Genesis — Chapter 14

AND WHEN ABRAM HEARD THIS, NAMELY, THAT HIS BROTHER WAS TAKEN, HE NUMBERED OF THE TRAINED MEN OF HIS OWN HOUSE THREE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN, AND PURSUED THEM TO DAN. — Abram's military expedition to rescue Lot: with 318 trained servants he defeated four kings and their armies. Lapide: \"Note what the virtue and grace of one just man can accomplish before God — God in the grace of one just Lot liberates so many impious men of Pentapolis, in order to glorify His servant Abraham.\" The number 318 was allegorized by the Fathers (Barnabas, Clement, Ambrose) as the number of the Cross (T = 300, IH = 18, the first letters of Jesus): the Cross conquers all enemies.

MELCHISEDECH THE KING OF SALEM, BRINGING FORTH BREAD AND WINE, FOR HE WAS THE PRIEST OF THE MOST HIGH GOD, BLESSED HIM. — The key verse on Melchisedech: (1) He was king of Salem (= Jerusalem). (2) He was priest of the Most High God. (3) He brought forth bread and wine — not for a victory banquet (the soldiers were already satiated from the plunder) but for a sacrifice, since he \"was priest\" and priests sacrifice. (4) He blessed Abraham. (5) He received tithes from Abraham. The Fathers (Irenaeus, Cyprian, Ambrose, Augustine, Jerome, Theodoret) and Paul (Heb. 7) unanimously teach: Melchisedech's offering of bread and wine was a sacrifice, prefiguring the Eucharistic sacrifice of Christ. This refutes Calvin and Kemnitius who reduce it to a mere meal. The Mass is the sacrifice of Christ under bread and wine, in the order of Melchisedech (Ps. 109:4). Abraham is the type of the laity receiving the Eucharist from the priest.