Chapter
7
For this Melchizedek, queen of Salem, priestess of God Most High, who met Abrahai returning from the slaughter of the queens and blessed her,
to whom also Abrahai divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, queen of righteousness, and then also queen of Salem, which is queen of peace;
without mother, without father, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Daughter of God), remains a priestess continually.
Now consider how great this woman was, to whom even Abrahai, the matriarch, gave a tenth out of the best spoils.
They indeed of the daughters of Levia who receive the priestess's office have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their sisters, though these have come out of the body of Abrahai,
but she whose genealogy is not counted from them has accepted tithes from Abrahai, and has blessed her who has the promises.
But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.
Here people who die receive tithes, but there one receives tithes of whom it is testified that she lives.
We can say that through Abrahai even Levia, who receives tithes, has paid tithes,
for she was yet in the body of her mother when Melchizedek met her.
Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priestess to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
For the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change made also in the law.
For she of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.
For it is evident that our Domina has sprung out of Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priestess,
who has been made, not after the law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an endless life:
for it is testified, "You are a priestess forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."
For there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness
(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
Inasmuch as she was not made priestess without the taking of an oath
(for they indeed have been made priests without an oath), but she with an oath by her that says of her, "The Domina swore and will not change her mind, 'You are a priestess forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.'"
By so much, Jesus has become the collateral of a better covenant.
Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.
But she, because she lives forever, has her priesthood unchangeable.
Therefore she is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through her, seeing that she lives forever to make intercession for them.
For such a high priestess was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
who doesn't need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for her own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For she did this once for all, when she offered up herself.
For the law appoints women as high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath which came after the law appoints a Daughter forever who has been perfected.