For surely his concern is not for angels, but he is concerned for Abraham’s descendants.

And it could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid a tithe through Abraham.

<p class="bodytext">Now when God made his promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself,

But see how great he must be, if<n id="1" /> Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe<n id="2" /> of his plunder.

But Melchizedek<n id="1" /> who does not share their ancestry<n id="2" /> collected a tithe<n id="3" /> from Abraham and blessed<n id="4" /> the one who possessed the promise.

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He had received the promises,<n id="1" /> yet he was ready to offer up<n id="2" /> his only son.

To him<n id="1" /> also <b><i>Abraham apportioned a tithei>b><n id="2" /> <b><i>of everythingi>b>.<n id="3" /> His name first means<n id="4" /> king of righteousness, then <b><i>king of Salemi>b>, that is, king of peace.

<p class="bodytext">By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, and he went out without understanding where he was going.

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now this <b><i>Melchizedeki>b>, <b><i>king of Salemi>b>, <b><i>priest of the most high Godi>b>, <b><i>met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kingsi>b> and <b><i>blessed himi>b>.<n id="1" />

And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office<n id="1" /> have authorization according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen,<n id="2" /> although they too are descendants of Abraham.<n id="3" />