King of Salem (which many scholars think is to be identified with Jerusalem), and "priest of God Most High" who met and blessed Abram on his way back from rescueing Lot (Gen 14:18f) and to whom Abram gave a gift of a tenth of his loot. His name, in Hebrew, means either "king of righteousness" (Heb 7:2) or "Tsedek (Righteousness) is my king. "Beyond these simple facts we know nothing else about him.
The only other reference to him in the Old Testament is a prophetic proclamation by God to the messiah(?) that he would be "a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek" (Psm 110:4). The interpretation of the exact significance of this reference is difficult. Nonetheless, it is picked up by the author of the letter to the Hebrews and applied to Jesus in asserting the superiority of Jesus's honour and glory over all other beings (Heb 5:6, 10, 6:20; 7:1, 10-11, 15-17).
Further Reading:
Bruce Demarest, "Hebrews 7:3: A Crux interpretum Historically Considered," The Evangelical Quarterly 49.3 (Jul.-Sept. 1977): 141-162
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G. H. Lang, "Melchizedek," The Evangelical Quarterly 31.1 (1959): 21-31. pdf N 6 (Open on Phone)
Alan R. Millard, "The Melchizedek Citations in the Letter to the Hebrews," Christian Brethren Research Fellowship Journal 17 (Jan. 1968): 14-15.
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Silviu Tatu, "Making Sense Of Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20)," Journal for the Evangelical Study of the Old Testament 3.1 (2014): 49-76. pdf N (Open on Phone)
Michael Tait, "The Search for Valid Orders: The Melchizedek Christology in Hebrews," Churchman 124/2 (2010): 127-142.
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R. Larry Overstreet, "The Superiority of Christ: The Identity of Melchizedek in Hebrews," Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry 6.1 (Spring 2009): 97-117.
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