Bread and Wine for Avraham
After Avraham's war, the old king of Shalem came out to greet him with bread, wine and a blessing, and two great men who feared each other became friends.
Avraham had just come back from war. To rescue his nephew Lot, he had chased four mighty kings and defeated them. Among the soldiers who fell were descendants of Shem.
The Midrash says that each of the two great men of that generation was now afraid of the other. Avraham thought, perhaps Shem is angry with me, because I killed his descendants. Shem thought, perhaps Avraham resents me, because so many wicked people came from me. They were like two islands standing out in the sea, one at each end of the earth.
Then they came toward each other. Malki-Tzedek, king of Shalem, who was Shem, came out to Avraham with bread and wine, the food one brings to men worn out from battle. Rashi explains that he was showing Avraham that he bore him no ill will. He blessed him: "Blessed is Avram to the Most High G-d, Maker of heaven and earth, and blessed is the Most High G-d, who delivered your enemies into your hand." And Avraham gave him a tenth of everything.
The Midrash sums it up with the navi's words, "Each man helped his friend." Shem helped Avraham with blessings, and Avraham helped Shem with gifts.
Source: Midrash Bereishis Rabbah 44:7 and 43:6; Rashi on Bereishis 14:18; Bereishis 14:18–20. English: The Sefaria Midrash Rabbah (2022); Pentateuch with Rashi's Commentary, trans. M. Rosenbaum and A. M. Silbermann.
Shem and Avraham each feared the other was angry, and Shem chose to go out first, with bread and a blessing. Is there someone you have been avoiding because you are not sure where you stand with them? This week, take the first step: a short message, a small gift, a warm word of congratulations on something good in their life. You do not need to settle the past. Often a simple gesture is enough to show there is no ill will.