Historical Encounter in Ancient Jerusalem: the Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek
And the king of Sodom went out to meet him, after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh – the same is the King’s Valley. And Melchizedek king of Shalem brought forth bread and wine; and he was priest of God the Most High. And he blessed him, and said: ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth… And Abram said to the king of Sodom: ‘I have lifted up my hand unto the Lord, God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.
Genesis 14: 17-22
He blessed him and said,“ Blessed be Abraham of God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth…”
After the war of the four kings against the five kings and Abraham’s efforts to save his nephew Lot, we read about the encounter between Abraham and the king of Sodom and Melchizedek king of Shalem in the valley of Shaveh, which is the King’s Valley. The Shalem mentioned in the story is identified with Jerusalem, and the Valley of Shaveh with the Kedron Valley, east of the biblical city.
In the picture: A potsherd inscribed in Hebrew, from the First Temple period with the words “God…maker of heaven and earth,” the same words mentioned in Melchizedek’s blessing of Abraham the Patriarch, and Abraham’s own blessing to the king of Shalem.
