4Q521
The Messianic Apocalypse
Fragment 2 (Called The Resurrection Fragment)
"II ...[the hea]vens and the earth will listen to His Messiah, and none therein will stray from the commandments of the Holy ones.
"Seekers of the L-rd strengthen yourselves in His service!
"all you hopeful in (your) heart, will you not find the L-rd in this?
"For the L-rd will consider the Pious (hasidim) and call the Righteous by name.
"Over the poor His Spirit will hover and will renew the faithful with His Power.
"And He will Glorify the Pious on the Throne of the Eternal Kingdom.
"He who liberates the captives, restores sight to the blind, straightens the be[nt] (Psalms 146:7-8)
"And f[or]ever [will cleave to the h]opeful and in His mercy...
"And the fr[uit...] will not be delayed for anyone
"And the L-rd will accomplish Glorious things which have never been as [He...]
"For He will heal the wounded, and revive the dead and bring Good News to the poor (Isaiah 41:1) [2]
"...He will lead the uprooted and knowledge...and smoke(?)"
1QS VIII:5-15
"In the Council of the Community there shall be twelve men and three priests (among them?), perfectly versed in all that is revealed in the Law, whose works shall be truth, righteousness, justice, loving-kindness and humility. They shall preserve the Faith in the Land with steadfastness and meekness and atone for sin by the practice of justice and by suffering the sorrows of affliction. They shall walk with all men according to the Standard of truth and the rule of the time.
"When these are in Israel, the Council of the Community shall be established in truth. It shall be an Everlasting Plantation, a House of Holiness for Israel, an Assembly of Supreme Holiness for Aaron. They shall be witnesses to the truth at the Judgment, and shall be the Elect of Goodwill who shall atone for the Land and pay to the wicked their reward. It shall be that tried Wall, that Precious Cornerstone, whose foundations shall neither rock nor sway in their place (Isaiah 28:16). It shall be a Most Holy Dwelling for Aaron, with everlasting knowledge of the Covenant of justice, and shall offer up sweet fragrance (by its' existence). It shall be a House of Perfection and Truth in Israel that they may establish a Covenant according to the everlasting precepts. And they (the individuals themselves) shall be an agreeable offering atoning for the Land and determining the judgment of wickedness, and there shall be no more iniquity. When they have confirmed for two years in perfection of Way in the Foundation of the Community, they shall be set apart as Holy within the Council of the men of the Community. And the Interpreter shall not conceal from them, out of fear of the spirit of apostasy, any of those things hidden from Israel which have been discovered by him.
"And when these become members of the Community in Israel according to all these rules, they shall separate from the habitation of unjust men and shall go into the wilderness to prepare there the way of Him; as it is Written, 'Prepare in the wilderness the Way of...., make straight in the desert a Path for our G-d'." (Isaiah 40:3)
1QS IX:4-10
"When these become members of the Community in Israel according to all these rules, they shall establish the spirit of holiness according to everlasting truth. They shall atone for the guilty rebellion and for sins of unfaithfulness that they may obtain loving-kindness for the Land without the flesh of holocausts and the fat of sacrifice. And Prayer rightly offered shall be as an acceptable fragrance of righteousness, and perfection of way as a delectable free-will offering. At that time, the men of the Community shall be set apart (as) a House of Holiness in order that it may be united to the most Holy things and a House of Community for Israel, for those who walk in perfection. The sons of Aaron alone shall command in matters of justice and property, and every rule concerning the men of the Community shall be Determined according to their word.
"As for the property of the men of Holiness who walk in perfection, it shall not be merged with that of the men of injustice who have not purified their life by separating themselves from iniquity and walking in the way of perfection."
Thanksgiving Psalms
Psalm 4
I thank You, O L-rd,
for Your Eye Is Awake and Watches Over my soul.
You Rescue me from the jealousy of liars,
from the congregation of those who seek the smooth way.
But You Save the soul of the poor
whom they planned to destroy
by spilling the blood of Your servant.
I walked because of You - but they didn`t know this.
They laughed at me. They shamed me
with lies from their mouth.
But You Helped the soul of the poor and the weak,
You Saved me from their harsh arms,
You Redeemed me amid their taunts.
From the wicked I do not fear destruction.
Psalm 5
They made my life a ship on the deep sea,
like a fortified city circled by aggressors.
I hurt like a woman in labor bearing her first child,
whose belly pangs torture her in the crucible.
Pains of Hell
for a son comes on the waves of death.
She labors to bear a man,
and among the waves of death she gives birth to a manchild,
with pains of Hell.
He springs from the crucible,
O wondrous counselor with power :
Yes, a man emerges from the waves..
But she who carries dead seed in her womb
suffers waves from a pit of horror.
The foundations of the wall will rock
like a ship on the face of the waters.
Clouds will bellow.
Those who dwell in the dust, like those on the sea,
are terrified by the roar of the waters.
All those wise men are like mariners on the deep:
their wisdom confounded by the roaring seas.
The abyss boils over the fountains of water.
The seas rage.
Hell opens, and arrows fly toward Heaven.
Their eternal bars are bolted.
Psalm 8
I thank You, O L-rd.
You Illumined my face by Your Covenant.
I seek You,
As sure as the dawn You Appear as Perfect Light.
Teachers of lies have comforted your people
and now they stumble, foolishly.
They abhor themselves
and do not esteem me through whom Your wonders
and powers are manifest.
They have banished me from my land like a bird
from its nest, and my friends
and neighbors are driven from me.
They think me a broken pot.
They preach lies. They are dissembling prophets.
They devise baseness against me,
exchanging Your teaching, written in my heart,
for smooth words.
They deny knowledge to the thirsty
and force them to drink vinegar to cover up error.
They stumble through mad feasts,
but you, G-d, spurn the schemes of Belial.
Your Wisdom prevails.
Your Hearts' Meditation Prevails, Established Forever.
Psalm 23
Your Holy Spirit
Illuminates the dark places of the heart
of your servant,
with Light like the sun.
I look to the covenants made by men,
worthless.
Only Your Truth Shines,
and those who love It are wise
and walk in the Glow
of Your Light.
From darkness You Raise hearts.
Let Light Shine on your servant.
Your Light Is Everlasting.
Thanksgiving Hymns
Column 8
4. I [praise You, O L-rd, because You] placed me as an overflowing fountain in a desert, and (as) a spring of water in a land of dryness, and as an i[rri]gator of the garden.
5. You [have plant]ed a planting of cypress, and elm, with cedar together (yachad) for Your Glory;
6. (these are) the trees of life hidden among the trees of the water beside the mysterious water source. And they caused to sprout the shoot (n'tzer) for the eternal planting.
7. Before they shall cause to sprout they strike root, and send forth their roots to the river. And its' trunk shall be open to the living water; and it shall become an eternal fountain.
8. But upon the shoot (n'tzer) every [beast] of the forest shall feed. And its' trunk a place of trampling for all who pass over the way (derek).
9. And its' branches (shall be food) for every type of bird. And the tre[es] of the water shall exalt themselves over it, because they shall become magnified in their planting.
10. But they shall not send forth a root to the river. And he who causes to sprout the hol[y] shoot (n'tzer) for the planting of truth is concealed
11. with the result that he is not esteemed, and the sealing of his mystery is not perceived.
16. And You, O my G-d, have put in my mouth as it were an autumn rain for all [the sons of men], and as a spring of living waters which shall not run dry.
Commentary on Nahum*
I
[Where is the lions' den and the cave of the young lions?](ii.II)
[Interpreted this concerns] ...a dwelling-place for the ungodly of the nations.
Whither the lion goes, there is the lions' cub, [with none to disturb it] (ii,IIb)
[Interpreted this concerns Deme]trius king of Greece who sought, on the counsel of those who seek smooth things, to enter Jerusalem. [But G-d did not permit the city to be delivered] into the hands of the kings of Greece, from the time of Antiochus until the coming of the rulers of the Kittim. But then she shall be trampled under their feet...
The lion tears enough for its' cubs and it chokes prey for its' lionesses (ii,12a)
[Interpreted, this] concerns the furious young lion who strikes by means of his great men, and by means of the men of his council.
[And chokes prey for its' lionesses; and it fills] its' caves [with prey] and its' dens with victims (ii,12a).
Interpreted, this concerns the furious young lion [who executes revenge] on those who seek smooth things and hangs men alive, [a thing never done] formerly in Israel. Because of a man hanged alive on [the] tree, He Proclaims, "Behold I AM against [you Says the L-RD of Hosts".]
[I will burn up your multitude in smoke], and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will [cut off] your prey [from the earth]. (ii,13)
[Interpreted]..."your multitude" is the bands of his army ...and his young lions are...his "prey" is the wealth which [the Priests] of Jerusalem have [amassed], which ... Israel shall be delivered ...
[And the voice of your messengers shall no more be heard] (ii,13b)
[Interpreted] II ...his messengers are his envoys whose voice shall no more be heard among the nations.
Woe to the city of blood; it is full of lies and rapine (iii,1ab)
Interpreted, this is the city of Ephraim, those who seek smooth things during the last days, who walk in lies and falsehood.
The prowler is not wanting, noise of whip and noise of rattling wheel, prancing horse and jolting chariot, mounting horsemen, flame and glittering spear, a multitude of slain and a heap of carcasses. There is no end of corpses; they stumble upon their corpses. (iii,Ic-3)
Interpreted, this concerns the dominions of those who seek smooth things, from the midst of whose assembly the sword of the nations shall never be wanting. Captivity, looting, and burning shall be among them, and exile from dread of the enemy. A multitude of guilty corpses shall fall in their days; there shall be no end to the sum of their slain. They shall also stumble upon their body of flesh because of their guilty counsel.
Because of the many harlotries of the well-favored harlot, the mistress of seduction, she who sells nations through her harlotries and families through her seductions (iii,4)
Interpreted, this concerns those who lead Ephraim astray, who lead many astray through their false teaching, their lying tongue, and deceitful lips - kings, princes, priests and people, together with the stranger who joins them. Cities and families shall perish through their counsel; honourable men and rulers shall fall through their tongues' [decision].
Behold I AM against you - oracle of the L-RD of Hosts - and I will lift up your skirts to your face and expose your nakedness to the nations and your shame to the kingdoms. (iii,5)
Interpreted ... cities of the east. For the "skirts" are ... III and the nations shall ... among them their filthy idols.
I will cast filth upon you and treat you with contempt and render you despicable, so that all who look upon you shall flee from you (iii,6-7a)
Interpreted, this concerns those who seek smooth things, whose evil deeds shall be uncovered to all Israel at the end of time. Many shall understand their iniquity and treat them with contempt because of their guilty presumption. When the glory of Judah shall arise, the simple of Ephraim shall flee from their assembly; they shall abandon those who lead them astray and shall join Israel.
They shall say, Ninevah is laid waste; who shall grieve over her? Whence shall I seek comforters for you? (iii,7b)
Interpreted, this concerns those who seek smooth things, whose Council shall perish and whose congregation shall be dispersed. They shall lead the assembly astray no more, and the simple shall support their Council no more.
Are you better than Amon which lay among the rivers? (iii,8a)
Interpreted, "Amon" is Manasseh, and the "rivers" are the great men of Manasseh, the honourable men of ...
Which was surrounded by waters, whose rampart was the sea and whose walls were waters? (iii,8b)
Interpreted, these are her valiant men, her almighty warriors.
Ethiopia [and Egypt] were her [limitless] strength (iii,9b)
[Interpreted] ...
[Put and the Lybians were your helpers] (iii,9b)
IV Interpreted, these are the wicked of [Judah], the House of Separation, who join Manasseh.
Yet she was exiled; she went into captivity. Her children were crushed at the top of all the streets. They cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound with chains. (iii,10)
Interpreted, this concerns Manasseh in the final age, whose kingdom shall be brought low by [Israel ...] his wives, his children, and his little ones shall go into captivity. His mighty men and honourable men [shall perish] by the sword.
[You shall be drunk] and shall be stupified (iii,11a)
Interpreted, this concerns the wicked of E[phraim ...] whose cup shall come after Manasseh ...
[You shall also seek] refuge in the city because of the enemy (iii,11b)
Inter[preted, this concerns ...] their enemies in the city ...
[All your strongholds shall be] like fig trees with newly-ripe figs (iii,12a)
...
[*NOTE: Ephraim and Manasseh in the Commentary on Nahum are to be considered as the Pharisees and the Sadducees respectively, according to Geza Vermes, "The Dead Sea Scrolls in English", Penguin Books, 1975, footnote, p.65.]
1QSb = 1Q28b: Blessings (Intended for the Messianic Kingdom)
I Words of blessing. The Master shall bless them that fear [G-d and do] His will, that keep His commandments, and hold fast to His holy [Covenant], and walk perfectly [in all the ways of] His [truth]; whom He has chosen for an eternal Covenant which shall endure forever.
May the [L-rd bless you from the abode of His holiness]; may He open for you from heaven an eternal fountain which [shall not fail]!
...
May He [favour] you with every [heavenly] blessing; [may He teach you] the knowledge of the Holy Ones!
[May He unlock for you the] everlasting [fountain; may He not withold the waters of life from] them that thirst!
...
II ...
III May the L-rd lift His countenance towards you; [may He delight in the] sweet odor [of your sacrifices]!
May He choose [all] them that sit in your pries[tly college]; may He store up all your sacred offerings, and in the [season of]...all your seed!
May He [lift] His countenance towards your congregation!
May He place upon your head [a diadem]...in [everlasting] glory; may He sanctify your seed in glory without end!
May He grant you everlasting [peace]...
May He fight [at the head of] your Thousands [until the generation of falsehood is ended]...[to bend] many people before you...all the riches of the world!
For G-d has established all the foundations of...may He lay the foundation of your peace forever!
Words of blessing. The M[aster shall bless] the sons of Zadok the Priests, whom G-d has chosen to confirm His Covenant for [ever, and to inquire] into all His precepts in the midst of His people, and to instruct them as he commanded; who have established [His Covenant] on truth and watched over all His laws with righteousness and walked according to the way of His choice.
May the L-rd bless you from His holy [Abode]; may He set you as a splendid jewel in the midst of the congregation of the saints!
May He [renew] for you the Covenant of the [everlasting] priesthood; may He sanctify you [for the House] of Holiness!
May He [judge all] the leaders by your works, and all [the princes] of the peoples by the words from your lips!
May He give you as your portion the first-fruits of [all delectable things]; may He bless by your hand the counsel of all flesh!
IV ...may everlasting blessings be upon your head!
...
[For] He has chosen you [to]...and to number the saints and to [bless] your people...the men of the Council of G-d by your hand, and not by the hand of a prince...
...May you be as an Angel of the Presence in the Abode of Holiness to the glory of the G-d of [hosts]...
May you attend upon the service in the Temple of the Kingdom and decree destiny in company with the Angels of the Presence, in common council [with the Holy Ones] for everlasting ages and time
without end; for [all] His judgments are [truth]!
May He make you holy among His people, and an [eternal] light [to illumine] the world with knowledge and to enlighten the face of the Congregation [with wisdom]!
[May He] consecrate you to the Holy of Holies! For [you are made] holy for Him and you shall glorify His Name and His holiness...
V ...
The Master shall bless the Prince of the Congregation...and shall renew for him the Covenant of the Community that he may establish the kingdom of His people for ever, [that he may judge the poor with righteousness and] dispense justice with [equity to the oppressed] of the land, and that he may walk perfectly before Him in all the ways [of truth], and that he may establish His holy Covenant at the time of the affliction for those that seek G-d.
May the L-rd raise you up to everlasting heights, and as a fortified tower upon a high wall!
[May you smite the peoples] with the might of your hand and ravage the earth with your sceptre; may you bring death to the ungodly with the breath of your lips!
[May He shed upon you the spirit of counsel] and everlasting might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of G-d; may righteousness be the girdle [of your loins] and may your reins br girded [with faithfulness]!
May He make your horns of iron and your hooves of bronze; may you toss like a young bull [and trample the peoples] like the mire of the streets!
For G-d has established you as the sceptre. The rulers...[and all the kings of the] nations shall serve you. He shall strengthen you with His holy Name and you shall be as a [lion; and you shall not lie down until you have devoured the] prey which nought shall deliver...
The Book of Secrets
1Q,4Q299-301
4Q301 F.1
(...) I shall speak out freely, and I shall express my various sayings
among you (...) (.. those who would understand parables and riddles,
and those who would penetrate the origins of knowledge, along with
those who hold fast to the wonderful mysteries ...) (...) those who walk
in simplicity as well as those who are devious in every activity of the deeds
of humanity ...) those with a stiff neck, a hard pate, and all the mass of the
Gentiles, with (...)
4Q301 F.2
the customs of the fool and the inheritance of the wise (...)
Now what good is the riddle to you, you who search for the origins
of knowledge? Why is the heart honored, for it is the dominion (...)
a parable? Why is it splendid to you, for it is (...)
Why is a prince (...) ruler? (...) without strength, and he dominates
him with a whip that cost nothing. Who could say (...) who among you
seeks the presence of Light and Illumination (...) the plan of memory
without (...) (...) by the angels of (...) (...) those who praise (...)
4Q300 F.3
so that they would know the difference between good and evil .....)
1Q27 col.1
secrets of sin (...) but they did not know the secret
of the way things are nor did they understand the things of old
and they did not know what would come upon them, so they did not
rescue themselves without the secret of the way things are.
This shall be the sign that this shall come to pass : when the sources
of evil are shut up and wickedness is banished in the presence of
righteousness, as darkness in the presence of light, or as smoke
vanishes and is no more, in the same way wickedness will vanish
forever and righteousness will be manifest like the sun.
The world will be made firm and all the adherents of the secrets
of sin shall be no more. True knowledge shall fill the world and
there will never be any more folly. This is all ready to happen, it is a
true oracle, and by this it shall be known to you that it cannot be averted.
It is true that all the peoples reject evil, yet it advances in all of them.
It is true that truth is esteemed in the utterances of all the nations -
yet is there any tongue or language that grasp it?
What nation wants to be oppressed by another that is stronger?
Or who wants his money to be stolen by a wicked man?
Yet what nation is there that has not oppressed its' neighbour?
Where is the people that has not robbed the wealth of another ...
4Q299 F.2 (+4Q300 F.5) Col.2
what should we call a man who ... his) deeds (...) but every deed of
the righteous has been judged impure. And what shall we call man who
(... call no one on earth) wise or righteous, for it is not a human possession
(...) and not (...) (...wisdom is hidden) except for the wisdom of cunning
evil, and the schemes of Belial ...) a thing that ought never to be done again,
except (...) the command of his Maker ; and what shall a man do and live?
... he who) has violated the Command of his Maker shall have his name
erased from the mouth of all (...) (...)
So listen, you who hold fast to the wonderful secrets ...) of eternity
, and the plots behind every deed, and the purpose of .... He knows)
every secret and stands behind every thought. He does every (... the Lord of all)
is He, from long ago He established it, and forever (...) (...) the purpose
of the origins He opened up to (...) (...) for He tests His son, and Gives
as an Inheritance (...) (...) every secret, and the limits of every deed;
and what (...) (...) the Gentiles, for He created them and their deeds (...)
4Q300 F.1 Col.2
Consider the soothsayers, those teachers of sin. Say the parable,
declare the riddle before we speak; then you will know if you
have understood. (...) your foolishness, for the vision is sealed up
from you, and you have not properly understood the eternal mysteries
and you have not become wise in understanding (...) (...) for you
have not properly understood the origin of Wisdom; but if you
should unseal the vision (...) (...) all your wisdom, for to you
(...)
Hear now what wisdom is.
4Q299 F.5
(...light)s of the stars for a memorial of His Name ...)(...hidden)
things of the mysteries of Light and the ways of Darkness
(...) (...) the times of heat with the periods (of cold....)
(... the breaking of day) and the coming of night (...) (...)
the origins of things (...).
4Q299 F.8
(...) How can a man understand without knowledge or hearing?
(...) (...) He created insight for His children, by much wisdom He
uncovered our ears that we may h(ear...) (...) He created insight
for all those who pursue true knowledge and (...) (...) all wisdom
is from eternity; it may not be changed (...) (...)
He locked up behind the waters , so that not (...) (...)
the heaven above heaven (...)
4Q301 F.3
(...) and He is well known for His patience, and might in His great anger,
and splendid (...) He in His numerous acts of Mercy, and terrible in
His wrathful purposes, and honoured (...) (...) and over the land
He made him a ruler, and G-d is honoured among His Holy people,
and splendid among His chosen, yes, splendid (...)
holy, great in the blessing of (...) (...) their splendour and (...)
when the Era of Wickedness is at an end, and evil doing (...)
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FOOTNOTES
[1
We put forward the possibility that these were religious zealots, perhaps connected with the Bar Kochba revolt (a letter signed by Bar Kochba was found in a cave nearby) who may have felt duty-bound to destroy whatever Manuscripts that disagreed with their view.
[2
Needless to say, Yeshuas' Words would have soon been carried to the Essene leadership because they were all waiting for just such an One. The Messiah of Israel.
Psalm 4
I thank You, O L-rd, for Your Eye Is Awake and Watches Over my soul. You Rescue me from the jealousy of liars, from the congregation of those who seek the smooth way. But You Save the soul of the poor whom they planned to destroy by spilling the blood of Your servant. I walked because of You - but they didn`t know this. They laughed at me. They shamed me with lies from their mouth. But You Helped the soul of the poor and the weak, You Saved me from their harsh arms, You Redeemed me amid their taunts. From the wicked I do not fear destruction.
Psalm 5
They made my life a ship on the deep sea, like a fortified city circled by aggressors. I hurt like a woman in labor bearing her first child, whose belly pangs torture her in the crucible.
Pains of Hell
for a son comes on the waves of death. She labors to bear a man, and among the waves of death she gives birth to a manchild, with pains of Hell. He springs from the crucible, O wondrous counselor with power : Yes, a man emerges from the waves.. But she who carries dead seed in her womb suffers waves from a pit of horror. The foundations of the wall will rock like a ship on the face of the waters. Clouds will bellow. Those who dwell in the dust, like those on the sea, are terrified by the roar of the waters. All those wise men are like mariners on the deep: their wisdom confounded by the roaring seas. The abyss boils over the fountains of water. The seas rage. Hell opens, and arrows fly toward Heaven. Their eternal bars are bolted.
Psalm 8
I thank You, O L-rd. You Illumined my face by Your Covenant. I seek You, As sure as the dawn You Appear as Perfect Light. Teachers of lies have comforted your people and now they stumble, foolishly. They abhor themselves and do not esteem me through whom Your wonders and powers are manifest. They have banished me from my land like a bird from its nest, and my friends and neighbors are driven from me. They think me a broken pot. They preach lies. They are dissembling prophets. They devise baseness against me, exchanging Your teaching, written in my heart, for smooth words. They deny knowledge to the thirsty and force them to drink vinegar to cover up error. They stumble through mad feasts, but you, G-d, spurn the schemes of Belial. Your Wisdom prevails. Your Hearts' Meditation Prevails, Established Forever.
Psalm 23
Your Holy Spirit Illuminates the dark places of the heart of your servant, with Light like the sun. I look to the covenants made by men, worthless. Only Your Truth Shines, and those who love It are wise and walk in the Glow of Your Light. From darkness You Raise hearts. Let Light Shine on your servant. Your Light Is Everlasting.
Column 8
4. I [praise You, O L-rd, because You] placed me as an overflowing fountain in a desert, and (as) a spring of water in a land of dryness, and as an i[rri]gator of the garden.
5. You [have plant]ed a planting of cypress, and elm, with cedar together (yachad) for Your Glory;
6. (these are) the trees of life hidden among the trees of the water beside the mysterious water source. And they caused to sprout the shoot (n'tzer) for the eternal planting.
7. Before they shall cause to sprout they strike root, and send forth their roots to the river. And its' trunk shall be open to the living water; and it shall become an eternal fountain.
8. But upon the shoot (n'tzer) every [beast] of the forest shall feed. And its' trunk a place of trampling for all who pass over the way (derek).
9. And its' branches (shall be food) for every type of bird. And the tre[es] of the water shall exalt themselves over it, because they shall become magnified in their planting.
10. But they shall not send forth a root to the river. And he who causes to sprout the hol[y] shoot (n'tzer) for the planting of truth is concealed
11. with the result that he is not esteemed, and the sealing of his mystery is not perceived.
16. And You, O my G-d, have put in my mouth as it were an autumn rain for all [the sons of men], and as a spring of living waters which shall not run dry.
Commentary on Nahum*
I
[Where is the lions' den and the cave of the young lions?](ii.II)
[Interpreted this concerns] ...a dwelling-place for the ungodly of the nations.
Whither the lion goes, there is the lions' cub, [with none to disturb it] (ii,IIb)
[Interpreted this concerns Deme]trius king of Greece who sought, on the counsel of those who seek smooth things, to enter Jerusalem. [But G-d did not permit the city to be delivered] into the hands of the kings of Greece, from the time of Antiochus until the coming of the rulers of the Kittim. But then she shall be trampled under their feet...
The lion tears enough for its' cubs and it chokes prey for its' lionesses (ii,12a)
[Interpreted, this] concerns the furious young lion who strikes by means of his great men, and by means of the men of his council.
[And chokes prey for its' lionesses; and it fills] its' caves [with prey] and its' dens with victims (ii,12a).
Interpreted, this concerns the furious young lion [who executes revenge] on those who seek smooth things and hangs men alive, [a thing never done] formerly in Israel. Because of a man hanged alive on [the] tree, He Proclaims, "Behold I AM against [you Says the L-RD of Hosts".]
[I will burn up your multitude in smoke], and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will [cut off] your prey [from the earth]. (ii,13)
[Interpreted]..."your multitude" is the bands of his army ...and his young lions are...his "prey" is the wealth which [the Priests] of Jerusalem have [amassed], which ... Israel shall be delivered ...
[And the voice of your messengers shall no more be heard] (ii,13b)
[Interpreted] II ...his messengers are his envoys whose voice shall no more be heard among the nations.
Woe to the city of blood; it is full of lies and rapine (iii,1ab)
Interpreted, this is the city of Ephraim, those who seek smooth things during the last days, who walk in lies and falsehood.
The prowler is not wanting, noise of whip and noise of rattling wheel, prancing horse and jolting chariot, mounting horsemen, flame and glittering spear, a multitude of slain and a heap of carcasses. There is no end of corpses; they stumble upon their corpses. (iii,Ic-3)
Interpreted, this concerns the dominions of those who seek smooth things, from the midst of whose assembly the sword of the nations shall never be wanting. Captivity, looting, and burning shall be among them, and exile from dread of the enemy. A multitude of guilty corpses shall fall in their days; there shall be no end to the sum of their slain. They shall also stumble upon their body of flesh because of their guilty counsel.
Because of the many harlotries of the well-favored harlot, the mistress of seduction, she who sells nations through her harlotries and families through her seductions (iii,4)
Interpreted, this concerns those who lead Ephraim astray, who lead many astray through their false teaching, their lying tongue, and deceitful lips - kings, princes, priests and people, together with the stranger who joins them. Cities and families shall perish through their counsel; honourable men and rulers shall fall through their tongues' [decision].
Behold I AM against you - oracle of the L-RD of Hosts - and I will lift up your skirts to your face and expose your nakedness to the nations and your shame to the kingdoms. (iii,5)
Interpreted ... cities of the east. For the "skirts" are ... III and the nations shall ... among them their filthy idols.
I will cast filth upon you and treat you with contempt and render you despicable, so that all who look upon you shall flee from you (iii,6-7a)
Interpreted, this concerns those who seek smooth things, whose evil deeds shall be uncovered to all Israel at the end of time. Many shall understand their iniquity and treat them with contempt because of their guilty presumption. When the glory of Judah shall arise, the simple of Ephraim shall flee from their assembly; they shall abandon those who lead them astray and shall join Israel.
They shall say, Ninevah is laid waste; who shall grieve over her? Whence shall I seek comforters for you? (iii,7b)
Interpreted, this concerns those who seek smooth things, whose Council shall perish and whose congregation shall be dispersed. They shall lead the assembly astray no more, and the simple shall support their Council no more.
Are you better than Amon which lay among the rivers? (iii,8a)
Interpreted, "Amon" is Manasseh, and the "rivers" are the great men of Manasseh, the honourable men of ...
Which was surrounded by waters, whose rampart was the sea and whose walls were waters? (iii,8b)
Interpreted, these are her valiant men, her almighty warriors.
Ethiopia [and Egypt] were her [limitless] strength (iii,9b)
[Interpreted] ...
[Put and the Lybians were your helpers] (iii,9b)
IV Interpreted, these are the wicked of [Judah], the House of Separation, who join Manasseh.
Yet she was exiled; she went into captivity. Her children were crushed at the top of all the streets. They cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound with chains. (iii,10)
Interpreted, this concerns Manasseh in the final age, whose kingdom shall be brought low by [Israel ...] his wives, his children, and his little ones shall go into captivity. His mighty men and honourable men [shall perish] by the sword.
[You shall be drunk] and shall be stupified (iii,11a)
Interpreted, this concerns the wicked of E[phraim ...] whose cup shall come after Manasseh ...
[You shall also seek] refuge in the city because of the enemy (iii,11b)
Inter[preted, this concerns ...] their enemies in the city ...
[All your strongholds shall be] like fig trees with newly-ripe figs (iii,12a)
...
[*NOTE: Ephraim and Manasseh in the Commentary on Nahum are to be considered as the Pharisees and the Sadducees respectively, according to Geza Vermes, "The Dead Sea Scrolls in English", Penguin Books, 1975, footnote, p.65.]
1QSb = 1Q28b: Blessings (Intended for the Messianic Kingdom)
I Words of blessing. The Master shall bless them that fear [G-d and do] His will, that keep His commandments, and hold fast to His holy [Covenant], and walk perfectly [in all the ways of] His [truth]; whom He has chosen for an eternal Covenant which shall endure forever.
May the [L-rd bless you from the abode of His holiness]; may He open for you from heaven an eternal fountain which [shall not fail]!
...
May He [favour] you with every [heavenly] blessing; [may He teach you] the knowledge of the Holy Ones!
[May He unlock for you the] everlasting [fountain; may He not withold the waters of life from] them that thirst!
...
II ...
III May the L-rd lift His countenance towards you; [may He delight in the] sweet odor [of your sacrifices]!
May He choose [all] them that sit in your pries[tly college]; may He store up all your sacred offerings, and in the [season of]...all your seed!
May He [lift] His countenance towards your congregation!
May He place upon your head [a diadem]...in [everlasting] glory; may He sanctify your seed in glory without end!
May He grant you everlasting [peace]...
May He fight [at the head of] your Thousands [until the generation of falsehood is ended]...[to bend] many people before you...all the riches of the world!
For G-d has established all the foundations of...may He lay the foundation of your peace forever!
Words of blessing. The M[aster shall bless] the sons of Zadok the Priests, whom G-d has chosen to confirm His Covenant for [ever, and to inquire] into all His precepts in the midst of His people, and to instruct them as he commanded; who have established [His Covenant] on truth and watched over all His laws with righteousness and walked according to the way of His choice.
May the L-rd bless you from His holy [Abode]; may He set you as a splendid jewel in the midst of the congregation of the saints!
May He [renew] for you the Covenant of the [everlasting] priesthood; may He sanctify you [for the House] of Holiness!
May He [judge all] the leaders by your works, and all [the princes] of the peoples by the words from your lips!
May He give you as your portion the first-fruits of [all delectable things]; may He bless by your hand the counsel of all flesh!
IV ...may everlasting blessings be upon your head!
...
[For] He has chosen you [to]...and to number the saints and to [bless] your people...the men of the Council of G-d by your hand, and not by the hand of a prince...
...May you be as an Angel of the Presence in the Abode of Holiness to the glory of the G-d of [hosts]...
May you attend upon the service in the Temple of the Kingdom and decree destiny in company with the Angels of the Presence, in common council [with the Holy Ones] for everlasting ages and time without end; for [all] His judgments are [truth]!
May He make you holy among His people, and an [eternal] light [to illumine] the world with knowledge and to enlighten the face of the Congregation [with wisdom]!
[May He] consecrate you to the Holy of Holies! For [you are made] holy for Him and you shall glorify His Name and His holiness...
V ...
The Master shall bless the Prince of the Congregation...and shall renew for him the Covenant of the Community that he may establish the kingdom of His people for ever, [that he may judge the poor with righteousness and] dispense justice with [equity to the oppressed] of the land, and that he may walk perfectly before Him in all the ways [of truth], and that he may establish His holy Covenant at the time of the affliction for those that seek G-d.
May the L-rd raise you up to everlasting heights, and as a fortified tower upon a high wall!
[May you smite the peoples] with the might of your hand and ravage the earth with your sceptre; may you bring death to the ungodly with the breath of your lips!
[May He shed upon you the spirit of counsel] and everlasting might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of G-d; may righteousness be the girdle [of your loins] and may your reins br girded [with faithfulness]!
May He make your horns of iron and your hooves of bronze; may you toss like a young bull [and trample the peoples] like the mire of the streets!
For G-d has established you as the sceptre. The rulers...[and all the kings of the] nations shall serve you. He shall strengthen you with His holy Name and you shall be as a [lion; and you shall not lie down until you have devoured the] prey which nought shall deliver...
The Book of Secrets
1Q,4Q299-301
4Q301 F.1
(...) I shall speak out freely, and I shall express my various sayings
among you (...) (.. those who would understand parables and riddles,
and those who would penetrate the origins of knowledge, along with
those who hold fast to the wonderful mysteries ...) (...) those who walk
in simplicity as well as those who are devious in every activity of the deeds
of humanity ...) those with a stiff neck, a hard pate, and all the mass of the
Gentiles, with (...)
4Q301 F.2
the customs of the fool and the inheritance of the wise (...)
Now what good is the riddle to you, you who search for the origins
of knowledge? Why is the heart honored, for it is the dominion (...)
a parable? Why is it splendid to you, for it is (...)
Why is a prince (...) ruler? (...) without strength, and he dominates
him with a whip that cost nothing. Who could say (...) who among you
seeks the presence of Light and Illumination (...) the plan of memory
without (...) (...) by the angels of (...) (...) those who praise (...)
4Q300 F.3
so that they would know the difference between good and evil .....)
1Q27 col.1
secrets of sin (...) but they did not know the secret
of the way things are nor did they understand the things of old
and they did not know what would come upon them, so they did not
rescue themselves without the secret of the way things are.
This shall be the sign that this shall come to pass : when the sources
of evil are shut up and wickedness is banished in the presence of
righteousness, as darkness in the presence of light, or as smoke
vanishes and is no more, in the same way wickedness will vanish
forever and righteousness will be manifest like the sun.
The world will be made firm and all the adherents of the secrets
of sin shall be no more. True knowledge shall fill the world and
there will never be any more folly. This is all ready to happen, it is a
true oracle, and by this it shall be known to you that it cannot be averted.
It is true that all the peoples reject evil, yet it advances in all of them.
It is true that truth is esteemed in the utterances of all the nations -
yet is there any tongue or language that grasp it?
What nation wants to be oppressed by another that is stronger?
Or who wants his money to be stolen by a wicked man?
Yet what nation is there that has not oppressed its' neighbour?
Where is the people that has not robbed the wealth of another ...
4Q299 F.2 (+4Q300 F.5) Col.2
what should we call a man who ... his) deeds (...) but every deed of
the righteous has been judged impure. And what shall we call man who
(... call no one on earth) wise or righteous, for it is not a human possession
(...) and not (...) (...wisdom is hidden) except for the wisdom of cunning
evil, and the schemes of Belial ...) a thing that ought never to be done again,
except (...) the command of his Maker ; and what shall a man do and live?
... he who) has violated the Command of his Maker shall have his name
erased from the mouth of all (...) (...)
So listen, you who hold fast to the wonderful secrets ...) of eternity
, and the plots behind every deed, and the purpose of .... He knows)
every secret and stands behind every thought. He does every (... the Lord of all)
is He, from long ago He established it, and forever (...) (...) the purpose
of the origins He opened up to (...) (...) for He tests His son, and Gives
as an Inheritance (...) (...) every secret, and the limits of every deed;
and what (...) (...) the Gentiles, for He created them and their deeds (...)
4Q300 F.1 Col.2
Consider the soothsayers, those teachers of sin. Say the parable,
declare the riddle before we speak; then you will know if you
have understood. (...) your foolishness, for the vision is sealed up
from you, and you have not properly understood the eternal mysteries
and you have not become wise in understanding (...) (...) for you
have not properly understood the origin of Wisdom; but if you
should unseal the vision (...) (...) all your wisdom, for to you
(...)
Hear now what wisdom is.
4Q299 F.5
(...light)s of the stars for a memorial of His Name ...)(...hidden)
things of the mysteries of Light and the ways of Darkness
(...) (...) the times of heat with the periods (of cold....)
(... the breaking of day) and the coming of night (...) (...)
the origins of things (...).
4Q299 F.8
(...) How can a man understand without knowledge or hearing?
(...) (...) He created insight for His children, by much wisdom He
uncovered our ears that we may h(ear...) (...) He created insight
for all those who pursue true knowledge and (...) (...) all wisdom
is from eternity; it may not be changed (...) (...)
He locked up behind the waters , so that not (...) (...)
the heaven above heaven (...)
4Q301 F.3
(...) and He is well known for His patience, and might in His great anger,
and splendid (...) He in His numerous acts of Mercy, and terrible in
His wrathful purposes, and honoured (...) (...) and over the land
He made him a ruler, and G-d is honoured among His Holy people,
and splendid among His chosen, yes, splendid (...)
holy, great in the blessing of (...) (...) their splendour and (...)
when the Era of Wickedness is at an end, and evil doing (...)
PEOPLE OF G-D MINISTRIES
� Copyright 1999-2003 People of G-d Ministries, Inc. No Reproduction or Redistribution without Prior Permisssion and Consent of People of G-d, Inc.
FOOTNOTES
[1
We put forward the possibility that these were religious zealots, perhaps connected with the Bar Kochba revolt (a letter signed by Bar Kochba was found in a cave nearby) who may have felt duty-bound to destroy whatever Manuscripts that disagreed with their view.
[2
Needless to say, Yeshuas' Words would have soon been carried to the Essene leadership because they were all waiting for just such an One. The Messiah of Israel.
1Q,4Q299-301
4Q301 F.1
(...) I shall speak out freely, and I shall express my various sayings among you (...) (.. those who would understand parables and riddles, and those who would penetrate the origins of knowledge, along with those who hold fast to the wonderful mysteries ...) (...) those who walk in simplicity as well as those who are devious in every activity of the deeds of humanity ...) those with a stiff neck, a hard pate, and all the mass of the Gentiles, with (...)
4Q301 F.2
the customs of the fool and the inheritance of the wise (...) Now what good is the riddle to you, you who search for the origins of knowledge? Why is the heart honored, for it is the dominion (...) a parable? Why is it splendid to you, for it is (...)
Why is a prince (...) ruler? (...) without strength, and he dominates him with a whip that cost nothing. Who could say (...) who among you seeks the presence of Light and Illumination (...) the plan of memory without (...) (...) by the angels of (...) (...) those who praise (...)
4Q300 F.3
so that they would know the difference between good and evil .....)
1Q27 col.1
secrets of sin (...) but they did not know the secret of the way things are nor did they understand the things of old and they did not know what would come upon them, so they did not rescue themselves without the secret of the way things are.
This shall be the sign that this shall come to pass : when the sources of evil are shut up and wickedness is banished in the presence of righteousness, as darkness in the presence of light, or as smoke vanishes and is no more, in the same way wickedness will vanish forever and righteousness will be manifest like the sun. The world will be made firm and all the adherents of the secrets of sin shall be no more. True knowledge shall fill the world and there will never be any more folly. This is all ready to happen, it is a true oracle, and by this it shall be known to you that it cannot be averted.
It is true that all the peoples reject evil, yet it advances in all of them. It is true that truth is esteemed in the utterances of all the nations - yet is there any tongue or language that grasp it? What nation wants to be oppressed by another that is stronger? Or who wants his money to be stolen by a wicked man? Yet what nation is there that has not oppressed its' neighbour? Where is the people that has not robbed the wealth of another ...
4Q299 F.2 (+4Q300 F.5) Col.2
what should we call a man who ... his) deeds (...) but every deed of the righteous has been judged impure. And what shall we call man who (... call no one on earth) wise or righteous, for it is not a human possession (...) and not (...) (...wisdom is hidden) except for the wisdom of cunning evil, and the schemes of Belial ...) a thing that ought never to be done again, except (...) the command of his Maker ; and what shall a man do and live? ... he who) has violated the Command of his Maker shall have his name erased from the mouth of all (...) (...)
So listen, you who hold fast to the wonderful secrets ...) of eternity , and the plots behind every deed, and the purpose of .... He knows) every secret and stands behind every thought. He does every (... the Lord of all) is He, from long ago He established it, and forever (...) (...) the purpose of the origins He opened up to (...) (...) for He tests His son, and Gives as an Inheritance (...) (...) every secret, and the limits of every deed; and what (...) (...) the Gentiles, for He created them and their deeds (...)
4Q300 F.1 Col.2
Consider the soothsayers, those teachers of sin. Say the parable, declare the riddle before we speak; then you will know if you have understood. (...) your foolishness, for the vision is sealed up from you, and you have not properly understood the eternal mysteries and you have not become wise in understanding (...) (...) for you have not properly understood the origin of Wisdom; but if you should unseal the vision (...) (...) all your wisdom, for to you (...)
Hear now what wisdom is.
4Q299 F.5
(...light)s of the stars for a memorial of His Name ...)(...hidden) things of the mysteries of Light and the ways of Darkness (...) (...) the times of heat with the periods (of cold....) (... the breaking of day) and the coming of night (...) (...) the origins of things (...).
4Q299 F.8
(...) How can a man understand without knowledge or hearing? (...) (...) He created insight for His children, by much wisdom He uncovered our ears that we may h(ear...) (...) He created insight for all those who pursue true knowledge and (...) (...) all wisdom is from eternity; it may not be changed (...) (...)
He locked up behind the waters , so that not (...) (...)
the heaven above heaven (...)
4Q301 F.3
(...) and He is well known for His patience, and might in His great anger, and splendid (...) He in His numerous acts of Mercy, and terrible in His wrathful purposes, and honoured (...) (...) and over the land He made him a ruler, and G-d is honoured among His Holy people, and splendid among His chosen, yes, splendid (...) holy, great in the blessing of (...) (...) their splendour and (...) when the Era of Wickedness is at an end, and evil doing (...)
PEOPLE OF G-D MINISTRIES
� Copyright 1999-2003 People of G-d Ministries, Inc. No Reproduction or Redistribution without Prior Permisssion and Consent of People of G-d, Inc.
FOOTNOTES
[1
We put forward the possibility that these were religious zealots, perhaps connected with the Bar Kochba revolt (a letter signed by Bar Kochba was found in a cave nearby) who may have felt duty-bound to destroy whatever Manuscripts that disagreed with their view.
[2
Needless to say, Yeshuas' Words would have soon been carried to the Essene leadership because they were all waiting for just such an One. The Messiah of Israel.