Melchizedek in Hebrews 7 193 Ps 2,7 with LXX Ps 109,4 and argues that Christ “did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek’”. Moreover, a few verses later the author claims that Jesus, having been made perfect in connection with his obedience on Calvary, became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. In relation to this God gave him the designation “a high priest after the order of Melchizedek” (Heb 5,10). Finally, in Heb 6,20 — on the threshold of chapter 7 — the author claims that Jesus, “having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek”, is a forerunner (provdromo"), on behalf of his believers, to the inner shrine behind the curtain. This allusion to LXX Ps 109,4 is further developed in chapter 7, where the author for the first time also employs Genesis 14, the only other OT passage where the priest-king contemporary with Abraham is mentioned. Heb 7,1-3 read (NRSV): This “King Melchizedek of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him”; and to him Abraham apportioned “one-tenth of everything.” His name, in the first place, means “king of righteousness”; next he is also king of Salem, that is, “king of peace.” Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. In v. 4, the author continues: “See how great he is! Even Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth of the spoils.” The author then makes Abraham, who is Levi’s great grandfather, a representative of the levitical priesthood. By giving a tithe to the priest Melchizedek, the author says, Abraham — and through him all the levitical priests — at the same time recognizes the superiority of the priesthood of Melchizedek (7,4-10). Moreover, in the second part of the chapter, in vv. 11-19, the author argues that the Levitical priesthood cannot attain perfection (teleivwsi"). In addition, he also admits that Jesus does not have any priestly genealogy (v. 14). The author argues, however, that this does not matter, for he has not become a priest through the requirements of the Torah, according to which physical descend is necessary. Rather, Christ has become priest “through the power of an indestructible life” (v. 16). Yahweh’s oracle in LXX Ps 109,4 — which the author conceives of as addressing Jesus — results in the abrogation of the