Melchisedec and the slaughter of the kings

Chapter divisions were added (and chapters numbered) in the Middle Ages in the 13th century. Later, in 1551, in the Middle Ages, verse divisions were added (and verses numbered).

It is best to always check surrounding verses and, when appropriate, verses in the previous or next chapter, to see if those verses have important meaning for the context.

More: Chapter and verse divisions

The common KJV (King James Version) Bible has 66 books, 40 in the OT (Old Testament) and 26 in the NT (New Testament).

In the 13th century, the books were divided into chapters. With small variations, there are 1,189 chapters in the Bible, 929 in the OT and 260 in the NT.

In the 16th century, the chapters were divided into verses. There are about 31,000 verses in the Bible, 23,000 in the OT and 8,000 in the NT.

There are some Greek manuscripts that appear to have some divisions, say into paragraphs, etc. This was not formalized until the Middle Ages.

Here are some interesting chapter divisions in the Bible, where one should study both before and after the division to get the full impact of what is being said.

1 John 1 Top down purpose of life (1 John 2:1 is the start of the backward-chaining reasoning used by John from 1 John 1)
Melchisedec and the slaughter of the kings (this page)

The context is always important.

Whenever studying excerpts of the Bible (or any book for that matter), one should always look at the context in which that excerpted segment is taken. Every part of a document has been "woven" together with "texture", like a garment without a seam.

John 19:23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. [kjv]

οι ουν στρατιωται οτε εσταυρωσαν τον ιησουν ελαβον τα ιματια αυτου και εποιησαν τεσσαρα μερη εκαστω στρατιωτη μερος και τον χιτωνα ην δε ο χιτων αραφος εκ των ανωθεν υφαντος δι ολου [gnt]

… contexta … [v]

The word "context" comes from the Latin "contextus" ≈ "joining together, weaving together" which comes from the Latin "texere" ≈ "to weave, to make". The English word "texture" is from the Latin word "textura" ≈ "weaving, web, texture".

More: Selective evidence fallacy: Verse context matters

In March 2021, a pastor in a sermon made a deep theological point about Abraham and God and Melchisedec using verses at the end of Hebrews 6.

Hebrews 6:17

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KJV: Where in God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

Greek: εν ω περισσοτερον βουλομενος ο θεος επιδειξαι τοις κληρονομοις της επαγγελιας το αμεταθετον της βουλης αυτου εμεσιτευσεν ορκω

Hebrews 6:18

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KJV: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Greek: ινα δια δυο πραγματων αμεταθετων εν οις αδυνατον ψευσασθαι θεον ισχυραν παρακλησιν εχωμεν οι καταφυγοντες κρατησαι της προκειμενης ελπιδος

Hebrews 6:19

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KJV: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

Greek: ην ως αγκυραν εχομεν της ψυχης ασφαλη τε και βεβαιαν και εισερχομενην εις το εσωτερον του καταπετασματος

Hebrews 6:20

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KJV: Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Greek: οπου προδρομος υπερ ημων εισηλθεν ιησους κατα την ταξιν μελχισεδεκ αρχιερευς γενομενος εις τον αιωνα

Some of the deep theological points made by the pastor included the following.

A discussion of the "heirs of promise" and an "oath".
A discussion of it being "impossible" for God to "lie".
A discussion of our "refuge".
A discussion of "anchors".
A discussion of a "high priest".

The rest of the story involves a few following verses at the beginning of chapter 7.

Hebrews 7:1

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KJV: For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

Greek: ουτος γαρ ο μελχισεδεκ βασιλευς σαλημ ιερευς του θεου του υψιστου ο συναντησας αβρααμ υποστρεφοντι απο της κοπης των βασιλεων και ευλογησας αυτον

What exactly is this "slaughter of the kings" and why was Abraham "blessed"?

Hebrews 7:2

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KJV: To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

Greek: ω και δεκατην απο παντων εμερισεν αβρααμ πρωτον μεν ερμηνευομενος βασιλευς δικαιοσυνης επειτα δε και βασιλευς σαλημ ο εστιν βασιλευς ειρηνης