The History of Melchizedek

The History of Melchizedek

In the days before the flood, Nir, the brother of Noah, was a priest before the LORD. His wife Sopanim was barren, and they were both old; and Nir had not been with her, for he served at the altar.

Yet in her old age Sopanim conceived, and she was ashamed and hid herself. When Nir saw her at the time of her bearing, he was angry, thinking she had betrayed him; but she fell at his feet and said, “My lord, behold, I am old, and I do not understand how this has come to be.” And while they spoke, Sopanim fell down and died at Nir’s feet in her grief.

Then Noah and Nir came to bury her in secret. And as they prepared her body, a child came forth from the dead woman, fully formed; he sat up, and his body bore the seal of priesthood upon his breast, and he spoke and blessed the LORD. Nir and Noah were astonished, and said, “The LORD is renewing the priesthood from our line.” They clothed the child and named him Melchizedek.

Nir feared that the child would be lost in the coming flood, and he prayed. And the LORD answered, “Do not be troubled; I will send my archangel Michael, and he will take the child and set him in the Garden of Eden, and he will not perish with those who perish.”

So in the night the archangel Michael came and took up Melchizedek upon his wings and carried him into Paradise; and there he was kept while the flood covered the earth. [Meaning uncertain]

And it was said that this Melchizedek would come forth in his time as priest and king, without recorded father or mother in his days, a likeness set before the ages of the priest who was to come.