SCROLLS FROM THE DEAD SEA: THE ANCIENT LIBRARY OF QUMRAN AND MODERN SCHOLARSHIP The Qumran Community Scroll Fragments These scroll fragments were displayed in the exhibit at the Library of Congress, May - August 1993. They were provided courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority. The exhibit captions and translations (below) provide background on the fragments and their relationships with the other Dead Sea Scrolls, the Qumran Community, and its Library. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: IMAGE FILE NAME: phylac-a.gif (b & w) IMAGE FILE NAME: phylac-b.gif (color) Phylactery Tefillin Mur 4 Phyl Parchment Copied first century-early second century C.E. Fragment A: height 17.7 cm (7 in.), length 3 cm (1 3/16 in.) Fragment B: height 3.8 cm (1 1/2 in.), length 2.8 cm (1 1/8 in.) Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority (3) The command "And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes" (Deut. 6:8) was practiced by Jews from early times. In the Second Temple period the sages established that "tefillin" (phylacteries; amulets in Greek) would include four scriptural passages inscribed on parchment placed in box-like containers made of black leather. One of the phylacteries was worn one on the left arm and the other on the forehead. These served "as a sign upon your hand and as a symbol on your forehead that with a mighty hand the Lord freed us from Egypt" (Exodus 13:9, 16). The Dead Sea region has now yielded the earliest phylactery remains, both of the leather containers and the inscribed strips of parchment. As a rule, phylacteries include the same four selections, two from the book of Exodus (Exod. 13:1-10; 13:11-16) and two from Deuteronomy (Deut. 6:4-9; 11:13-21). The scriptural verses were penned in clear minuscule characters on the elongated writing material, which was folded over to fit the minute compartments stamped into the containers. References: Milik, J. T. "Textes Hebraux et Arameens." In Les Grottes de Murabba`at, Discoveries in the Judaean Desert, II, pp. 80- 85. Oxford, 1961. Yadin, Y. "Tefillin (Phylacteries) from Qumran [XQ Phyl 1-4])" (in Hebrew), Eretz-Israel 9 (1969):60-83 and plates. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Phylactery - Translation Tefillin Mur 4 Phyl Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority (3) Exod. 13:1-3 1. (1)And spoke 2. the Lord to 3. Moses 4. saying, (2)"Consecrate 5. to Me every first-born 6. the first issue of every womb of the 7. Israelites, man 8. and beast is Mine." 9. (3)And Moses said to the people, 10. "Remember this day 11. on which you went (free) 12. from Egypt, the house of bondage, 13. how with a mighty hand 14. the Lord freed you from it; no 15. leavened bread shall be eater. (4)This day Transcription by J. T. Milik; translation adapted from "Tanakh," pp. 103-4. Philadelphia, 1985. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: IMAGE FILE NAME: commun-a.gif (b & w) IMAGE FILE NAME: commun-b.gif (color) The Community Rule Serekh ha-Yahad 4Q258 (Sd) Parchment Copied late first century B.C.E.Äearly first century C.E. Height 8.8 cm (3 7/16 in.), length 21.5 cm (8 7/16 in.) Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority (7) Originally known as The Manual of Discipline, the Community Rule contains a set of regulations ordering the life of the members of the "yahad," the group within the Judean Desert sect who chose to live communally and whose members accepted strict rules of conduct. This fragment cites the admonitions and punishments to be imposed on violators of the rules, the method of joining the group, the relations between the members, their way of life, and their beliefs. The sect divided humanity between the righteous and the wicked and asserted that human nature and everything that happens in the world are irrevocably predestined. The scroll ends with songs of praise to God. A complete copy of the scroll, eleven columns in length, was found in Cave 1. Ten fragmentary copies were recovered in Cave 4, and a small section was found in Cave 5. The large number of manuscript copies attests to the importance of this text for the sect. This particular fragment is the longest of the versions of this text found in Cave 4. Reference: Qimron, E. "A Preliminary Publication of 4QSd Columns VII-VIII" (in Hebrew). Tarbiz 60 (1991):435-37. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: The Community Rule - Translation Serekh ha-Yahad 4Q258 (Sd) Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority (7) And according to his insight he shall admit him. In this way both his love and his hatred. No man shall argue or quarrel with the men of perdition. He shall keep his council in secrecy in the midst of the men of deceit and admonish with knowledge, truth and righteous commandment those of chosen conduct, each according to his spiritual quality and according to the norm of time. He shall guide them with knowledge and instruct them in the mysteries of wonder and truth in the midst of the members of the community, so that they shall behave decently with one another in all that has been revealed to them. That is the time for studying the Torah (lit. clearing the way) in the wilderness. He shall instruct them to do all that is required at that time, and to separate from all those who have not turned aside from all deceit. These are the norms of conduct for the Master in those times with respect to his loving and to his everlasting hating of the men of perdition in a spirit of secrecy. He shall leave to them property and wealth and earnings like a slave to his lord, (showing) humility before the one who rules over him. He shall be zealous concerning the Law and be prepared for the Day of Revenge. He shall perform the will [of God] in all his deeds and in all strength as He has commanded. He shall freely delight in all that befalls him, and shall desire nothing except God's will... Transcription and translation by E. Qimron ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: IMAGE FILE NAME: calendar.gif Calendrical Document Mishmarot 4Q321 (Mishmarot Ba) Parchment Copied ca. 50-25 B.C.E. Height 13.4 cm (5 1/4 in.), length 21.1 cm (8 1/4 in.) Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority (10) A significant feature of the community was its calendar, which was based on a solar system of 364 days, unlike the common Jewish lunar calendar, which consisted of 354 days. The calendar played a weighty role in the schism of the community from the rest of Judaism, as the festivals and fast days of the group were ordinary work days for the mainstream community and vice versa. According to the calendar, the new year always began on a Wednesday, the day on which God created the heavenly bodies. The year consisted of fifty-two weeks, divided into four seasons of thirteen weeks each, and the festivals consistently fell on the same days of the week. It appears that these rosters were intended to provide the members of the "New Covenant" with a time-table for abstaining from important activities on the days before the dark phases of the moon's waning and eclipse (duqah). References: Jaubert, A. "Le Calendrier de Jubiles et de la Secte de Qumran: Ses origines Bibliques," Vetus Testamentum 3 (1953):250-64. Talmon, S. "The Calendar of the Judean Covenanteers." In The World of Qumran from Within: Collected Studies, pp. 147-85. Jerusalem, 1989. Talmon, S. and I. Knohl. "A Calendrical Scroll from Qumran Cave IV -- Miþ Ba (4Q321)" (in Hebrew), Tarbiz 60 (1991):505-21. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Calendrical Document - Translation Mishmarot 4Q321 (Mishmarot Ba) Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority (10) 1. [on the first {day} in {the week of} Jedaiah {which falls} on the tw]elfth in it {the seventh month}. On the second {day} in {the week of} Abiah {which falls} on the twenty- f[ifth in the eighth {month}; and duqah {is} on the third] {day} 2. [in {the week of} Miyamin {which falls} on the twelfth] in it {the eighth month}. On the third {day} in {the week of} Jaqim {which falls} on the twen[ty-fourth in the ninth {month}; and duqah {is} on the fourth] {day} 3. [in {the week of} Shekania {which falls} on the eleven]th in it {the ninth month}. On the fifth {day} in {the week of} Immer {which falls} on the twe[n]ty-third in the te[nth {month}; and duqah {is} on the sixth {day} in {the week of} Je]shbeab {which falls} 4. [on the tenth in] it {the tenth month}. On the [si]xth {day} in {the week of} Jehezkel {which falls} on the twenty-second in the eleventh month [and duqah {is on the} Sabbath in] {the week of} Petahah {which falls} 5. [on the ninth in it {the eleventh month}]. On the first {day} in {the week of} Joiarib {which falls} on the t[w]enty-second in the twelfth month; and [duqah {is} on the seco]nd {day} in {the week of} Delaiah {which falls} 6. [on the ninth in it {the twelfth month}. vacat The] se[cond] {year}: The first {month}. On the sec[on]d {day} in {the week of} Malakiah {which falls} on the tw[entieth in it {the first month}; and] duqah {is} 7. [on the third {day} in {the week of} Harim {which falls} on the seventh] in it {the first month}. On the fou[r]th {day} in {the week of} Jeshua {which falls} [on] the twentieth in the second {month}; and [duqah {is} on the fifth {day} in {the week of]} Haqqos {which falls} on the seventh 8. [in it {the second month}. On the fifth {day} in {the week of} Huppah {which falls} on the nine]teenth in the third {month}; and duqa[h] {is} on the six[th {day} in {the week of} Happisses {which falls} Translation and transcription by S. Talmon and I. Knohl ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: IMAGE FILE NAME: torah-a.gif (b & w) IMAGE FILE NAME: torah-b.gif (color) Some Torah Precepts Miqsat Ma`ase ha-Torah 4Q396(MMTc) Parchment Copied late first century B.C.E.-early first century C.E. Fragment A: height 8 cm (3 1/8 in.), length 12.9 cm (5 in.) Fragment B: height 4.3 cm (1 11/16 in.), length 7 cm (2 3/4 in.) Fragment C: height 9.1 cm (3 9/16 in.), length 17.4 cm (6 7/8 in.) Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority (8) This scroll, apparently in the form of a letter, is unique in language, style, and content. Using linguistic and theological analysis, the original text has been dated as one of the earliest works of the Qumran sect. This sectarian polemical document, of which six incomplete manuscripts have been discovered, is commonly referred to as MMT, an abbreviation of its Hebrew name, Miqsat Ma`ase ha-Torah. Together the six fragments provide a composite text of about 130 lines, which probably cover about two-thirds of the original. The initial part of the text is completely missing. Apparently it consisted of four sections: (1) the opening formula, now lost; (2) a calendar of 364 days; (3) a list of more than twenty rulings in religious law (Halakhot), most of which are peculiar to the sect; and (4) an epilogue that deals with the separation of the sect from the multitude of the people and attempts to persuade the addressee to adopt the sect's legal views. The "halakhot," or religious laws, form the core of the letter; the remainder of the text is merely the framework. The calendar, although a separate section, was probably also related to the sphere of "halakhah." These "halakhot" deal chiefly with the Temple and its ritual. The author states that disagreement on these matters caused the sect to secede from Israel. References: Strugnell, J., and E. Qimron. Discoveries in the Judaean Desert, X. Oxford, forthcoming. Sussman, Y. "The History of 'Halakha' and the Dead Sea Scrolls -- Preliminary Observations on Miqsat Ma`ase Ha-Torah (4QMMT)" (in Hebrew), Tarbiz 59 (1990):11-76. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Some Torah Precepts - Translation Miqsat Ma`ase ha-Torah 4Q396(MMTc) Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority (8) 1. until sunset on the eighth day. And concerning [the impurity] of 2. the [dead] person we are of the opinion that every bone, whether it 3. has its flesh on it or not--should be (treated) according to the law of the dead or the slain. 4. And concerning the mixed marriages that are being performed among the people, and they are sons of holy [seed], 5. as is written, Israel is holy. And concerning his (Israel's) [clean] animal 6. it is written that one must not let it mate with another species, and concerning his clothes [it is written that they should not] 7. be of mixed stuff; and one must not sow his field and vineyard with mixed species. 8. Because they (Israel) are holy, and the sons of Aaron are [most holy.] 9. But you know that some of the priests and [the laity intermingle] 10. [And they] adhere to each other and pollute the holy seed 11. as well as their (i.e. the priests') own [seed] with corrupt women. Since [the sons of Aaron should...] Transcription and translation by J. Strugnell and E. Qimron ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: deadsea.scrolls.exhibit rev. 6/18/93 (kde)