“Many Things to Say” – The Priesthood of Melchizedek, Part 2
October 29, 2007
Dear Friends,
Last week we began discussing possible Biblical candidates to fulfill the criteria of being a Melchizedekian priest. One of these candidates is Jethro. He is a priest as evidenced by two passages
- Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. (Ex 3:1)
- When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. (Ex 18:1)
Since he is obviously not of the Levitical line since he is from Midian (son of Keturah), he meets the main criteria of being a priest without “father or mother” or, in other words, a priest who did not inherit his priesthood through birth. It is also a very interesting possible interpretation that Jethro possibly trumps Aaron’s high priesthood in Exodus 18:12.
And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father in law before God.
The verse could be saying that Jethro brought a sacrifice to Aaron or another priest to sacrifice for him. It could just as easily be interpreted that in Aaron’s presence, Jethro makes a sacrifice to God thus indicating a greater priesthood.
Does Jethro exhibit any kingly attributes? Jethro is known by two other names in Scripture: Reuel and Hobab. I would suggest that the actual name of the man we call Jethro was one or both of these names and that “Jethro” is not a name at all, but a title. Jethro means “his excellence” which indicates royalty. It is also interesting to note that Jethro advises Moses on how to rule a large body of people. Where did Jethro get this understanding? Was it through his experience as a king? Finally, Jethro is a kohen which is commonly translated as priest but is also translated as “chief ruler.”
Jethro exhibits his superiority to a truly great man, Moses, in several instances. First, Moses is under Jethro’s employ for forty years. Secondly, Jethro gives Moses counsel when he says “Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee.” (Ex. 18:19) Moses listens heeds the words of his father-in-law. “So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.” (18:24) Finally, when Moses wants to go to Egypt in Exodus 4, he asks Jethro’s permission to do so. (see 4:18)
With the above evidence, it seems a case can be made that the father-in-law of Moses, Jethro, was a priest after the order of Melchizedek. He was a priest with no evidence of priestly descent, possibly a king and was shown deference by great men. How appropriate it would be for the man who was to lead Israel from Egypt to be trained for forty years by a man of the Melchizedekian order.
Next week, Lord willing, we will look at Solomon.
Have a great week,
