Anonymous ID: 1b3faf Oct. 31, 2020, 2:20 p.m. No.11378941   🗄️.is đź”—kun   >>8945 >>9037 >>9052 >>9060 >>9076

DEAD SEA SCROLLS

PART I

The Dead Sea Scrolls (also the Qumran Caves Scrolls) are ancient Jewish religious manuscripts that were found in the Qumran Caves in the Judaean Desert,

near Ein Feshkha on the northern shore of the Dead Sea in the West Bank.

Scholarly consensus dates these scrolls from the last three centuries BCE and the first century CE.[1][2]

The texts have great historical, religious, and linguistic significance because they include the second-oldest known surviving manuscripts of works later

included in the Hebrew Bible canon, along with deuterocanonical and extra-biblical manuscripts which preserve evidence of the diversity of religious thought

in late Second Temple Judaism. Almost all of the Dead Sea Scrolls are held by the state of Israel in the Shrine of the Book on the grounds of the Israel Museum,

but ownership of the scrolls is disputed by Jordan and Palestine.

 

Many thousands of written fragments have been discovered in the Dead Sea area.

They represent the remnants of larger manuscripts damaged by natural causes or through human interference, with the vast majority holding only small scraps of text.

However, a small number of well-preserved, almost intact manuscripts have survived – fewer than a dozen among those from the Qumran Caves.[1]

Researchers have assembled a collection of 981 different manuscripts – discovered in 1946/47 and in 1956 – from 11 caves.[3]

The 11 Qumran Caves lie in the immediate vicinity of the Hellenistic-period Jewish settlement at Khirbet Qumran in the eastern Judaean Desert, in the West Bank.[4]

The caves are located about one mile (1.6 kilometres) west of the northwest shore of the Dead Sea, whence they derive their name.

Scholarly consensus dates the Qumran Caves Scrolls from the last three centuries BCE and the first century CE.[1]

Bronze coins found at the same sites form a series beginning with John Hyrcanus (in office 135–104 BCE) and continuing until the period of

the First Jewish–Roman War (66–73 CE), supporting the radiocarbon and paleographic dating of the scrolls.[5]

 

In the larger sense, the Dead Sea Scrolls include manuscripts from additional Judaean Desert sites, dated as early as the 8th century BCE and as late as the 11th century CE.[6]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea_Scrolls

Anonymous ID: 1b3faf Oct. 31, 2020, 2:20 p.m. No.11378945   🗄️.is đź”—kun   >>8950 >>8960 >>9052

>>11378941

DEAD SEA SCROLLS

PART II

Biblical texts older than the Dead Sea Scrolls have been discovered only in two silver scroll-shaped amulets containing portions of the Priestly Blessing from the Book of Numbers,

excavated in Jerusalem at Ketef Hinnom and dated c. 600 BCE; some scholars also include the controversial Shapira Scroll. The third-oldest surviving known piece of the Torah,

the En-Gedi Scroll, consists of a portion of Leviticus found in the Ein Gedi synagogue, burnt in the 6th century CE and analyzed in 2015. Research has dated it palaeographically

to the 1st or 2nd century CE, and using the C14 method to sometime between the 2nd and 4th centuries CE.[7]

 

Most of the texts use Hebrew, with some written in Aramaic (for example the Son of God text; in different regional dialects, including Nabataean), and a few in Greek.[8]

Discoveries from the Judaean Desert add Latin (from Masada) and Arabic (from Khirbet al-Mird) texts.[9] Most of the texts are written on parchment,

some on papyrus, and one on copper.[10]

 

Archaeologists have long associated the scrolls with the ancient Jewish sect called the Essenes, although some recent interpretations have challenged this connection

and argue that priests in Jerusalem, or Zadokites, or other unknown Jewish groups wrote the scrolls.[11][12]

 

Owing to the poor condition of some of the scrolls, scholars have not identified all of their texts. The identified texts fall into three general groups:

 

About 40% are copies of texts from the Hebrew Scriptures.

Approximately another 30% are texts from the Second Temple Period which ultimately were not canonized in the Hebrew Bible, like the Book of Enoch,

the Book of Jubilees, the Book of Tobit, the Wisdom of Sirach, Psalms 152–155, etc.

The remainder (roughly 30%) are sectarian manuscripts of previously unknown documents that shed light on the rules and beliefs of a particular group

(sect) or groups within greater Judaism, like the Community Rule, the War Scroll, the Pesher on Habakkuk, and The Rule of the Blessing.[13][need quotation to verify]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea_Scrolls

Anonymous ID: 1b3faf Oct. 31, 2020, 2:21 p.m. No.11378950   🗄️.is đź”—kun   >>8958 >>9052

>>11378945

DEAD SEA SCROLLS

PART III

THE WAR SCROLL

The War of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness

 

The War of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness, also known as War Rule, Rule of War and the War Scroll, is a manual for military organization and strategy

that was discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The manuscript was among the scrolls found in Qumran Cave 1, acquired by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and first published posthumously by Eleazar Sukenik in 1955.[1]

The document is made up of various scrolls and fragments including 1QM, and 4Q491–497.[1] It is possible that The War of the Messiah is the conclusion to this document.[2]

The 4Q491–497 fragments were published by Maurice Baillet in Discoveries in the Judaean Desert, 7 and comprise a shorter recension of the War Scroll.[1]

 

Two time periods have been put forward and defended as the most probable time of composition: the Seleucid period and the Roman period.[3]

The Seleucid period proposals include the very beginning of the Maccabean Revolt (165 or 164 BCE), the height of Jonathan's military power (143 BCE),

and the reign of John Hyrcanus (135–104 BCE).[4]

Scholars who believe the scroll was composed during the Roman period propose a date from the middle of the 1st century BCE to the first decade of the 1st century CE.[4]

The War Scroll's description of the weaponry and tactics led Yigael Yadin to assign the composition of the scroll to a date between the capture of Jerusalem by Pompey (65 BCE)

and the death of Herod (4 BCE).[1]

More recently, author Russell Gmirkin in "The War Scroll and Roman Weaponry Reconsidered" disagrees with Yadin's analysis and assigns the weaponry described in the War Scroll

to the 2nd century BCE.[5] Lt. Col. Peter Fromm (US Army Ret.) sides with Gmirkin also assigning the army and weaponry described in the War Scroll to the 2nd century BCE.[6]

 

Scholars have been unable to determine the exact author of the text. The unity and cohesiveness of the manuscript leads some, such as Jean Carmignac and Yigael Yadin,

to believe that it was written or compiled by a single writer.[1] Most scholars believe, at this point, that it is a composite document, copied from many source documents by one scribe.[7]

In modern times, the genre of 1QM has been described as apocalyptic literature, though some translators and interpreters contend that it is actually a part of sectarian liturgy or tactical treatises.

Jean Duhaime believes that it was probably classified as a part of the serek (rule) texts developed by the Qumranites.[8]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Sons_of_Light_Against_the_Sons_of_Darkness

Anonymous ID: 1b3faf Oct. 31, 2020, 2:21 p.m. No.11378958   🗄️.is đź”—kun   >>8962 >>9052

>>11378950

DEAD SEA SCROLLS

PART IV

THE WAR SCROLL

The War of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness

 

These scrolls contain an apocalyptic prophecy of a war between the Sons of Light and the Sons of Darkness.

The war is described in two distinct parts, first (the War against the Kittim) described as a battle between the Sons of Light, consisting of the sons of Levi, the sons of Judah,

and the sons of Benjamin, and the exiled of the desert, against Edom, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Amalekites, and Philistia and their allies the Kittim of Asshur

(referred to collectively as the army of Belial), and [those who assist them from among the wicked] who "violate the covenant". The second part of the war (the War of Divisions)

is described as the Sons of Light, now the united twelve tribes of Israel, conquering the "nations of vanity." [9]

In the end, all of Darkness is to be destroyed and Light will live in peace for all eternity.[7] The text goes on to detail inscriptions for trumpets and banners for the war

and liturgies for the priests during the conflict.

 

There are many key differences in the way the War against the Kittim and the War of Divisions are described.

The War against the Kittim is referred to as a day of battle with seven stages, with the Sons of Light and the Sons of Darkness each winning three of the first six

before final victory for the Sons of Light by divine intervention in the seventh.

While it is unclear if this is meant as a literal 24-hour period, it does not seem to describe a protracted battle.

After the War against the Kittim there is a six-year period of preparation culminating in the restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem.

The beginning of the description of the War of Divisions says that there are 33 years of war remaining of the total 40 years of the war.

In the War against the Kittim each side will fight alongside angelic hosts and supernatural beings and final victory is achieved for the Sons of Light directly by the hand of God.

In the War of Divisions, on the other hand, there is no mention of angels or supernatural allies fighting alongside either the tribes of Israel or the Nations.

Another distinction is that in the War against the Kittim the Sons of Light face defeat three times before victory, but in the War of Divisions there is not mention of defeat or setbacks of any kind.[7]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Sons_of_Light_Against_the_Sons_of_Darkness

Anonymous ID: 1b3faf Oct. 31, 2020, 2:21 p.m. No.11378962   🗄️.is đź”—kun   >>8964 >>8970 >>9052

>>11378958

DEAD SEA SCROLLS

PART V

THE WAR OF THE MESSIAH

 

The War of the Messiah is a series of Dead Sea Scroll fragments describing the conclusion of a battle led by the Leader of the Congregation.

The fragments that make up this document include 4Q285, also known as The Pierced Messiah Text, and 11Q14 with which it was found to coincide.

It is possible that it also represents the conclusion of the War Scroll, as the two read coherently and discuss related thematic issues.[1]

 

The Pierced Messiah text (4Q285)

This six-line fragment, commonly referred to as the "Pierced Messiah" text, is written in a Herodian script of the first half of the 1st Century

and refers to the "stump of Jesse"—the Messiah—from the Branch of David, to a judgement, killing, and cleansing of the land of the dead by the Messiah's soldiers.

 

Translation from Hebrew

Hebrew is primarily made up of consonants; vowels must be supplied by the reader.

The appropriate vowels depend on the context. Thus, the text (line 4) may be translated as "and the Prince of the Congregation, the Branch of David,

will kill him," or alternately read as "and they killed the Prince." Because of the second reading, the text was dubbed the "Pierced Messiah."

The transcription and translation presented here support the "killing Messiah" interpretation, alluding to a triumphant Messiah (Isaiah 11:4).

 

Pierced Messiah controversy

In September 1992, Time magazine published an article on the War Rule fragment displayed here (object no. 12) exploring the differing interpretations.[2]

A "piercing messiah" reading would support the traditional Jewish view of a triumphant messiah.

If, on the other hand, the fragment were interpreted as speaking of a "pierced messiah," it would anticipate the New Testament view of the preordained death of the messiah.

The scholarly basis for these differing interpretations—but not their theological ramifications—are reviewed in "A Pierced or Piercing Messiah?"[3]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_of_the_Messiah

Anonymous ID: 1b3faf Oct. 31, 2020, 2:22 p.m. No.11378964   🗄️.is đź”—kun   >>8966 >>9052

>>11378962

DEAD SEA SCROLLS

PART VI

THE WAR OF THE MESSIAH

 

Two different readings

There are two possible readings of the war scrolls, with most scholars agreeing on the former as the most logical, as it parallels with the War Scroll and other Dead Sea Scrolls.

 

Scholarly consensus: English translation

(Serekh ha-Milhamah) 4Q285 (SM) Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority (12)

 

[…]Isaiah the prophet: [The thickets of the forest] will be cut [

down with an axe and Lebanon by a majestic one will f]all. And there shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse [

] the Branch of David and they will enter into judgement with [

] and the Prince of the Congregation, the Bran[ch of David] will kill him [

by stroke]s and by wounds. And a Priest [of renown (?)] will command [

the s]lai[n] of the Kitti[m]

Transcription and translation by G. Vermes

 

Pierced Messiah reading

"[…]Isaiah the prophet: [The thickets of the forest] will be fell [ed

with an axe and Lebanon shall f]all by a mighty one]. A staff shall rise from the root of Jesse, [and a planting from his roots will bear fruit …

] the Branch of David. They will enter into judgment with […

] and they will put to death the Prince of the Congregation, the Bran[ch of David …

] and with woundings, and the (high) priest will command [ …

the s]lai[n] of the Kitti[m]"

Transcription and translation by Eisenman and Wise

 

Terminology

11Q14 describes a Leader of the Congregation, that is, a messianic figure known from other Dead Sea Scrolls.

References to Kittim refer to an opposing force, and scholars agree that it most likely refers to the Romans.[citation needed]

The stump of Jesse and Branch of David in Frag. 1 Col. 1 refer to the coming of a Messiah from the line of King David.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_of_the_Messiah

Anonymous ID: 1b3faf Oct. 31, 2020, 2:22 p.m. No.11378966   🗄️.is đź”—kun   >>8984 >>9011 >>9052 >>9210

>>11378964

DEAD SEA SCROLLS

PART VII

THE WAR OF THE MESSIAH

 

Despite the unanimous and confident conclusion of Geza Vermes’ Oxford Forum that the so-called Pierced Messiah text

(4Q285) actually celebrates the triumph of a piercing Messiah who slays his enemies,a things are not so clear.

Vermes’ bald conclusion, “The fragment does not speak of a slain messiah,” surely goes beyond the evidence.

It also ignores other perfectly plausible possibilities and gives the nonspecialist reader the impression that Vermes’ view is the only “scholarly” option.

Given the fragmented nature of the text in its present state, all interpretations are necessarily preliminary. I offer here a number of points that might be included in this discussion.

 

First, Robert Eisenman and Michael Wise should be commended for immediately releasing their preliminary translation of such a fascinating text. After all,

J. T. Milik had the text for decades, and none of us even knew it existed until November 8, 1991, when the Associated Press story came out.

Here we have a highly legible fragment that mentions within five lines a Davidic messiah figure, someone being judged and killed, and the notion of woundings or piercing.

Whatever it means, it is undeniably of intense interest to scholars and the public.

Thanks to Eisenman and Wise, who located this fascinating fragment among hundreds of photos, we have all now had a chance to discuss its meaning The original

AP wire story expressed the normal caveats: “if the translation is correct,” etc.

https://www.baslibrary.org/biblical-archaeology-review/18/6/13

 

More reference material

https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-War-of-the-Sons-of-Light-Against-the-Sons-of-Darkness

https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/sons-light

https://biblehub.com/1_thessalonians/5-5.htm

https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Luke%2016%3A8

https://www.skywatchtv.com/2019/11/02/the-essenes-the-dead-sea-scrolls-and-the-prophesied-coming-war-between-the-sons-of-light-against-the-sons-of-darkness/

https://www.qumran.org/js/qumran/hss/1qm

https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/war-scroll

https://www.deadsea.com/articles-tips/history-of-the-dead-sea-war-scroll/

https://www.jstor.org/stable/4193090?seq=1

https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/232860718.pdf

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23932394-the-war-scroll-the-war-of-the-sons-of-light-against-the-sons-of-darkness

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/tag/war-scroll/