The first “Jerusalem”
It’s Jerusalem Day – Let’s celebrate!
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Abraham in Jerusalem?
Centuries before King David moved the capital of the Kingdom of Israel to Jerusalem, a strange episode is recorded in Genesis 14. On his way back home from a major battle with the kings of the east, Abraham is blessed by King Melchizedek of Salem. The Hebrew name Shalem (שלם) is an abbreviated form of the word Yerushalem (ירושלם), making this the first time Jerusalem is mentioned in the Bible.
A king and a priest
In Genesis 14:18, “King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High.” This peculiar story, when read in Hebrew, becomes much clearer. The name Melchizedek means “my king is righteousness” which perfectly captures the twofold identity of this mysterious figure. He is both the political ruler, Melech, of Salem (“king”) and the righteous high priest of El Elyon (“God Most High”) one of the oldest names of the Lord of Israel.
Learn the language of the eternal city
We can see that long before Solomon built the Jerusalem Temple, Jerusalem had a priestly ruler who was faithful to the one God of Israel. The use of bread and wine also foreshadows Jesus’ Last Supper eaten in Jerusalem, 2000 years later. As a faithful reader of Scripture and a lover of Jerusalem, don’t you owe it to yourself to read the Hebrew Scriptures in the original? Join Israel’s Jerusalem Day celebrations – enroll in our live online Biblical Hebrew course today with a 20% discount.
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