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excluded by the circumstances; or by the typical interpretation of the silence of the record.

( b ) The relation of Melchizedek to the Levitical priesthood (Heb. 7:4-
10).

Having discussed the historical notice of Melchizedek in itself, the writer goes on to consider his priesthood in relation to that of the Law. In doing this he first notices

( a ) the general position of Melchizedek (74); and then gives in detail his points of superiority

( b ) in respect of Abraham, whom he both tithed (7:5, 6 a), and blessed (6 b, 7); and

( g ) in respect of the Levitical priests, who exercised their functions as dying men (8), and in Levi their head implicitly paid tithes to Melchizedek (9,
10).

4 Now consider how great this man was to whom Abraham gave a tithe taken out of the chief spoils , Abraham the patriarch. 5 And while those (the priests) sprung from the sons of Levi, on receiving the priest's office, have commandment to take tithes from the people according to the Law, that is from their brethren, though they have come out of the loins of Abraham ,

6 he whose genealogy is not counted from them tithed Abraham, and blessed him that hath the promises. 7 But without any gainsaying the less is blessed by the greater. 8 And while here dying men receive tithes, there one of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 9 And, so to say, through Abraham, Levi also who receiveth tithes is tithed; 10 for he was yet in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

Heb. 7:4. The general superiority of Melchizedek over Abraham, the great father of Israel, is stated summarily. The artificial order of the words emphasises the idea which they convey, the last phrases taking up in a more striking form what has been said before ( dekavthn jAbraavm ... ejk tw'n ajkroqinivwn, oJ patriavrch" ).

It is assumed throughout that the receiver of tithe is greater than the giver of tithe: in the case of the less familiar blessing this superiority is affirmed (Heb. 7:7).
qewrei'te dev ] Now consider ...Vulg. intuemini (O.L. videtis, videte ) autem. The structure of the whole passage shews that the verb is an imperative and not an indicative. The word itself, which expresses the regard of attentive contemplation, is frequent in the historical books of the N.T. but is not found elsewhere in the Epistles except 1 John 3:17. The particle dev marks a fresh beginning. The general picture claims detailed study. Comp. Heb. 8:1; 11:1.

dekavthn...e[dwken ] The offering appears as the spontaneous recognition of the dignity of Melchizedek.
ejk tw'n ajkroq. ] Vulg. de praecipuis. O. L. de primitivis ( primitiis )..., Syr. the tithes and firstfruits. The tithe was of the whole ( ajpo; pavntwn Heb. 7:2), and it was taken from the choicest of the spoil. The ajkroqivnia were specially the part of the spoil which was offered as a thank-offering to the gods: Herod.
8.121f.
phlivko" ] Latt. quantus (Aug. qualis ). The word is used properly of magnitude in dimension: Gal. 6:11; Zech. 2:2 (6) (LXX.). Comp. 4 Macc. 15:21 phlivkai" kai; povsai" basavnoi" .


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