# 14 - The Mysterious Melchizedek - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein explore the enigmatic figure of Melchizedek as he meets Abram in a divine encounter that foreshadows the coming of Christ. Discover how this mysterious priest-king blesses Abram, offering profound insights into faith, righteousness, and God's eternal promises.
Episode 14 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Genesis.
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For more information about Yael Eckstein and IFCJ visit https://www.ifcj.org/
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Hebrews 4:15, “For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.”
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Show Notes:
(03:45) Intro with Yael Eckstein
(05:45) The Mysterious Melchizedek
(29:15) Reflection with Yael Eckstein
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Speaker 1: Previously on the Chosen People.
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Speaker 2: I've traveled far to bring you this news. I fear
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Speaker 2: they may be hunting me. Yet it's your nephew Lot
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Speaker 2: they've taken him.
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Speaker 1: This time. Abram was determined to answer the Corps.
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Speaker 3: Three hundred and eighteen against a whole Eastern army led
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Speaker 3: by a king who has conquered many nations.
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Speaker 2: The Amorites have agreed to join us as well. We
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Speaker 2: won't be alone, and you know that my God will.
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Speaker 4: Be with me.
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Speaker 1: Abram, his three hundred and eighteen men, and the combined
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Speaker 1: forces of the Amirates set out and quickly found the
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Speaker 1: trail of King Cadelaeoma and his four king alliance. They
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Speaker 1: had traveled hundreds of miles from where they started, Abram's
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Speaker 1: gods sustaining them and granting them victory after victory. And
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Speaker 1: it was there that Abram and his men made their
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Speaker 1: last stand. With face caked in blood and sand, Abrams
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Speaker 1: screamed with passu, dicing the enemy one by one. Each
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Speaker 1: was a barrier to his nephew.
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Speaker 5: Abram, you came, you came for us.
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Speaker 2: Of course I did.
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Speaker 1: Together, Abram and Lott set about aiding the captured women
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Speaker 1: another prisoners They also discovered that the gold and silver
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Speaker 1: lot lost in the abduction was still there, along with
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Speaker 1: riches from other kingdoms the Four king Alliance had plundered.
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Speaker 6: What's more, I will bless those who bless you. I
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Speaker 6: will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all
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Speaker 6: the peoples of earth will be blessed through you.
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Speaker 3: Amid the smoke of battle and the spoils of war,
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Speaker 3: King name Marchrizedek steps forth a mystery that challenge our
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Speaker 3: understanding of the divine shalloh my friends from here in
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Speaker 3: the Holy Land. I'm ya LXT with the International Fellowship
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Speaker 3: of Christians and Jews, and welcome to the Chosen People.
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Speaker 3: Every day we'll hear a dramatic story inspired by the Bible,
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Speaker 3: stories filled with timeless lessons on faith, love, and the
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Speaker 3: meaning of life. And in Israel's story we find this
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Speaker 3: truth that we are all chosen for something great. If
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Speaker 3: this podcast has blessed you so far, we would love
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Speaker 3: it if you left or review, We want to hear
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Speaker 3: how these stories are impacting lives and if you're curious
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Speaker 3: about how the Fellowship is uniting Christians and Jews for
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Speaker 3: common purpose and bringing Biblical prophecy to fruition. You can
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Speaker 3: visit us at IFCJ dot org. Now let's begin as
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Speaker 3: ancient feuds rage. A figure emerges, shrouded in mystery and reverence, Malchizedek,
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Speaker 3: the King of Salem, the priest of the Most High God.
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Speaker 3: Now I think we all have to ask the same question.
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Speaker 3: Who is this enigmatic figure who bears blessings for the
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Speaker 3: Father of nations? And what is it about this encounter
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Speaker 3: that has captured the imaginations and hearts of countless generations.
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Speaker 3: As we journey into this tale inspired by Genesis fourteen
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Speaker 3: seventeen to twenty four, consider these other questions. Who was Malritzedek?
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Speaker 3: What significance does his blessing hold for Abram and for us?
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Speaker 3: And in the grand scheme and great drama of the
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Speaker 3: story of God's chosen people? What role does this mysterious
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Speaker 3: king and priest play.
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Speaker 1: Abram frowned the figures on the hill in the distance.
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Speaker 1: His force had nearly doubled since the final victory at Hobach,
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Speaker 1: but they were not now crippled to a crawling pace.
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Speaker 1: With the addition of non fighting men, servants, women, and
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Speaker 1: even a few children, they were also laden with the
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Speaker 1: possessions of the cities of the plains now theirs. The
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Speaker 1: wealth they traveled with was staggering, making them an easy
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Speaker 1: target for would be enemies or opportunists. A lone figure
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Speaker 1: broke from the amassing group on the hill and headed
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Speaker 1: right for Abram's camp.
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Speaker 2: A messenger, gather my commanders Mamray and his brother's Escole
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Speaker 2: and Anair, and have them meet me in the general's tent.
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Speaker 2: Tell them we're about to have a word from these strangers.
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Speaker 7: Yes, Master Ribram.
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Speaker 1: Abram went through the crowded camp without looking back, trusting
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Speaker 1: his men to perform their duties. He knew the messenger
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Speaker 1: would be intercepted at this camp's perimeter and brought directly
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Speaker 1: to him.
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Speaker 5: Uncle, I've heard the nose. Who is that over the ridge?
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Speaker 5: And what do they want?
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Speaker 2: They've sent an emissary, so we will soon learn what
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Speaker 2: they want.
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Speaker 8: And should it be an attack?
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Speaker 1: Lot was not the same man since the abduction, Abram
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Speaker 1: did not know all of the horrors he faced. Although
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Speaker 1: Lot's body had regained strength, a lingering weariness torched behind
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Speaker 1: his eyes, haunting him.
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Speaker 2: Why don't you join me in the general's tent. In
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Speaker 2: here firsthand, I could use another man with your understanding
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Speaker 2: of business to treat a mysterious visitor.
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Speaker 1: Affection drove Abram to include his nephew. He could read
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Speaker 1: the validation in Lot's eyes. At the gesture of being included,
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Speaker 1: Abram pulled back the entrance to his general's tent and
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Speaker 1: found his commanders waiting. Eshkol Anna and Memory stood at
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Speaker 1: attention and addressed Abram.
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Speaker 2: And so it seems our notoriety has got up with us.
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Speaker 5: Yes, it was only a matter of time before the
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Speaker 5: words spread to the other nations of our conquest.
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Speaker 4: Yes, but the question is whether these are friends or foes.
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Speaker 4: Did we offend the allies of King Kettaleomer or have
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Speaker 4: the liberated nations come to thank us? Abram, what do
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Speaker 4: you anticipate?
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Speaker 1: Abram didn't want to encourage their speculation.
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Speaker 2: It's useless to speculate. Keep your mind sharp. The messenger
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Speaker 2: will be here momentarily. I suggest we listen to what
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Speaker 2: he has to say and save our strategizing for when
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Speaker 2: we know more.
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Speaker 1: As if summoned by Abram's words, two of Abram's trained
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Speaker 1: men entered the tent and announced the messenger's arrival. Elieza,
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Speaker 1: Abram's trusted servant followed not a moment later, flanked by
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Speaker 1: a shrewd looking man.
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Speaker 7: General Commanders introducing the emissary of King Birah, the King
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Speaker 7: of Sodom.
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Speaker 2: Thank you, Eliezer, emissary, you may speak, General Commanders.
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Speaker 9: I commend your victories over our enemies. We are profoundly
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Speaker 9: grateful on behalf of King Berra and the people of Sodom.
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Speaker 9: His highness, King Berra has traveled far to meet with
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Speaker 9: you and express his gratitude.
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Speaker 4: Hmmm, pondrous. Indeed, it is a great honor that you
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Speaker 4: would travel all this way. But I find it curious
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Speaker 4: that you wouldn't simply wait for us to pass through
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Speaker 4: your region. Your men would have learned that Abram's nephew
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Speaker 4: Lot was among those captured. Word of his disappearance would
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Speaker 4: have reached your ears. So why come here, I wonder.
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Speaker 1: Abram nodded at Mamory's words. He commended his friend's caution
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Speaker 1: with the King's man. Just because they had gone to
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Speaker 1: war with the cities of the Plain's enemies, it did
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Speaker 1: not make them allies. And though Sodom had become Lot's home,
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Speaker 1: Abram had heard that the people were wicked and their
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Speaker 1: politicians slippery. He did not wish to become entangled in
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Speaker 1: one of their twisted webs.
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Speaker 9: General, your commander is astute.
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Speaker 2: You're right. We did learn that.
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Speaker 9: Rot was among the aducted people, and that it was.
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Speaker 2: The reason you pursued.
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Speaker 9: We of course were concerned for our neighbor, but we
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Speaker 9: were in no position to pursue ourselves. Our great city
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Speaker 9: is still in shambles, and it will be some time
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Speaker 9: until it is restored fully, if ever, and we suffered
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Speaker 9: heavy losses among our fighting men and the city's watch.
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Speaker 5: Yes, but here you are now, when we are only
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Speaker 5: a day's walk from our home of Hebron. Another interpretation
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Speaker 5: of your arrival could be you were eager to see
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Speaker 5: if we were returning home or going to sodom.
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Speaker 2: And it is no secret that we carry a vast fortune,
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Speaker 2: So speak plainly. Are you here to lay claim to it? Again?
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Speaker 9: General, your commanders, do you credit? I see that you
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Speaker 9: are a full measure of the ma you have been
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Speaker 9: rumored to be.
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Speaker 2: You have achieved much.
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Speaker 9: In a short amount of time here in Canaan. I
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Speaker 9: assure you, though my king only wishes to meet.
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Speaker 2: You, your words flatter me, but you can understand why
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Speaker 2: we are cautious.
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Speaker 5: Uncle, You cannot mean to reject an audience with a king.
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Speaker 5: It would make it impossible for me to return to
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Speaker 5: my lands.
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Speaker 2: Lot. I thought you would have learned to be cautious
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Speaker 2: yourself by now enough. Lot is right, and if we
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Speaker 2: are to preserve his new home, we cannot afford to slight.
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Speaker 2: King Behra Emissary. We will not go into this meeting blind.
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Speaker 2: You will tell us your numbers, and we will meet
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Speaker 2: in a place of our choosing. So you cannot lay
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Speaker 2: a trap Anypram.
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Speaker 7: I've just received word that another visitor is at the perimeter.
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Speaker 7: He wishes to have an audience with you as well.
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Speaker 7: It's that strange general who calls himself a king. He
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Speaker 7: is unaccompanied, no emissary, no guard, just him.
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Speaker 1: After learning more about their host, Abrams sent King Bearer's
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Speaker 1: messenger away with instructions on where and when to meet
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Speaker 1: the following day. He then turned his attention to learn
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Speaker 1: more about this unexpected king.
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Speaker 2: Tell me more about this visitor at the perimeter. Did
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Speaker 2: you learn his name? He calls himself Melchizedek, King of Salem.
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Speaker 1: Something unlocked in the corridors of Abram's mind suddenly he
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Speaker 1: felt the presence of another his God. The word righteous
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Speaker 1: fell upon his mind like a gentle reign righteous. He
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Speaker 1: did not know how he knew the meaning of this
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Speaker 1: mysterious man's name, but he knew with certainty it was righteous.
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Speaker 2: And what of his people? Which clan holds the city?
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Speaker 2: And what do we know of them?
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Speaker 4: The Jebusites? They've held the city a long time, but
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Speaker 4: we've never had a conflict with them. I've never heard
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Speaker 4: of a king by that name, though he must have
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Speaker 4: just recently risen to power. I'm surprised we've never learned
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Speaker 4: of this Melchizedek. Salem is not so far from us.
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Speaker 5: I am surprised as well. And to come out alone
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Speaker 5: to meet.
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Speaker 2: Us, that he's far a stranger.
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Speaker 5: Is it safe to treat with this king?
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Speaker 2: Well, he hails us alone. I suppose we should see
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Speaker 2: what he has to say. It's the only way to
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Speaker 2: learn whether he leaves up.
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Speaker 4: To his name.
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Speaker 2: Eh, how do you mean he is the king of Salem,
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Speaker 2: the city of peace?
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Speaker 4: Abram, what say you? Should we sand for him to
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Speaker 4: meet us?
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Speaker 2: Yes, let's see what this king Melchizedek has to say.
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Speaker 1: Moments later, Abram's men brought King Melchisedek before them. He
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Speaker 1: was a nondescript looking man, but his appearance and attire
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Speaker 1: were noteworthy. Most surprising, he was bare foot. A linen
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Speaker 1: turban with a gold plate about his brow sat upon
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Speaker 1: his head. There seemed to be an inscription, but Abram
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Speaker 1: couldn't determine what it said. He wore a dark blue
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Speaker 1: woven robe over a white tunic. A strange, colorful garment
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Speaker 1: was over the top of both, fastened at his waist
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Speaker 1: and stretching the length of his chest and over his shoulders.
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Speaker 1: The embellishments on both symbolized something, for Abram wasn't sure what.
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Speaker 1: The king did not come empty handed. He smiled at
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Speaker 1: the four men and Abram's trained men who escorted him
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Speaker 1: inside the tent. In one hand was a wrapt bundle,
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Speaker 1: and in the other was a clay pitcher.
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Speaker 2: King Melchizedeck, you honor us with your visit. Tell us
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Speaker 2: what have you come to say?
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Speaker 8: I have much to say, Apram the Hebrew. But first
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Speaker 8: you are my guests here in the valley of Chavar
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Speaker 8: and on the doorstep of my city. I would first
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Speaker 8: be sure that you have had bread and wine as
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Speaker 8: a mark of hospitality a token of my friendship.
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Speaker 1: The king then gestured for the puzzled men to join
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Speaker 1: him at the table beside the receiving area of the
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Speaker 1: general's tent. He then began to break the bread and
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Speaker 1: pour the wine into the cups at hand. Abram found
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Speaker 1: it especially strange that this king was serving them, especially
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Speaker 1: one whose name meant righteous. He did not call for
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Speaker 1: an attendant, and waved one away when they sprang forward
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Speaker 1: to assist. When the table was prepared, Melchisedek again motioned
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Speaker 1: for the men to sit at the seats he had prepared.
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Speaker 8: Come, let us eat and drink together.
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Speaker 7: Who are you?
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Speaker 2: What kind of king are you that you would serve
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Speaker 2: us yourself?
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Speaker 8: I am a king, yes, But I am also a high.
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Speaker 4: Priest, a priest of what godd.
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Speaker 8: L Elion, The one and only true God there is
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Speaker 8: the one who created both the heavens and the earth.
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Speaker 8: He has many names, but he is one God. The
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Speaker 8: God most High, is what I call him before you.
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Speaker 6: Now.
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Speaker 8: This is the God of Abraham, the God who has
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Speaker 8: given him favor in his land. He is the god
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Speaker 8: who blesses his friends and curses his enemies. This is
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Speaker 8: the God who has granted you your victories and destroyed
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Speaker 8: your enemies before you. It is to this God that
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Speaker 8: I have devoted my entire life, and the same God
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Speaker 8: to which Abram has devoted his.
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Speaker 1: The man on either side of Abram was speechless. The
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Speaker 1: assuredness with which the man spoke was unlike anything they
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Speaker 1: had experienced. He spoke with authority. Abram had not considered
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Speaker 1: that others knew his God. He had certainly seen his
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Speaker 1: God do incredible things, and was sure enough in his
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Speaker 1: own faith because of it. But now encountering another who
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Speaker 1: had the same faith, perhaps even a greater one, was
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Speaker 1: truly remarkable. Abram was in awe.
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Speaker 2: I Priest, what would you say to us?
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Speaker 8: I would bless you, Abram before these witnesses, if you
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Speaker 8: would receive it.
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Speaker 2: You would bless me.
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Speaker 8: Yes on, behalf of our God, for it is in
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Speaker 8: his power and authority that anything at all comes to pass.
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Speaker 2: Will you receive it? I would you honor me greatly?
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Speaker 1: Melchisedek then stood gently, placing his hands on Abram's shoulders,
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Speaker 1: closed his eyes, and began his blessing.
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Speaker 8: Blessed be Abram, by God most High, creator of heaven
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Speaker 8: and earth, in Him, you and your great nation we'll
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Speaker 8: have a protector and provide her. And blessed be God
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Speaker 8: Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.
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Speaker 8: He is forever your defender an advocate. We praise his
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Speaker 8: holy name and give him all the glory and gratitude
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Speaker 8: for everything we have.
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Speaker 1: Abram was struck to the core by the High Priest's words.
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Speaker 1: They rang of truth and promise. So moved by the
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Speaker 1: words and with an overwhelming gratitude for his God, he
00:16:32
Speaker 1: racked his mind for a way to respond. His God
00:16:36
Speaker 1: had granted him victory after victory, and he had expressed
00:16:40
Speaker 1: gratitude with his lips, but now at this moment, it
00:16:43
Speaker 1: just didn't seem enough. There had to be something tangible
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Speaker 1: he could do to show the God Most High how
00:16:51
Speaker 1: grateful he truly was. Abram had seen various forms of
00:16:56
Speaker 1: sacrifice in his homeland of Awe and later in her
00:17:00
Speaker 1: and in the cultures of Canaan and Egypt. In the past,
00:17:04
Speaker 1: he had not known what to do to worship his
00:17:07
Speaker 1: God other than pray and give him his obedience. But
00:17:11
Speaker 1: now perhaps he could borrow a gesture and hope that
00:17:15
Speaker 1: it was found to be worthy of worship in the
00:17:18
Speaker 1: eyes of his God.
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Speaker 2: High Priest, Righteous Melchizedek. I am moved by a word
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Speaker 2: and in awe of our God. I have long felt
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Speaker 2: his guidance and seen his protection and provision time and
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Speaker 2: time again. Thank you for this reminder of our God's
00:17:37
Speaker 2: overwhelming generosity. I wish to honor Our God through a tithe.
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Speaker 2: Since our God gave me all I possess, I would
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Speaker 2: return a portion to him. Tell me will he find
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Speaker 2: it to be a worthy sacrifice?
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Speaker 8: I believe you would.
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Speaker 2: Will you help me do this, impart my tithe into
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Speaker 2: your hands?
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Speaker 8: Yes, a probably, I will accept this gift on behalf
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Speaker 8: of God Most High.
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Speaker 1: Melchisedek and Abram walked along the hillside together. Abram was
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Speaker 1: cautious not to ask too many questions. Melchisedek seemed almost
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Speaker 1: like a vapor to him. If he grasped too firmly
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Speaker 1: at him, he would disappear. Melchisedek remained for the rest
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Speaker 1: of the day, as the sun set and the fires
00:18:31
Speaker 1: burned to cut the cold. Abram could tell that his
00:18:34
Speaker 1: companions were growing wary of the King of Salem. They
00:18:38
Speaker 1: certainly appreciated what he had said and represented, but Abram
00:18:43
Speaker 1: could also surmise they didn't fully understand. Melchisedek arranged for
00:18:49
Speaker 1: servants from his priesthood to come and accept the tithe,
00:18:53
Speaker 1: and he and Abram spoke together until late in the day,
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Speaker 1: when he finally had to depart for his city and
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Speaker 1: his evening meal.
00:19:00
Speaker 2: Will you stay a little longer?
00:19:02
Speaker 7: I'm afraid not.
00:19:04
Speaker 8: The moon and sun must continue their churning, so I
00:19:07
Speaker 8: wish they would stop so we could have more time.
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Speaker 8: Perhaps one day they will.
00:19:12
Speaker 1: Melchisedek departed alone through the valley toward the city of Salem.
00:19:18
Speaker 1: As the pale moon's beam fell behind a few clouds.
00:19:22
Speaker 1: Abram found himself wondering if they would ever cross paths again.
00:19:28
Speaker 1: The next morning, the euphoria of meeting Melchisa deck was
00:19:33
Speaker 1: cut with business. Abram, Lot, mamory, eshkol Anna, and a
00:19:38
Speaker 1: portion of their armed men went to the agreed upon
00:19:41
Speaker 1: location to see what the King of Sodom had to say.
00:19:45
Speaker 1: They walked on foot to an ebony tree. Its trunk
00:19:49
Speaker 1: was dark as if it had been dipped in iron.
00:19:52
Speaker 1: Waiting in its shadow, sitting atop his horse, with a
00:19:56
Speaker 1: procession of foot soldiers and aids beside him, king bearer,
00:20:01
Speaker 1: the King of Sodom wore a dark robe with crimson
00:20:05
Speaker 1: threads woven into an image of a three headed serpent.
00:20:10
Speaker 1: Even from a distance, Abram could tell that he didn't
00:20:13
Speaker 1: like this man. If even half the stories coming out
00:20:17
Speaker 1: of Sodom were true, King Bearer was a man of
00:20:20
Speaker 1: extraordinary wickedness. The king bore his teeth in a smile,
00:20:25
Speaker 1: his voice higher than expected for a man of his stature.
00:20:30
Speaker 4: Ah, the savvy Abram of the Hebrews, we meet at last,
00:20:36
Speaker 4: Ebram the Hebrew, Your highness, Yes, yes, the Hebrew I
00:20:43
Speaker 4: have been most anxious to meet you, though it seems
00:20:46
Speaker 4: you did not share that same sentiment. But here we are,
00:20:49
Speaker 4: in the location you selected, and with an understanding the
00:20:53
Speaker 4: number of men I brought as an.
00:20:54
Speaker 2: Escort, King Beer, I'm sure a man like yourself would
00:20:58
Speaker 2: understand our vigil libs.
00:21:01
Speaker 4: A man such as myself.
00:21:03
Speaker 2: A man who knows what it's like, will be God.
00:21:06
Speaker 4: Of Abram, I will give you this. You and your
00:21:11
Speaker 4: amorite allies certainly know how to make an impression. One
00:21:15
Speaker 4: can only hope they won't remain your only allies.
00:21:19
Speaker 1: Abram had anticipated this. King Bear's compliance with their demands
00:21:25
Speaker 1: was a sure sign that he wanted something from Abram.
00:21:28
Speaker 1: He just had to wait to hear what that something
00:21:31
Speaker 1: would be.
00:21:32
Speaker 4: I have come to make Abram a generous offer, as
00:21:35
Speaker 4: you guessed in your meeting with my emissary yesterday. We
00:21:39
Speaker 4: are aware that you now possess all that is plundered
00:21:42
Speaker 4: from my city, as well as all our people who
00:21:44
Speaker 4: were taken. Abram, do not fear, Abram, call off your
00:21:49
Speaker 4: amorite god. Docs I told you I had come to
00:21:53
Speaker 4: make a generous offer. I see you have all our
00:21:56
Speaker 4: possessions and people, but I will allow you to get
00:22:00
Speaker 4: keep all the possessions. Call it an act of gratitude,
00:22:04
Speaker 4: the good will, even for destroying our enemies and avenging osity.
00:22:10
Speaker 1: Abram smiled. There it was this was what the king wanted,
00:22:16
Speaker 1: giving up the possessions he lost in a raid to
00:22:19
Speaker 1: gain a friend, to curry favor with Abram and the Emirates.
00:22:24
Speaker 1: King Behra was looking to own Abram through this gift.
00:22:29
Speaker 2: We weren't avenging your city. We destroyed your enemies by
00:22:33
Speaker 2: rescuing one of your people, your highness.
00:22:37
Speaker 4: So you've come for your people, your highness, But would
00:22:41
Speaker 4: you take back the very people we went to war
00:22:43
Speaker 4: to rescue.
00:22:45
Speaker 5: Your highness? You would capture Lot in his family.
00:22:48
Speaker 2: Again a air, my friends, Surely the king views Lot
00:22:53
Speaker 2: as his own man, and surely the king would allow
00:22:57
Speaker 2: him to return to his lands. Should that what Lot
00:23:00
Speaker 2: desires to What say you to that king bearer?
00:23:05
Speaker 4: It is as you say, Abram, I would gladly allow
00:23:08
Speaker 4: Lot and his family to come back, and I would
00:23:12
Speaker 4: give you all my possessions, all that in hopes that
00:23:15
Speaker 4: we may become friends.
00:23:18
Speaker 2: Your possessions that we liberated and rightfully earned in battle.
00:23:23
Speaker 5: Ash All, please, this is a most generous offer, your highness. Well,
00:23:28
Speaker 5: I'm sure my uncle will accept, and I would be
00:23:31
Speaker 5: most honored to return to Sodom at your invitation.
00:23:34
Speaker 2: Your highness, you do extend quite the gesture of friendship
00:23:38
Speaker 2: to us. I will gladly see your people safely back
00:23:42
Speaker 2: with you. As for your possessions, you can keep them
00:23:46
Speaker 2: as well.
00:23:48
Speaker 1: Lot and the others gaped at him, but feeling confident
00:23:53
Speaker 1: in his decision, Abram continued.
00:23:56
Speaker 2: As my friends know, I have devoted my life to
00:23:59
Speaker 2: the God most all I have is his, and all
00:24:03
Speaker 2: I do is in his name. My victories are his
00:24:07
Speaker 2: and not my own. So it is to him that
00:24:10
Speaker 2: you should be grateful, and not me. My possessions are
00:24:15
Speaker 2: the same. Everything I own is his. I'm not a
00:24:19
Speaker 2: self made man. Therefore I have little taste for ambitious friendships.
00:24:26
Speaker 2: And I would not take even a thread or sandal
00:24:28
Speaker 2: strap or anything that belongs to you. I see the
00:24:33
Speaker 2: invisible strings attached to them. I will sever them now
00:24:38
Speaker 2: and give you what is yours. I will not allow
00:24:41
Speaker 2: you or anyone to say I made Abram rich. I
00:24:46
Speaker 2: cannot be owned because I am already under the lordship
00:24:50
Speaker 2: of another.
00:24:51
Speaker 1: To this, no one gathered had anything to say. Abram
00:24:56
Speaker 1: could tell what was nettled at the loss of the
00:24:59
Speaker 1: massive fortune, but held his tongue. Mamory and his brothers
00:25:03
Speaker 1: were similarly dumbfounded, but could appreciate Abram's conviction.
00:25:08
Speaker 2: I will take nothing save what the men and women
00:25:10
Speaker 2: have eaten in our travels. I will take nothing, But
00:25:15
Speaker 2: as for the share that would go to my amorite friends.
00:25:17
Speaker 1: He had memory Eshkol and Anna's attention.
00:25:21
Speaker 2: Now, they should not be deprived of what you offered.
00:25:25
Speaker 2: They should take their portion of your possessions. They had
00:25:29
Speaker 2: as much a part of the rescue as I did,
00:25:31
Speaker 2: and should be rewarded. And since you have extended an
00:25:35
Speaker 2: invitation to return to Lot out of the kindness of
00:25:38
Speaker 2: your heart. You will swear to protect him and his
00:25:42
Speaker 2: family as they travel with you back to Sodom, and
00:25:46
Speaker 2: you will show him kindness and allow him to dwell
00:25:49
Speaker 2: safely in your lands, since you are a gracious and
00:25:54
Speaker 2: good willed friend.
00:25:56
Speaker 1: King Bearer smiled through gritted teeth. Abram knew this gesture
00:26:02
Speaker 1: would leave him outside the good graces of Vera, but
00:26:05
Speaker 1: he didn't care. The King of Sodom now had to
00:26:08
Speaker 1: give up his possessions to three Amorate lords.
00:26:12
Speaker 4: Very well, Abram, I will agree to escort Lot back
00:26:16
Speaker 4: to Sodom. As for the possessions, I will take back
00:26:19
Speaker 4: your portion and leave the rest of these Amorites.
00:26:24
Speaker 2: Thank you, your majesty. I will tell stories of your kindness.
00:26:29
Speaker 4: Save your stories. Lot will be the only friend you haven't.
00:26:33
Speaker 1: King Bhah and his men prepared to escort their people
00:26:37
Speaker 1: back to Sodom. Abrams readied for the final leg of
00:26:41
Speaker 1: their journey home. As they worked, Abram found his thoughts
00:26:45
Speaker 1: returning to his strange encounter with Melchisedek. The blessing spoken
00:26:50
Speaker 1: over him gave words to what Abram had felt inside,
00:26:55
Speaker 1: a steady joy came upon Abram. It felt like courage resolve.
00:27:02
Speaker 1: Abram was pleased to know that he had done right
00:27:05
Speaker 1: by his God and that his reward would be something
00:27:08
Speaker 1: akin to a legacy, enduring and everlasting, just as the
00:27:14
Speaker 1: God Most High had promised him.
00:27:22
Speaker 3: Abram our father, fresh from the battle, meets a figure
00:27:26
Speaker 3: shrouded a mystery, Maritzedek, the priest king of Salem. In
00:27:31
Speaker 3: this brief meeting, Malrizzedek blesses Abram, and Abram gives the
00:27:35
Speaker 3: king a tenth of all he owns. Let's take a
00:27:39
Speaker 3: look at Malrizedek, this priest king whose higher authority Abram
00:27:44
Speaker 3: recognizes with the ties. A king rules with authority, with power,
00:27:50
Speaker 3: with justice. A king commands armies, establishes laws, and ensure's order.
00:27:56
Speaker 3: A king's word is final. But a priest a priest
00:28:02
Speaker 3: as a mediator, a servant who stands in the gap
00:28:05
Speaker 3: between the human and the divine. A priest offers sacrifices
00:28:09
Speaker 3: praise on behalf of the people and seeks to reconcile
00:28:13
Speaker 3: them with God. If we look at Malchrizedek, this mysterious
00:28:17
Speaker 3: priest king is representative of God, we can make some
00:28:20
Speaker 3: conclusions about God's very character. As a king, God establishes
00:28:26
Speaker 3: his sovereignty and justice over all of creation. As a priest,
00:28:32
Speaker 3: he extends mercy, compassion, and reconciliation. This dual role of
00:28:38
Speaker 3: Malchrizede Kin said to God, who is not distant nor detached,
00:28:42
Speaker 3: but is actively involved in the lives of his people,
00:28:46
Speaker 3: and he holds paradox, He's not limited like man, but
00:28:51
Speaker 3: he's expansive in order to give us all the tools
00:28:56
Speaker 3: and inspiration that we need in every area of our life.
00:29:01
Speaker 3: You see from Malchriizedek we see that God is both
00:29:04
Speaker 3: powerful and present. That God rules with justice but also
00:29:08
Speaker 3: seeks relationship and restoration. But God also bridges the gap
00:29:13
Speaker 3: between the holy and the human, the majestic, the divine,
00:29:18
Speaker 3: and the mundane. God takes on the priestly role, committed
00:29:22
Speaker 3: not just to govern humanity but to heal, not just
00:29:25
Speaker 3: to command his people, but to commune with them. The
00:29:29
Speaker 3: idea of God is both a king and a priest
00:29:34
Speaker 3: paints us a picture of a God who is both
00:29:37
Speaker 3: above us and with us. It's an oxymoron, but it's
00:29:43
Speaker 3: exactly the character of God, don't you think so? When
00:29:47
Speaker 3: we read of Abram's encounter with Malchriizedek, we get a
00:29:50
Speaker 3: glimpse of God's grand narrative, where his sovereignty and his
00:29:53
Speaker 3: desire for an intimate relationship with his creation with each
00:29:58
Speaker 3: one of us comes together. There in this story we
00:30:02
Speaker 3: get a rare glimpse of God. Now for some Hebrew insights,
00:30:08
Speaker 3: Let's take a look at this mysterious biblical figure's name.
00:30:12
Speaker 3: It's very telling, Malchrizedek, King of Salem. Most Jewish commentaries
00:30:20
Speaker 3: say that Salem was the original name of Jerusalem in Hebrew.
00:30:27
Speaker 3: You say Salem as Shalem, which means whole or complete.
00:30:33
Speaker 3: But does it sound like another Hebrew word that you know,
00:30:38
Speaker 3: doesn't The Hebrew word of Shalem sounds a lot like
00:30:42
Speaker 3: the Hebrew word of Shalom, which means peace, and, according
00:30:47
Speaker 3: to Jewish tradition, is actually one of the names of God.
00:30:51
Speaker 3: But whatever God's reason for this mysterious scene with this
00:30:54
Speaker 3: mysterious man and this mysterious meeting, this is an important
00:30:58
Speaker 3: moment because the Bible's first mention of the Holy City
00:31:03
Speaker 3: of Jerusalem and the great Jewish teacher Normanides makes another
00:31:09
Speaker 3: connection between Jerusalem and Malrizedek. The first half of Malrizedek's
00:31:16
Speaker 3: name is Melech, which in Hebrew means king. But Normanidi
00:31:24
Speaker 3: notes that the second half of the king's name is Sedek,
00:31:29
Speaker 3: which is Hebrew for righteousness. He then quotes another Jewish
00:31:34
Speaker 3: teaching that says that Jerusalem itself is called Sedek because
00:31:38
Speaker 3: it inspires its inhabitants to be righteous. And so this
00:31:43
Speaker 3: story about a mysterious king with such a meaningful name
00:31:48
Speaker 3: at last introduces Jerusalem. Normanidi writes that, and I quote,
00:31:54
Speaker 3: perhaps Abram and Marizedek knew of the extreme importance of
00:31:59
Speaker 3: this place, Jerusalem for future history. A city where Heaven
00:32:07
Speaker 3: and Earth come together. That is beautiful, and I think
00:32:13
Speaker 3: of it often when I walk the beautiful streets of Jerusalem.
00:32:18
Speaker 3: And I think of it often when I walk the
00:32:20
Speaker 3: ancient yet modern streets of Jerusalem here in the Holy
00:32:24
Speaker 3: Land with my husband and children. When I walk those
00:32:29
Speaker 3: cobblestone stones of Jerusalem, I feel enveloped in spirituality. Somehow,
00:32:34
Speaker 3: the city itself makes me want to do more good,
00:32:37
Speaker 3: to bring more help to the people who need it,
00:32:39
Speaker 3: and to rededicate myself to exactly that kind of work
00:32:44
Speaker 3: that we do at the Fellowship, the ministry that I lead.
00:32:48
Speaker 3: I really hope that through these podcasts and through the
00:32:51
Speaker 3: wonderful and dramatic stories from the Bible that they tell,
00:32:54
Speaker 3: I can help you feel what I feel here in Jerusalem,
00:32:58
Speaker 3: a deep, personal, inspiring connection with God. And it was
00:33:05
Speaker 3: in Jerusalem, in the City of Righteousness, that this Bible
00:33:10
Speaker 3: story of Malchrizedek, the King of Righteousness, took place, giving
00:33:15
Speaker 3: us a glimpse at the true nature of what righteousness is.
00:33:22
Speaker 3: The Christian Bible also has much to say about this
00:33:24
Speaker 3: mysterious character and what he represents to people of faith.
00:33:29
Speaker 3: To speak more about this is our good friend, Bishop Paulineer.
00:33:33
Speaker 10: Thank you so much. El, I'm so excited to press
00:33:37
Speaker 10: into this Genesis chapter fourteen. Well, you know, Lot has
00:33:42
Speaker 10: chosen to live with his family and all his stuff
00:33:46
Speaker 10: in Sodom. What he didn't know was that there were
00:33:51
Speaker 10: five kings from other regions who were looking on and
00:33:56
Speaker 10: created a conspiracy, determined to invade that space, to kidnap
00:34:02
Speaker 10: Lot and his family, and to confiscate all the wealth.
00:34:07
Speaker 10: Didn't turn out the way Lot was thinking, but thankfully
00:34:12
Speaker 10: there was somebody, somehow or another that was able to
00:34:16
Speaker 10: escape the attack and to rush to Abraham and to
00:34:20
Speaker 10: tell him everything that was going on well. Immediately, the
00:34:24
Speaker 10: Bible says that Abraham put together a posse of three
00:34:28
Speaker 10: hundred and eighteen marksmen. These weren't simply volunteers folk with
00:34:37
Speaker 10: a good heart. These were absolutely the best warriors and
00:34:42
Speaker 10: soldiers that you could find anywhere, and didn't take them
00:34:46
Speaker 10: long with three hundred and eighteen marksmen to overtake those
00:34:51
Speaker 10: five kings and to rescue Abraham's family of Lot and
00:34:56
Speaker 10: to redeem their blessing. Now, it wouldn't surprise you when
00:35:03
Speaker 10: I say to you that, as Abraham and the posse
00:35:07
Speaker 10: and Lot and the blessing are in view, that the
00:35:12
Speaker 10: king of.
00:35:12
Speaker 7: Sodom was thrilled.
00:35:15
Speaker 10: He was euphoric to see that no one had died
00:35:18
Speaker 10: and all was well, and he rushed to Abraham and
00:35:22
Speaker 10: said to him, good words. We just talked about honor recently,
00:35:26
Speaker 10: and this is an honoring moment. He says to Abraham,
00:35:30
Speaker 10: I'm so grateful for all you've done. Please let me
00:35:34
Speaker 10: now prosper you and bless you for your successes. But
00:35:40
Speaker 10: Abraham said, oh no, listen, I need you to understand something.
00:35:45
Speaker 4: Sir.
00:35:46
Speaker 10: I am a portal man. I live in a portal place,
00:35:53
Speaker 10: at a portal point in time, and the blessing of
00:35:57
Speaker 10: God is upon my life. Every good and perfer a
00:36:00
Speaker 10: gift that's belonging to me comes to me from His hand.
00:36:05
Speaker 10: And so I'm not taking anything from you. Lest one
00:36:09
Speaker 10: day somebody look at and say that Abraham is a
00:36:13
Speaker 10: blessed man, and you step in and say, well, you
00:36:15
Speaker 10: should have seen him when I found him. I'm the
00:36:17
Speaker 10: one that no, no, no, no, no no. Only my God
00:36:21
Speaker 10: is blessing me. When Abraham returned, there was this mysterious
00:36:26
Speaker 10: man standing there who has intrigued us and so many
00:36:32
Speaker 10: others for generations. I'm just going to speak to the
00:36:36
Speaker 10: obvious about him. His name was Melkazi, and he was
00:36:39
Speaker 10: from Jerusalem. Matter of fact, this is the only time
00:36:44
Speaker 10: throughout the whole Torah that you find the name Jerusalem. Remarkably,
00:36:51
Speaker 10: he is a king and the priest, and he's holding
00:36:58
Speaker 10: both wine and bread. Now I need to step in
00:37:04
Speaker 10: here and speak specifically to my Christian brothers and sisters,
00:37:08
Speaker 10: those who believe that Jesus of Nazareth is actually Jesus
00:37:13
Speaker 10: the Christ through the Messiah Moshirk. I'm talking to you
00:37:18
Speaker 10: this image of Melchzedek, who is a king and a priest,
00:37:25
Speaker 10: and he's holding wine and bread that is so familiar
00:37:30
Speaker 10: to us, isn't it for us we see Jesus, we
00:37:36
Speaker 10: would call this a theophany. This is when you can
00:37:40
Speaker 10: actually find the son of God from the New Testament.
00:37:46
Speaker 10: You can find the son of God that we're familiar
00:37:49
Speaker 10: with in the Old Testament. Wow, that's incredible. What I
00:37:56
Speaker 10: want to speak to you right now is I don't
00:37:59
Speaker 10: know what's against your family, try to steal you, tear
00:38:03
Speaker 10: you apart, destroy every good thing in your life. But
00:38:08
Speaker 10: I declared and to everyone under the sound of my voice,
00:38:11
Speaker 10: that God loves you, and he holds that bread and
00:38:16
Speaker 10: that whine. And we'll see it again later when we
00:38:18
Speaker 10: get to the passover. Continuously, the table of the Lord
00:38:23
Speaker 10: is so significant. Covenant meals, meal moments are so profoundly
00:38:29
Speaker 10: important to us. Now, I'm just praying now for the
00:38:32
Speaker 10: blessing of God upon you, sir, upon you, ma'am, and
00:38:36
Speaker 10: that God will bless your families and sustain you, and
00:38:40
Speaker 10: that you never forget it is God and God alone
00:38:45
Speaker 10: who is the author and finisher of your faith and
00:38:49
Speaker 10: your blessing.
00:38:53
Speaker 3: Our story ends with Abram declining an offer from the
00:38:56
Speaker 3: King of Sidom. Abram was offered his dessert of riches,
00:39:00
Speaker 3: but suddenly material wealth didn't matter to him at all,
00:39:06
Speaker 3: because after his encounter with Malchrizedek, Abram saw life through
00:39:09
Speaker 3: a different lens. Abram was secure in who he was.
00:39:14
Speaker 3: He was created by God, he was sustained by God,
00:39:19
Speaker 3: and he was chosen by God. Just like Abram, my friends,
00:39:26
Speaker 3: you too are chosen by God. You are called by
00:39:30
Speaker 3: God for something great. In our next episode, Abram is
00:39:35
Speaker 3: going to speak with God, and God's promises are going
00:39:39
Speaker 3: to become much more clear. They're going to be etched
00:39:42
Speaker 3: into the stars. Here's a final blessing and benediction for you,
00:39:48
Speaker 3: one that has been passed down from the Bible in
00:39:52
Speaker 3: numbers all the way to my father and countless generations
00:39:56
Speaker 3: before him, that I now bless and pray am my children,
00:40:00
Speaker 3: and I want to pray an you yivare hashenvi schmerch
00:40:06
Speaker 3: yah heer hashempavele ye sa Hashempave Salon. May the Lord
00:40:14
Speaker 3: bless and keep you. May the Lord make his face
00:40:17
Speaker 3: shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the
00:40:21
Speaker 3: Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace.
00:40:26
Speaker 3: Shallo my friends from here in the Holy Land.
00:40:31
Speaker 1: You can listen to The Chosen People with Isle Eckstein
00:40:34
Speaker 1: add free by downloading and subscribing to the Pray dot
00:40:37
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00:40:42
Speaker 1: possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina,
00:40:46
Speaker 1: Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are the executive
00:40:50
Speaker 1: producers of the Chosen People with Yaile Estein, edited by
00:40:54
Speaker 1: Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Caltefianu. Characters are voiced by
00:40:59
Speaker 1: Jonathan Cole, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold,
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Speaker 1: Sylvia Zaradoc and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore.
00:41:08
Speaker 1: Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Bree Rosalie and
00:41:12
Speaker 1: Aaron Salvato. Special thanks to Bishop Paulinier, Robin van Ettin,
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