Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
tithes from him. (Genesis 14:18-20) The other places in which Melchizedek is mentioned are
(Psalms 110:4) where Messiah is described as a priest forever, “after the order of Melchizedek,”
and (Hebrews 5:1; Hebrews 6:1; Hebrews 7:1) ... where these two passages of the Old Testament
are quoted, and the typical relation of Melchizedek to our Lord is stated at great length. There is
something surprising and mysterious in the first appearance of Melchizedek, and in the subsequent
reference to him. Bearing a title which Jews in after ages would recognize as designating their own
sovereign, bearing gifts which recall to Christians the Lord’s Supper, this Canaanite crosses for a
moment the path of Abram, and is unhesitatingly recognized as a person of higher spiritual rank
than the friend of God. Disappearing as suddenly as he came, he is lost to the sacred writings for
a thousand years. Jewish tradition pronounces Melchizedek to be a survivor of the deluge, the
patriarch Shem. The way in which he is mentioned in Genesis would rather lead to the inference
that Melchizedek was of one blood with the children of Ham, among whom he lived, chief (like
the king od Sodom) of a settled Canaanitish tribe. The “order of Melchizedek,” in (Psalms 110:4)
is explained to mean “manner” = likeness in official dignity = a king and priest. The relation between
Melchizedek and Christ as type and antitype is made in the Epistle to the Hebrews to consist in the
following particulars: Each was a priest, (1) not of the Levitical tribe; (2) superior to Abraham; (3)
whose beginning and end are unknown; (4) who is not only a priest, but also a king of righteousness
and peace. A fruitful source of discussion has been found in the site of Salem. [Salem]
Melea
the son of Menan, and ancestor of Joseph in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. (Luke 3:31)
Melech
the second son of Micah, the son of Merib-baal or Mephibosheth. (1 Chronicles 8:35; 9:41)
Melicu
the same as Malluch 6. (Nehemiah 12:14) comp. ver. Nehe 12:2
Melita
(honey), the modern Malta. This island lies in the Mediterranean 60 miles south of Cape Passaro
in Sicily, 900 miles from Gibraltar and about 1200 from Jerusalem. It is 17 miles long. by 13 or 10
broad. It is naturally a barren rock, with no high mountains, but has been rendered fertile by industry
and toil. It is famous for its honey and fruits. It is now in the hands of the English.—McClintock
and Strong. This island has an illustrious place in Scripture as the scene of that shipwreck of St.
Paul which is described in such minute detail in the Acts of the Apostle. (Acts 27:1) ... The wreck
probably happened at the place traditionally known as St.Paul’s day, an inlet with a creek two miles
deep and one broad. The question has been set at rest forever by Mr. Smith of Jordan Hill, in his
“Voyage and Shipwreck of St. Paul,” the first published work in which it was thoroughly investigated
from a sailor’s point of view. The objection that there are no vipers in Malta is overruled by the
fact that Mr. Lewin saw such a serpent there and that there may have been vipers in the wilder
ancient times, even were none found there now. As regards the condition of the island of Melitu,
when St. Paul was there it was a dependency of the Roman province of Sicily. Its chief officer
(under the governor of Sicily) appears from inscriptions to have had the title of protos Melitaion,
or Primus Melitensium and this is the very phrase which Luke uses. (Acts 28:7) Melita, from its
position in the Mediterranean and the excellence of its harbors, has always been important in both
commerce and war. It was a settlement of the Phoenicians at an early period, and their language in
a corrupted form, was still spoken there in St. Paul’s day.
Melons
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William Smith