Who was Melchizedek?

Melchizedek ("King of Justice" in Hebrew) is mentioned in Genesis 14 as receiving the dime from Abraham, and breaking bread with him: > **18** And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he > was the priest of the most high God. > > **19** And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high > God, possessor of heaven and earth: > > **20** And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine > enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. Psalm 110:4 depicts Jesus as a priest after the order of Melchizedek: > **4** The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. Paul mentions Melchizedek in Hebrews 7 and associates Jesus to him again: > **1** For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, > who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed > him; > > **2** To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by > interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of > Salem, which is, King of peace; > > **3** Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither > beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; > abideth a priest continually. > > **4** Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch > Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. > > **5** And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office > of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people > according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out > of the loins of Abraham: > > **6** But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of > Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. > > **7** And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. > > **8** And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, > of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. > > **9** And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes > in Abraham. > > **10** For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met > him. > > **11** If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for > under it the people received the law,) what further need was there > that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and > not be called after the order of Aaron? > > **12** For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a > change also of the law. > > **13** For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, > of which no man gave attendance at the altar. > > **14** For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe > Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. > > **15** And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of > Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, > > **16** Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after > the power of an endless life. > > **17** For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of > Melchisedec. > > **18** For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before > for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. > > **19** For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better > hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. > > **20** And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: > > **21** (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath > by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou > art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) So who is Melchizedek? Is he Jesus? If he is not, how could there be priests of God before God chose himself a nation and defined priesthood after the Hebrews left Egypt?