Melchizedek's claim. ajpodekatoi'n to;n l. ] The Levites tithed the people (Num. 18:21 ff.) and paid a tithe of this tithe to the priests ( id. vv. 26 ff.). The priests can thus be said to tithe the people as claiming the tithe of the whole offering (comp. Tob. 1:7 ff.). They represented the right in its highest form, just as they represented in its highest form the conception of a body consecrated to the divine service.
The word ajpodekatovw ( dekatovw ), which seems to be confined to Biblical and ecclesiastical writers, is used both of
(1) The person claiming the tithe from another ( ajpodek. tina ). 1 Sam. 8:15, 17; Neh. 10:37; and of
(2) The person paying the tithe ( ajpod. ti ). Gen. 28:22; Deut. 14:21; 26:12; Matt. 23:23; Luke 11:42.
jApodekateuvw is found Lk. 18:12. Dekateuvw is a classical word. The peculiar form ajpodekatoi'n , which is given by BD 2*, is supported by kataskhnoi'n Matt. 13:32; Mark 4:32; fimoi'n 1 Pet. 2:15; and similar forms which occur in inscriptions e.g., stefanoi'n, zhloi'n .
This form, it may be observed, goes to confirm the writing
i
subscr.
in the contracted infinitives
ajgapa'/n
& c.
zh'/n
.
kata; to;n novmon
] The right which the Levitical priests exercised was in virtue of a special injunction. They had no claim beyond that which the Law gave them.
tou;" ajdelfou;"
...
kaivper ejxelhluqovta"
...] The priesthood gave a real preeminence, but still it did not alter the essential relationship of all Abraham's descendants. Nor did its claims extend beyond them. We might have expected naturally that the right of tithing (like the privilege of blessing) would have been exercised only by one superior by birth. Here however the office itself established a difference among brethren. Thus the two clauses taken together indicate the dignity of the Levitical priesthood, and at the same time the narrow limits within which the exercise of its power was confined. This priesthood rested upon a definite and limited institution. For
ejk th'" ojsfuvo"
see Gen. 35:11 (LXX.). Heb. 7:6.
oJ de; mh; geneal. ejx auj
.]
he whose genealogy is not counted from them
, i.e. the sons of Levi (5:5). Vulg.
cujus autem generatio non adnumeratur in eis;
O.L.
qui autem non enumeratur de his.
The claim of Melchizedek to the priesthood rested on no descent but on his inherent personal title.
JHrmhvneuse de; kai; to; ajgenealovghto"
.
ejx aujtw'n ga;r ei\pe to;n Melcisede;k mh; genealogei'sqai
.
dh'lon toivnun wJ" ejkei'no" oujk ajlhqw'" ajgenealovghto" ajlla; kata; tuvpon
(Thdt.).
dedekavtwken
...
eujlovghken
] 7:9
dedekavtwtai
. The fact is regarded as permanent in its abiding consequences. It stands written in Scripture as having a present force.
The use of the perfect in the Epistle is worthy of careful study. In every case its full force can be felt.
1:4 keklhronovmhken . 1:13 ei[rhken , 4:4. 2:14 kekoinwvnhken ... metevscen . 3:3 hjxivwtai .