Genealogy question

Who Was Melchizedek?
BY BROTHER ROBERT ROBERTS

Shem, without doubt. Why? Because Shem was the only personage, so far as we have any account, who could fill the
position of "King of Righteousness" and "King of Peace" in Abraham's day. He was the oldest man living. He overlived Abraham 35 years. He would be over 500 years old when Abraham "Returned from the slaughter of the kings."
This venerable age, at a time when human life did not go beyond the second century, would invest him with an authority
and a sanctity not pertaining to other men, while Noah's blessing and his character for righteousness would naturally
secure for him the headship and primacy in spiritual things which Melchizedek possessed.

But why should he be called Melchizedek, and not Shem?
The answer is that Shem was his family name as the son of Noah, while Melchizedek was a title of office and character
(literally, King of Righteousness), which he would naturally acquire among the population of the East that had grown up
around him. In such a situation he would naturally be referred to by his official title, rather than his personal name.
His very name, Shem, is itself expressive of a name of renown amongst men. It is the word rendered "name" and
"renown" in such phrases as "men of renown" (Gen. 6:4; Num. 16:2); and in other passages particularly, with which
Christ and Israel's future are bound up, as in the following illustrations:

"I will raise up for them a plant of renown."
"It shall be to them a renown."
"I will give them an everlasting name."
"A name, and a praise, and a glory."
"I will make you a name and a praise."
"The man whose name is the Branch."
"Thou shalt be called by a new name."
"It shall be to Yahweh for a name."
"So shall your seed and your name remain."
"It shall be to me a name of joy."
"His name shall be called Wonderful."

Shem's name, therefore (on the supposition that he was Melchizedek), was evidently prophetic of the renown that
awaited him as "King of peace," and "Priest of the Most High God;" and still more prophetic of the greater renown of
the names of Christ and Israel in the day when it shall be said again, "Blessed be the Lord God of Shem."
As adding to his renown, Shem was an antediluvian centenarian, and by the time he quitted the scene, a five-century
post-diluvian—altogether a man of 600 years, at a time when the current length of life was not more than from 147 to 205 years; and when, for centuries before that, it had not reached to more than from 230 to 239 years; and when, even from the very year of the deluge (Noah excepted), it had not risen higher than from 433 to 464 years.

The apostle to the Hebrews, referring to Melchizedek, says, "Now consider how great this man was." The apostle's words
seem to imply that Melchizedek was translated like Enoch and Elijah, without dying; for "Here men that die receive
tithes; but there he receiveth them of whom it is witnessed, that he liveth" (Heb. 7:8). -Christadelphian 1889

NOTE IN CHRONIKON HEBRAIKON BY BRO. JOHN THOMAS-(Appended to Elpis Israel—Early Editions):
"Shem and Melchizedek the same person." It nowhere says in Scripture that Shem died. I have, therefore, said "He ceased from among men." (See Elpis Israel, P-311, 313 - 12th edition). I rather conclude that he is the Melchi, king of Zedek righteousness of whom Paul says, "It is testified that he liveth" (Heb. 7:8); and that being alive, he is a very fit and proper type of "the apostle and high priest of our confession" (Heb. 3:1).
82 Berean p160