The writer of Hebrews begins explaining, reminding, the readers of Melchizedek.
My translation and notes on Hebrews 7:1-10
The Great Priest Melchizedek
1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem [and] priest of the most high God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him.
[The slaughter of the kings and Melchizedek coming to Abraham is found in Genesis 14:18-20. Many people believe Melchizedek is the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ. It seems to me that Melchizedek is a human like us and not Jesus Christ. So, study it for yourselves. There were other -zedeks in Scripture (Joshua 10:1-5). Adoni-zedek (אֲדֹנִי־צֶדֶק ʼĂdônîy-Tsedeq (H139) made of two words ‘lord’ (H113) and ‘righteous’ (H6664). Adoni-zedek is thus translated Adoni-zedek = ‘my lord is righteous’ (Thayer’s). Melchizedek (מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק Malkîy-Tsedeq; (H4442)) is made of two words also מֶלֶךְ melek ‘king’ (H4428) and ‘righteous’ (H6664). Translation = ‘my king is righteous.’ The Scriptures tell us that Abraham brought 10% of the spoils of war to him (Melchizedek). The Scriptures do not say Abraham worshiped him or addressed him as god or lord. Melchizedek is mentioned in Genesis 14, Psalm 110:4, and in Hebrews. Melchizedek is the priest of the most high God and king of Salem (Jerusalem) (Genesis 14:18). The Lord Jesus is of this order of priesthood, not Aaron’s (Psalm 110:4)].
2 Abraham also gave him a tenth of everything. First of all, [Melchizedek] by interpretation [means] King of righteousness, and then King of Salem [means] King of peace.
3 [He is] without father, mother, or a genealogy, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life. In this sense, he continually remains a priest like the Son of God.
[There is no recording of these things. Did Jesus really rule already in Jerusalem? That also seems unlikely because there were other kings of Jerusalem in history (Joshua 10:1, Joshua 12:10 (most likely Adoni-zedek)],
4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils of war.
5 Truly those who are from the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a command to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren even though they come out of the loins of Abraham.
6 But he whose lineage is not from them received a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
7 Without any contradiction, the lesser is blessed by the greater.
8 Here, men who die receive tithes, but there, he of whom it is witnessed that he lives [receives them].
9 If I may say so, Levi also, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,
10 For he was still in the loins of his forefather when Melchizedek met him.
[The summary is that Jesus as High Priest is greater than Abraham, Levi, and the Aaronic priesthood].