Overview

The biblical figure Melchizedek appears just twice in the Hebrew Bible, and once more in the Christian New Testament. Cited as both the king of Shalem-understood by most scholars to be Jerusalem-and as an eternal priest without ancestry, Melchizedek's appearances become textual justification for tithing to the Levitical priests in Jerusalem and for the priesthood of Jesus Christ himself. But what if the text was manipulated? Robert R. Cargill explores the Hebrew and Greek texts concerning Melchizedek's encounter with Abraham in Genesis as a basis to unravel the biblical mystery of this character's origins. The textual evidence that Cargill presents shows that Melchizedek was originally known as the king of Sodom and that the later traditions about Sodom forced biblical scribes to invent a new location, Shalem, for Melchizedek's priesthood and reign. Cargill also identifies minor, strategic changes to the Hebrew Bible and the Samaritan Pentateuch that demonstrate an evolving, polemical, sectarian discourse between Jews and Samaritans competing for the superiority of their respective temples and holy mountains. The resulting literary evidence was used as the ideological motivation for identifying Shalem with Jerusalem in the Second Temple Jewish tradition. A brief study with far-reaching implications, Melchizedek, King of Sodom reopens discussion of not only this unusual character, but also the origins of both the priesthood of Christ and the role of early Israelite priest-kings.

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9780190946999

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A detailed and innovative exploration of Melchizedek, one the most enigmatic figures in the Hebrew Bible. Readers of this engaging and meticulously argued book will gain much insight into the role and development of Melchizedek-including his possible evolution from King of Sodom to King of Shalem. -- Marc Zvi Brettler, Bernice and Morton Lerner Professor of Jewish Studies, Department of Religious Studies, Duke University In Melchizedek, King of Sodom, Robert Cargill pulls back the layers that have enshrouded this mysterious biblical figure with equal parts critical rigor and imagination, resulting in a fascinating, thought provoking book. Cargill's work sheds much-needed light not only on the origins of the literary character Melchizedek but on how ancient authors attempted to address the controversies associated with his name and lore. This is is a superb contribution to the field that will be of great interest to anyone who studies the growth and reception of the Book of Genesis and the traditions it contains. -- Mark Leuchter, Director of Jewish Studies, Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Judaism, Temple University

"""A detailed and innovative exploration of Melchizedek, one the most enigmatic figures in the Hebrew Bible.� Readers of this engaging and meticulously argued book will gain much insight into the role and development of Melchizedek-including his possible evolution from King of Sodom to King of Shalem."" -- Marc Zvi Brettler, Bernice and Morton Lerner Professor of Jewish Studies, Department of Religious Studies, Duke University ""In Melchizedek, King of Sodom, Robert Cargill pulls back the layers that have enshrouded this mysterious biblical figure with equal parts critical rigor and imagination, resulting in a fascinating, thought provoking book.�Cargill's work sheds much-needed light not only on the origins of the literary character Melchizedek but on how ancient authors attempted to address the controversies associated with his name and lore.�This is is a superb contribution to the field that will be of great interest to anyone who studies the growth and reception of the Book of Genesis and the traditions it contains."" -- Mark Leuchter, Director of Jewish Studies, Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Judaism, Temple University"

Author Information

Dr. Robert R. Cargill is Associate Professor of Classics and Religious Studies at The University of Iowa and the editor of Biblical Archaeology Review. He has appeared on CNN, History, Discovery, National Geographic, and other channels. He is the author of The Cities that Built the Bible and Qumran through (Real) Time.

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