Proponents of the Documentary hypothesis view the Melchizedek narrative (Genesis 14:18-20)[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Bible_(King_James)/Genesis#Chapter_14] as a fragment from a once independent tradition concerning [[Jerusalem]], that the [[Yahwist]] inserted awkwardly into the surrounding narrative concerning the battle. They believe that it would be more historically realistic for Melchizedek himself, as the king of Jerusalem, to have been involved in the battle, and to have had a legitimate right to the portion of the spoils by virtue of this, rather than just by virtue of the favours given to Abraham as the Genesis narrative would have it. They also believe that the [[Yahwist]] inserted Abraham into this tradition to symbolically portray the king of Jerusalem as being inferior to Abraham, by it being Abraham who gives a portion of spoils to the king rather than the other way round.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melchizedek] | Proponents of the Documentary hypothesis view the Melchizedek narrative (Genesis 14:18-20)[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Bible_(King_James)/Genesis#Chapter_14] as a fragment from a once independent tradition concerning [[Jerusalem]], that the [[Yahwist]] inserted awkwardly into the surrounding narrative concerning the battle. They believe that it would be more historically realistic for Melchizedek himself, as the king of Jerusalem, to have been involved in the battle, and to have had a legitimate right to the portion of the spoils by virtue of this, rather than just by virtue of the favours given to Abraham as the Genesis narrative would have it. They also believe that the [[Yahwist]] inserted Abraham into this tradition to symbolically portray the king of Jerusalem as being inferior to Abraham, by it being Abraham who gives a portion of spoils to the king rather than the other way round.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melchizedek] |