --- so when the priesthood failed to fill the role, and the kings after Solomon were self seeking, except for one or two, God allowed some changes to preserve His people. The ten Northern tribes were taken to Assyria in 722 BC, and many from Judah were taken to Babylon in about 600 BC for the 70 year captivity. --- The Jews from Assyria didn’t return to Israel, but were dispersed throughout the world. The Jews in Babylon were revived under the miraculous teaching and miracles accompanying the Prophets, Ezekiel and Daniel. Many returned after the captivity under Joshua the Priest and Zerubbabel, the Governor. --- Later Ezra the Priest and scribe, led another group back to Jerusalem and restored worship. --- However, within a few years the Priesthood again began to fail to the level of what it said in Malachi 1:7 “You offer defiled food on My altar, but say, ‘In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying, ‘The table of the Lord is contemptible.’ 8 And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?” Says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 2:7 “For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. 8 But you have departed from the way; You have caused many to stumble at the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” Says the Lord of hosts.
--- The name, 'the Lord of hosts' is used from 1 Samuel to the end of Malachi, but not in the New Testament.
So from God’s perfect government of King, Priest and Prophet, --- all that was left were His Prophets. The Kingship and Priesthood that had been handed over to men had failed. --- But God is never without resources. --- In that time, about 470 BC the Prophet Zechariah was given this, in Zechariah 6:12 “And say to him, Thus says the Lord of hosts: [You, Joshua] behold (look at, keep in sight, watch) the Man [the Messiah] whose name is the Branch, for He shall grow up in His place and He shall build the [true] temple of the Lord.
13 Yes, [you Joshua are building a temple of the Lord, but] it is He Who shall build the [true] temple of the Lord, and He shall bear the honor and glory [as of the only begotten of the Father] and shall sit and rule upon His throne. And He shall be a Priest upon His throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between the two [offices—Priest and King]."
I would think like the unseen King of Peace ruling with His priest seen as the Prince of the same peace that does surpass our limited understanding..
In that way Melchizedek is used like Moses to represent the unseen Father as King of Peace (Melchizedek) working with the Prince of Peace signified by Aaron a type of the Son of man as on labor of love, called a work of their combined faith (one) Looking to the spiritual understanding of both parables below (faith to faith) It would appear the King with the Prince working to bring the peace of the gospel.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Melchisedec, was used to represent the unseen Father working with the son of man, Abraham or Moses to represent our unseen father working with the son of man, Aaron .In these last days with the Son of man, Jesus our High Priest in whom the unseen father spoke directly through.
Hebrews 7;1-2 King James Version (KJV) For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
King of peace Prince of Peace = I and my Father are one. John 10:30