Qumran Cave 4 XV: The Sapiential Texts, Part 1

by Elgvin, Torleif; Kister, Menachem; Lim, Timothy; Nitzan, Bilhah; Pfann, Stephen; Qimron, Elisha; Schiffman, Lawrence H.; Steudel, Annette; Fitzmyer, Joseph A.

• ISBN13: 9780198269380
• ISBN10: 0198269382
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-11-13
• Publisher: Clarendon Press

Summary

This volume contains a collection of previously unknown compositions from the Second Temple period found in Cave 4 at Qumran. The specialized terminology used in these works allows them to be classified as sapiential (or instructional) literature. As such, they are part of the larger genre of wisdom literature, common in the Ancient Near East. These compositions, including work such as Mysteries , Ways of Righteousness , and Admonitory Parable , enhance our understanding of the keen interest in theological and ethical issues both of the Qumran community specifically and of Second Temple period Judaism in general.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF PLATES	ix	(1)
FOREWORD	x
A. WORDS OF THE MASKIL TO ALL SONS OF DAWN	1	(30)
S. J. Pfann
M. Kister
298. 4QcryptA Words of the Maskil to All Sons of Dawn (Pls. I-II)	1	(30)
B. MYSTERIES	31	(94)
L. Schiffman
299-301. 4QMysteries(a-b, c?): Introduction	31	(2)
299. 4QMysteries(a) (Pls. III-VII)	33	(66)
300. 4QMysteries(b) (Pl. VIII)	99	(14)
301. 4QMysteries(c)? (Pl. IX)	113	(12)
C. ADMONITORY PARABLE	125	(26)
B. Nitzan
302. 4QpapAdmonitory Parable (Pls. X-XII)	125	(26)
D. MEDITATIONS ON CREATION	151	(8)
T. Lim
303. 4QMeditation on Creation A (Pl. XIII)	151	(4)
304. 4QMeditation on Creation B (Pl. XIII)	155	(2)
305. 4QMeditation on Creation C (Pl. XIII)	157	(2)
E. SAPIENTIAL TEXTS	159	(10)
A. Steudel
411. 4QSapiential Hymn (Pl. XIV)	159	(4)
412. 4QSapiential-Didactic Work A (Pl. XIV)	163	(6)
F. COMPOSITION CONCERNING DIVINE PROVIDENCE	169	(4)
E. Qimron
413. 4QComposition concerning Divine Providence (Pl. XIV)	169	(4)
G. WAYS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS	173	(30)
T. Elgvin
420. 4QWays of Righteousness(a) (Pl. XV)	173	(10)
421. 4QWays of Righteousness(b) (Pl. XVI)	183	(20)
H. SAPIENTIAL TEXTS	203	(22)
A. Steudel
425. 4QSapiential-Didactic Work B (Pl. XVII)	203	(8)
426. 4QSapiential-Hymnic Work A (Pl. XVIII)	211	(14)
CONCORDANCES	225
S. Pfann
PLATES	I-XVIII