At this point a man called Melchizedek came and met Abram. He was the King of Salem (meaning peace), and his name could be translated as 'righteousness'. He was also a priest of the Most High God. Apart from this there is no record of who he was and where he had come from suddenly at this point. Because of this some Bible scholars are of the opinion that Melchizedek was actually Jesus, the Son of God, appearing briefly on the scene to bless Abram. Melchizedek blessed Abram and reminded him in this time of great victory that it was God who owned all the heaven and earth, and that it was He who had given Abram the victory. In this way Abram was prevented from thinking high thoughts about himself by taking credit for the victory. Out of a sense of reverence towards God and gratitude, Abram responded by giving one tenth of all he had to Melchizedek. There is no record that tells us about God having given any command for paying the tithe (one tenth) at this point in time. Melchizedek himself did not ask for it. It may have been Abram's spontaneous response, or it may have been a practice among some people at that time. Melchizedek received this from Abram as the priest of God. The Bible also tells us that Jesus is a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, which also points to the possibility that this was Jesus.

The King of Sodom met Abram after the battle and proposed to Abram that he could keep all the goods he had got from the battle if he would give all the captives to the king. But Abram had just been reminded by Melchizedek that it was God who was the owner of everything in heaven and earth, and he was not going to be greedy for the spoil of the battle. He told the king that he would not take even a thread or a sandal strap or anything that belonged to the king because he did not want it to be said later that it was the King of Sodom who made Abram rich.