Eucharistic meditation, September 18

Joshua 10:26-27: Afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hanged them on five trees; and they hung on the trees until evening. And it came about at sunset that Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and put large stones over the mouth of the cave, to this very day.

The Bible is written in the style of "theme and variations." Stories are repeated again and again, but with significant differences. So it is with Joshua 10. We have seen this all before. Centuries before Joshua fought this battle, Abraham fought in a very similar battle. Both battles involved an alliance of five kings. Like Joshua, Abraham marched all night. Like Joshua, Abraham was victorious over the Canaanite and Amorite kings of the land. In

both battles, too, a king of Jerusalem appears, and even their names are very similar. In Joshua 10, the anti-Israelite alliance is led by King Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, and after his battle Abraham meets Melchi-zedek, identified as the king of Salem. Two rulers of Jerusalem: "Master-of-righteousness" and "King-of-righteousness."

Two battles; two nighttime marches; two victories for Abraham and his seed; two kings of Jerusalem. But how different are the two kings of Jerusalem. Adoni-zedek opposes Israel, but Melchizedek comes out as an ally to offer Abraham bread and wine. Adoni-zedek is closed up in a cave, and after the battle is brought out, hung on a tree, and then thrown into the cave at sunset. Melchizedek receives tithes from our father Abraham. Kings of Jerusalem who ally with Abraham and his seed survive; kings of Jerusalem who oppose Abraham’s seed are cast aside.

Joshua 10 not only repeats the story of Abraham, but points ahead to yet another King of Jerusalem, a King who not only allies with the seed of Abraham but is the seed of Abraham. Adoni-zedek is closed in a cave and brought out, but he is brought out to be killed, hung on a tree until sunset, and then thrown back in the cave. Someday, though, a king will arise in Jerusalem, one who is also hung on a tree until sunset, one who is also put into a tomb. But that king will remain in the tomb for only three days, and bursts the grave to offer bread and wine to all of Abraham’s children. For that king is not the faithless Adoni-zedek, but the true and greater Melchizedek, king of righteousness, king of Jerusalem, Lord of all. And this is His table.

posted by Peter J. Leithart on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 09:21 AM

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