The term Melchizedek is a word that identifies the character and administrative office and skills of an individual.

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Its Hebrew meaning is; a righteous king. It is first used in the bible after Abraham won the battle over the five kings and saved Lot from them. At that time in history was a priest of the most high God who ruled Salem later known as Jerusalem. 

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Genesis 14:18-20

(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.

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There are three categories I use when studying the bible and history, 1. Known    2. Unknown   3. Speculation 

This particular subject as far as who was the physical priest called Melchizedek to whom Abraham paid tithes, is in the third category, Speculation.

It doesn't matter who the man was, for he certainly met the requirements to be called to the "order of Melchizedek." Shem would certainly be a logical candidate due to his notable defense of the patriarchal faith carried across the flood by Noah, Shem's father. 

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We can speculate on who Abraham paid tithes to: It is now for sure that Jesus has taken the position of the High Priest of God the Father as an unending spiritual priest forever.

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There is historical proof that Shem was a great leader among the nations  formed after the flood of Noah's time. Shem is Sem Sem in the Egyptian records. He is the 7th king or ruler in dynasty I of Egyptian kings list. He ruled in Egypt from 2037 -2019 B.C. and records depict him as an asiatic, not Egyptian, dress. He was about 430 years old at this time. He appears as an old man with a long beard in priestly garb. Shem left Egypt in the year 2019 B.C. which is the same year Noah dies. This was 350 years after the great flood. 

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It should be noted that Shem was the great defender of the patriarchal faith. Shem was instrumental in the death of Nimrod who along with his mother/wife created the Babylonian Mysteries against God. Nimrod fled Egypt in the year 2167 B.C. and was slain by Shem in Italy.

Shem was known in mythology as "Hercules the Lamenter". 

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Something to consider: Shem is recognized as the father of Eber; who is the ancestor of the Hebrews. In Egyptian history Shem is known as a King with the "power of the gods". He was one who fought and overcame Giants. No doubt, the title and character of Hercules were afterwards given to him by the Pagans to him whom they worshiped as the grand deliverer or Messiah, just as the adversaries of the Pagan divinities came to be stigmatized as the "Giants" who rebelled against Heaven.  The real Giants that rebelled against heaven were Nimrod and his party; for the "Giants" were just the "might ones," of whom Nimrod was the leader. The Hebrew word for "Giant" is Nyphil meaning a bully or tyrant. Giants of evil not giants in height. Shem was the most logical person to head the opposition to the apostasy of Nimrod from primitive worship. 

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If "Sem Sem" was the primitive Hercules, who overcame the Giants, and that not by mere physical force, but by "the power of God,: or the influence of the Holy Spirit, that entirely agrees with his character; and more than that, it agrees with the Egyptian account of the death of Osiris. The Egyptians say, that the grand enemy of their god overcame him, not by open violence, but Sem entered into a conspiracy with seventy-two of the leading men of Egypt, he got him into his power, put him to death, and then cut his dead body into pieces and sent them to different cities throughout the country.

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What Shem did to the false religious systems leader was of intense abhorrence to all of Nimrod's sympathizers; so, on the Pagan side things, Shem was stigmatized as Typho, or "The Evil One". The Stigmatism also happens to Joseph and Job, years later by the pagan Egyptians; because they closed the pagan temples and forbid worship of the pagan God Rhea. The influence that this abhorred Typho or Shem, wielded over the minds of the so-called "conspirators," considering the physical force with which Nimrod was upheld, just have been wonderful, and goes to show, that though his deed in regard to Nimrod is veiled, and himself branded by a hateful name, he was indeed none other than that primitive Hercules who overcame the Giants by "the power of God," by the persuasive might of the Holy Spirit." 

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With this background history about Shem, coupled with the fact that Shem carries the "righteous line" from Seth and is known worldwide at that time as a great king and spiritual leader; is it possible that Shem was the "king of Salem" who went out with bread and wine to meet Abraham and receive tithes? It is not that far of a stretch if you know the ancient world history of Shem's time. He is the only candidate with world renowned credibility to be called Melchizedek! Just the fact of how Shem was characterized by the Pagans as "the evil one" should tell us that Shem was a righteous king representing the Invisible God. There is no concrete evidence that Shem met Abraham or that Shem is the king/priest with the order of Melchizedek as a title; However, it is interesting to note that Shem was 100 years old, two years after the flood in 2369 B.C.. Egyptian history records Shem is 350 years old in 2019 B.C. another 250 years would mean he died in 1767 B.C. Shem could easily be alive during the time of Abraham's encounter with "king of Salem"

Genesis 11:10-11
(10)  These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:
(11)  And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

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Hebrews 7:1,2

(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. (simply saying this Melchizedek order is not a person but the "title given a person" to distinguish character of that ding/priest as Godly)

(4)  Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. (Jesus doesn't appear as a man for another 3,000 years.)

(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, (Levitical priesthood by descent, Levi wasn't even born yet verse 10)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.

 

 

The key to understanding of Melchisedec is the prophetic passage in Psalms 110:4  Melchisedec is "an order of a priestly life, with righteousness at the heart of character". It is a "Title" appointed to a physical person who is a "righteous and Godly king/priest".

 

The scripture in Genesis; (18)  And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. is referring to a physical man, (most likely Shem) who meets the requirements of the "Order of Melchisedec."

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Psalms 110:1-7
(1)  A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
(2)  The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
(3)  Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
(4)  The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
(5)  The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
(6)  He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
(7)  He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.

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This is a prophecy of the coming Messiah who replaced all physical priests! The order of Melchizedek was transferred to the risen Christ by an oath sworn by God the Father!

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Hebrews 5:5-10
(5)  So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
(6)  As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
(7)  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
(8)  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
(9)  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
(10)  Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
 

Verse 6 referring to Psalms 110:4; the rest of the verses describing the character of Jesus Christ.

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It is plainly said in the next scriptural reference: 

Hebrews 6:20
(20)  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

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The explanation of the change from a physical priesthood to the spiritual priesthood of the risen Christ settles the issue that Christ is the Melchisedec priest by an oath sworn by an Oath from His heavenly Father and not by appointment or descent as was the Levitical priest. 

 

Hebrews 7:11-28

(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.  (Reference to Jesus)
(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:)
(22)  By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
(23)  And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
(24)  But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
(25)  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
(26)  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
(27)  Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
(28)  For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

 

We should now see the difference between the physical Melchizedek and the spiritual Melchisedec. Jesus was not the King/priest of Salem Abraham met in Genesis.

 

Jesus is our spiritual high priest between man and God now; and Jesus will return to be King of Kings of Jerusalem and the world!
 

Notes;

Melchizedek: English Translation of the Hebrew word   H4442
מלכּי־צדק
malkı̂y-tsedeq
mal-kee-tseh'-dek
From H4428 and H6664; king of right; Malki-Tsedek, an early king in Palestine: - Melchizedek.
 

H4428
מלך
melek
meh'-lek
From H4427; a king: - king, royal.
 

H4427
מלך
mâlak
maw-lak'
A primitive root; to reign; to ascend the throne; causatively to induct into royalty; hence (by implication) to take counsel: - consult, X indeed, be (make, set a, set up) king, be (make) queen, (begin to, make to) reign (-ing), rule, X surely.