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The lower register of folio 25v
Melchizedek Blesses Abram
British Library, MS Cotton Claudius B IV
Hexateuch
An Old English translation of the first six books of the Old Testament


A larger image of 'Melchizedek Blesses Abram', in the Old English Hexateuch, British Library, MS Cotton Claudius B IV.

¹⁷ After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). ¹⁸ And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. ¹⁹ He blessed him and said,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
     maker of heaven and earth;
²⁰ and blessed be God Most High,
     who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

And Abram gave him one-tenth of everything.
(Genesis 14:17-20)


Date: 2nd quarter of the 11th century-2nd half of the 12th century
Title: Old English Hexateuch (imperfect), comprising Ælfric’s preface (1r–v), Genesis (1v–72v), Exodus (72v–105v), Leviticus (105v–110v), Numbers (111r–128r), Deuteronomy (128v–140r) and Joshua (140v–156v)

Claudius B.iv. was probably compiled in the second quarter of the 11th century at St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury. It incorporates translations and a preface by Ælfric of Eynsham, while the remaining parts of the translation were carried out by anonymous authors. Peter Clemoes suggests that Byrhtferth of Ramsey was responsible for the compilation as well as for parts of the translation.