After Abrahm battled several wicked kings and freed his nephew Lot, we read that -
"...Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all." (Genesis 14:18–20)
So little of Melchizedek is mentioned in the Bible, these verses may seem confusing. The Joseph Smith translation and the Book of Mormon brings greater understanding -
"...it was this same Melchizedek to whom Abraham paid tithes; yea, even our father Abraham paid tithes of one-tenth part of all he possessed.
16 Now these ordinances were given after this manner, that thereby the people might look forward on the Son of God, it being a type of his order, or it being his order, and this that they might look forward to him for a remission of their sins, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord.
17 Now this Melchizedek was a king over the land of Salem; and his people had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination; yea, they had all gone astray; they were full of all manner of wickedness;
18 But Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood according to the holy order of God, did preach repentance unto his people. And behold, they did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his days; therefore he was called the prince of peace, for he was the king of Salem; and he did reign under his father.
19 Now, there were many before him, and also there were many afterwards, but none were greater; therefore, of him they have more particularly made mention." (Alma 13:15–19)
And -
"Now Melchizedek was a man of faith, who wrought righteousness [who did works of righteousness]; and when a child he feared God, and stopped the mouths of lions, and quenched the violence of fire.
27 And thus, having been approved of God, he was ordained an high priest after the order of the covenant which God made with Enoch,
28 It being after the order of the son of God [it is the same priesthood that Jesus Christ holds]; which order [priesthood] came, not by man [not man-made], nor the will of man; neither by father nor mother; neither by beginning of days nor end of years [the priesthood is an eternal power]; but of God;
29 And it was delivered unto men by the calling of his [Christ’s] own voice [men do not take it upon themselves, rather, must be properly called and ordained], according to his own will, unto as many as believed on his name [in other words, the high priesthood is part of the full gospel of Jesus Christ].
30 For God having sworn unto [covenanted with] Enoch and unto his seed [posterity] with an oath by himself [as is the case with the “Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood, “detailed in D& C 84: 33– 41]; that every one being ordained after this order [the Melchizedek Priesthood] and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course;
31 To put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God; to do all things according to his will, according to his command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world [who became the Redeemer in the premortal realm]. 32 And men [such as Enoch] having this faith, coming up unto this order of God [having attained the office of high priest in the Melchizedek Priesthood], were translated and taken up into heaven. 33 And now, Melchizedek was a priest of this order [a high priest]; therefore he obtained peace in Salem, and was called the Prince of peace.
Ridges, David J.. The Old Testament Made Easier - Part 1 (Kindle Locations 5670-5680). Cedar Fort Inc.. Kindle Edition.
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