Melchizedek
Melchizedek is a significant figure in the Hebrew Bible and Christian theology. He appears in the Book of Genesis as a king of Salem and a priest of El Elyon, the Most High God. Abraham encounters Melchizedek after a military victory, and Melchizedek blesses him and offers him bread and wine. Abraham, in turn, gives Melchizedek a tenth of all his possessions, an act that is interpreted as the origin of tithing. The narrative emphasizes Melchizedek's preeminence, as he blesses Abraham, who is the patriarch of the Israelite nation.
In later Jewish tradition and particularly in the New Testament, Melchizedek's role is further elaborated. The