The Meeting Between Abram and Melchizedek: From Bread and Wine to Peace Treaty
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24193/ROOTS.2025.2.2Keywords:
Bread and wine, Encounters between adversaries, Synchronic approach, Abram, MelchizedekAbstract
This study examines the pivotal meeting between Abram and Melchizedek (Gn 14:18–21) within the broader narrative of conflict and resolution. Using a synchronic literary approach, the analysis traces the emergence of the motif of bread and wine from their encounter and situates it within the context of ancient Israelite society. The symbolic roles of bread and wine are examined in mediating relationships between adversaries and in their broader cultural meanings. The argument demonstrates how this episode both concludes the narrative sequence and contributes to the literary construction of Abraham as the founding figure of the Israelite nation.
References
Albright, W. F. “Abram the Hebrew: A New Archaeological Interpretation.” Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 163 (October 1961): 36–54. https://doi.org/10.2307/1355773.
Anbar, Moshe. Prophecy, Treaty-Making and Tribes in the Mari Documents. During the Period of the Amorite Kings (from the End of 19th Century B.C.E. Until 1760 B.C.E. Vol. The Biblical Encyclopedia Library 23. Jerusalem: Bialik Institute, [HEB], 2007.
Andersen, Francis I. “Genesis 14: An Enigma.” In Pomegranates and Golden Bells: Studies in Biblical, Jewish, and Near Eastern Ritual, Law, and Literature in Honor of Jacob Milgrom. Edited by David Pearson Wright, David Noel Freedman, and Avi Hurvitz. Winona Lake, Ind: Eisenbrauns, 1995.
Artzi, Pinchas; Weinfeld, Moshe; Kimron, Elisha; Cohen Haim; Heltzer, Mechael, and Avishur, Itzhak. Genesis. Bible World Series. Edited by Menachem Haran. Tel Aviv: Davidson-Atty [HEB], 1993.
Avishur, Yitzhak. “Pairs of Synonymous Words in the Construct State (and in Appositional Hendiadys) in Biblical Hebrew.” Semitics 2 (1972), 17–81.
Brueggemann, Walter. Genesis. 25th ed. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1982.
Cekiera, Andrzej Paweł. “Interpretation of Scriptural Texts in 11Q Melchizedek and Its Theological Implications.” The Biblical Annals 11, no. 3 (July 16, 2021): 411–39. https://doi.org/10.31743/biban.12449.
Chirilă, Ioan; Pașca-Tușa, Stelian and Onețiu, Elena. “Reconstitution of Melchizedek’s History in Rabbinic and Christian Traditions.” Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies 16, no. 48 (2017): 3–15.
Cochavi-Rainey, Zipora, and Rainey, Anson F. To the King, My Lord, the Letters of Al-Amarna. Jerusalem-Beer Sheva: Bialik Institute and Ben Gurion [HEB], 2014.
Dimant, Devorah and Parry, Donald. Dead Sea Scrolls Handbook. Brill, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004284500.
Dziadosz, Dariusz “The Covenants of the Patriarchs with Foreigners at Beersheba: The Historical and legal background of the Traditions in Gen 21:22–24, 25–33 and Gen 26:26–31.” The Biblical Annals 13/3 (July 11, 2023): 335–65, https://doi.org/10.31743/biban.15384
Elgavish, David. “The Encounter of Abram and Melchizedek: Covenant Establishment.” Studies in the Book of Genesis: Literature, Redaction and History (Bibliotheca Ephemeridum Theologicarum Lovaniensium CLV). Edited by Wénin, A, 495–508. Leuven, 2001.
Elgavish, David. The Diplomatic Service in the Bible and Documents from the Ancient East. Jerusalem: Magnes, 1988.
Emanueli, Moshe. “Avraham Warrior (Genesis 14).” Beit Mikra 16, no. (44/1) (1970): 68–73. [HEB] http://www.jstor.org/stable/23502654.
Flavius, Josephus. The Antiquities of the Jews. Translated by Abraham Shalit. Vol. 1–2. 1955. Reprint, Jerusalem (HEB): Bialik Institute, 1991.
Flowers, Michael. “The Two Messiahs and Melchizedek in 11QMelchizedek.” Journal of Ancient Judaism 7, no. 2 (May 14, 2016): 194–227. https://doi.org/10.30965/21967954-00702004.
Glender, Shammai. Book of Genesis. Vol. 3 (units 7-9). Tel-Aviv: The Open University, (HEB), 2006.
Goldingay, John. Genesis. Michigan, USA: Baker Academic, 2020.
Grossman, Jonathan. Avraham – the Story of a Journey. Tel Aviv: Yediot Aharonot-Miskal [HEB), 2014.
Grypeou, Emmanouela and Spurling, Helen. “Abrhaham and Meelchizedek” in: The Book of Genesis in Late Antiquity. Leiden-Boston: Brill, 2013.
Hamilton, Victor P. The Book of Genesis: Chapters 1-17. Grand Rapids, Mich: W.B. Eerdmans, 1990.
Haran, Menachem, ed. Genesis. Bible World Series. Tel Aviv: Davidson-Atty [HEB], 1993.
Houston, Smith Robert. “Abram and Melchizedek (Gen 14 18-20).” Zeitschrift Für Die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft (ZAW) 77, no. 2 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1515/zatw.1965.77.2.129.
Keel, Yehuda, ed. Book of Genesis, Da’at Mikra. Jerusalem: Rabbi Kook Institute [HEB], 1997.
Kimchi (RADAK), Rabbi David. Hebraeum Biblicum Lexicon. Edited by Jo H.R. Biesenthal and F. Lebrecht. 1235. Reprint, Berlin: G. Bethge, 1847. https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=44107&st=&pgnum=184.
Malamat, A. “Scales of Rationing in Papyrus Anastasi I and in the Bible.” Bulletin of the Israel Exploration Society 19, no. 3/4 (1955): 175–82. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23729603.
Morschauser, Scott “Campaigning on Less than a Shoe-String: An Ancient Egyptian Parallel to Abram’s ‘Oath’ in Genesis14.22–23,” Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 38, no. 2 (December 2013): 142, https://doi.org/10.1177/0309089213511753.
Morschauser, Scott. “Campaigning on Less than a Shoe-String: An Ancient Egyptian Parallel to Abram’s ‘Oath’ in Genesis 14.22–23.” Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 38, no. 2 (December 2013): 127–44. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309089213511753.
Otten, Heinrich “Ein Brief Aus Ḫattuša an Bâbu-Aḫu-Iddina,” Archiv Für Orientforschung 19 (1959): 42–43, https://www.jstor.org/stable/41637088
Speiser, E. A. Genesis. New Haven-London: Yale University Press, 2008.
Stone, Elizabeth Caecilia; Owen, David I., and Mitchel, John R. Adoption in Old Babylonian Nippur and the Archive of Mannum-Mešu-Liṣṣur. Winona Lake, Ind: Eisenbrauns, 1991.
Swiggers, P. “The Aramaic Inscription of Kilamuwa.” Orientalia 51/2 (1982): 249–53.
Tobi Roth, Marta, Scholastic Tradition and Mesopotamian Law. Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 1984.
Von Rad, Gerhard. Genesis: A Commentary. Louisville: Westminster, 2005.
Weinfeld, Moshe. From Joshua to Josiahu. Jerusalem: Magnes (HEB), 1992.
Wenham, Gordon J. Genesis. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2017.
Westermann, Claus. Genesis 12-36. Minneapolis, Minn: Fortress Press, 1995.
Zakovitch, Yair. An Introduction to Inner-Biblical Interpretation. A Variety of Opinions and Views in Israeli Culture 9. Even-Yehuda: Reches (HEB), 1992.
Zeron, Alexander. “Abram’s Three Hundred and Eighteen Retainers (Gen. 14).” Tarbiz 52, 1 (1982): 129–32 (HEB). http://www.jstor.com/stable/23595644.
