OrthJBC - Hebrews - 7

7:1  For this MALKI-TZEDEK MELECH SHALEM KOHEN L'EL ELYON, the one "having met Avraham Avinu ACHAREI SHUVO ("after returning") from the slaughter of HAMELAKHIM V'YEVAREKHEHU ("the kings and having blessed him", Bereshis 14:17-20)

7:2  with whom also "AVRAHAM AVINU apportioned MA'ASER MIKOL (a tithe of everything." As for his Name, it is rendered "King of Tzedek (Righteousness)" and then also "Melech of SHALOM."

7:3  Without Av, without Em, without Yichus, having neither a techillah (beginning) leyamim (to days) of him nor a Ketz HaChayyim, but resembling HaBen HaElohim, he remains a KOHEN L'OLAM ("a kohen perpetually, (Tehillim 110:4).

7:4  Now consider how great among the Gedolim this one was to whom also Avraham Avinu gave from his booty a ma'aser (tithe).

7:5  And the ones of the Bnei Levy have received the Kehunah and they have a mitzvah to collect the ma'aser (tithe) from the Am Berit, and they have this mitzvah according to the Torah, that is, to collect from their achim, though these also are descended from the loins of Avraham Avinu.

7:6  But, this man, though not tracing his descent from them, has received ma'aser from Avraham Avinu and has given a berakhah to the one having the havtachot (promises).

7:7  Now it is beyond all argument that the greater gives a berakhah to the lesser.

7:8  Notice, in one case, ma'aser are received by mortal men; in the other case, ma'aser are received by one of whom we have solemn edut (testimony) that hu Chai ("he lives!").

7:9  One could even go so far as to say that through Avraham Avinu, even Levy, the one receiving ma'aser, has paid ma'aser,

7:10  for Levy was still in the loins of his ancestor Avraham when Malki-Tzedek met Avraham Avinu.

7:11  Now if shleimut (completeness) had been attainable through the Kehunah of Levy--for under it came the Mattan Torah (giving of the Torah) to the Am Berit--what further need would there have been to speak of another Kohen arising AL DIVRATI MALKI-TZEDEK ("according to the order of Malki-Tzedek" --Tehillim 110:4) rather than "al divrati Aharon"?

7:12  For when there is a "changing of the guard" of the Kehunah, this behechrach (necessarily) also affects the Torah [Yeshayah 42:4].

7:13  For the One about whom these things are said belonged to a different shevet (tribe), from which no one has officiated at the Mitzbe'ach.

7:14  For it is ugeret (easily seen, evident) that Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu was descended from Yehudah, and in connection with that shevet, Moshe Rabbeinu said nothing about kohanim.

7:15  And it is even more evident if another Kohen arises resembling Malki-Tzedek,

7:16  one who became a kohen, not by means of a mitzvat haTorah concerning yichus, but according to the gevurah of a Chayyei Ein Sof (Endless Life).

7:17  For of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach comes the solemn edut, "ATAH KOHEN L'OLAM AL DIVRATI MALKI-TZEDEK" ("You are a kohen forever according to the order of Malki-Tzedek" --Tehillim 110:4).

7:18  For, on the one hand, there is an abrogation of an earlier mitzvah because of its weakness and ineffectuality

7:19  (for the Torah brought nothing to shleimut (perfection); on the other hand, there is the mavo (introduction) of a tikvah tovah yoter (a better hope) through which we approach and draw near to Hashem.

7:20  This was attested with an shevu'ah (oath); for others who became kohanim were installed in the office of kehunah without a shevu'ah (oath);

7:21  but the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach became a kohen with a shevu'ah (oath) through the One saying to Him, NISHBA HASHEM V'LO YINNAKHEM, ATAH KOHEN L'OLAM ("Hashem has made an oath and will not change his mind, You are a kohen forever"--Tehillim 110:4).

7:22  According to such a shevu'ah of Hashem, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua has become the guarantee of a tov yoter HaBrit. REBBE, MELECH HAMOSHIACH ADONEINU, MOREINU, RABBEINU, V'KOHEN NE'EMAN LANU

7:23  Not only this, but it was the fact that the former kohanim were many in number, because mavet prevented them from continuing in the office of kehunah.

7:24  But because Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach continues forever, he has the Kehunah l'netsakh (for eternity).

7:25  From which also he is able to completely deliver to Geulah and Yeshu'at Eloheinu the ones approaching Hashem through him, als (since) he has Chayyei Ein Sof (Endless Life) and always lives to intercede in techinnah (supplication) for them.

7:26  For such was for us indeed a bekavod (suitable) Kohen Gadol, chasid, tamim, tahor, nivdal from chote'im (separated from sinners) and exalted above HaShomayim;

7:27  a Kohen Gadol who does not have daily need--as do the other Kohanim Gedolim--on the one hand, to offer up zevakhim for his own averos, and then to offer up zevakhim for the averos of the Am Berit. For this Kohen Gadol offered up himself, once and for all.

7:28  For the Torah of Moshe Rabbeinu appoints bnei Adam as Kohanim Gedolim, bnei Adam with frailties, but the dvar HaShevu'ah [Tehillim 110:4], which came later than the Torah of Moshe Rabbeinu, appoints HaBen [Ben HaElohim Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach] who came to shleimut (completeness) l'Olam.