3. No one knows who Melchizedek’s father or mother was, where he came from, when he was born, or when he died. Melchizedek is like the Son of God; he continues being a priest forever.
4. You can see how great Melchizedek was. Abraham, the great father, gave him a tenth of everything that he won in battle.
5. Now the law says that those in the tribe of Levi who become priests must collect a tenth from the people—their own people—even though the priests and the people are from the family of Abraham.
6. Melchizedek was not from the tribe of Levi, but he collected a tenth from Abraham. And he blessed Abraham, the man who had God’s promises.
7. Now everyone knows that the more important person blesses the less important person.
8. Priests receive a tenth, even though they are only men who live and then die. But Melchizedek, who received a tenth from Abraham, continues living, as the Scripture says.
9. We might even say that Levi, who receives a tenth, also paid it when Abraham paid Melchizedek a tenth.
10. Levi was not yet born, but he was in the body of his ancestor when Melchizedek met Abraham.