Sunday, March 22, 2026 · 天火 · tianmu.org
Pesharim
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Texts
Catena AA Good Works Translation of 4Q177 from Hebrew — a Cave 4 chain of Psalm quotations with sectarian pesher interpretation; the genre-companion to Florilegium (4Q174). Psalm quotations translated from the Masoretic Text; interpretive sections noted but not reconstructed without DJD V access.Commentary on Genesis AA Good Works Translation of Commentary on Genesis A (4Q252) from Hebrew — the Qumran community's reworking of the flood narrative and the messianic pesher on the Branch of David.Commentary on Genesis BA Good Works Translation of 4Q253 from Hebrew — a Cave 4 pesher on Genesis, the second of four Genesis commentary manuscripts from Qumran. Three fragments; Fragment 2 preserves a passage on burnt offerings and the gates of heaven.Commentary on Genesis CA Good Works Translation of 4Q254 from Hebrew — a Cave 4 pesher on Genesis, the third of four Genesis commentary manuscripts from Qumran. Preserves a variant of the Ham-Canaan narrative (Gen 9) and a substantial passage on Judah and Tamar (Gen 38).Commentary on Genesis DA Good Works Translation of 4Q254a from Hebrew — the fourth of four Genesis pesher manuscripts from Cave 4. Preserves the ark measurements (Gen 6:15), a passage on Dan as judge (Gen 49:16–17), and Jacob's final blessing of Joseph (Gen 49:24–25).Commentary on HabakkukThe Pesher on Habakkuk — the Qumran sect's interpretation of the prophet, revealing the Teacher of Righteousness and the Wicked Priest.Commentary on IsaiahPesher Isaiah A from Qumran Cave 4 — the community's running commentary on Isaiah 10–11, interpreting the Assyrian march as the Kittim invasion and the Branch of Jesse as the coming Prince of the Congregation.Commentary on Isaiah BPesher on Isaiah (4Q162) — sectarian commentary on Isaiah 5, naming the Seekers of Smooth Things who have rejected the instruction of the LORD of HostsCommentary on Isaiah CPesher on Isaiah (4Q163) — sectarian commentary on Isaiah 8, 10, 29, 30, and 31, condemning those who seek Egypt's help and the "Seekers of Smooth Things"Commentary on Isaiah DCave 4 pesher on Isaiah 54:11–12, interpreting the jeweled city of restoration as the council of the Qumran community — its foundations, leaders, and assembly as living precious stones.Commentary on Isaiah ECave 4 pesher fragments on Isaiah — the fifth and most lacunose of the Qumran Isaiah commentaries. Fragment 6 preserves the most legible text; remaining fragments yield vocabulary traces only.Commentary on MalachiA Good Works Translation of the Commentary on Malachi (4Q253a) from Hebrew. A Cave 4 pesher applying Malachi 3:16–18 to the Qumran community, identifying them as God's elect treasure, with a halakhic fragment on blood offerings and a reference to the House of Peleg.Commentary on MicahPesher on Micah (1Q14) — Qumran sectarian commentary on Micah 1, 4, 6, and 7, applying the prophet's oracles to the community's own ageCommentary on NahumThe Pesher on Nahum — the Qumran sect's interpretation of Nahum, naming Demetrius king of Greece, the Lion of Wrath, and the crucifixion of men alive upon the tree.Commentary on PsalmsThe Pesher on Psalms — the Qumran sect's interpretation of Psalms 37, 45, and 60, naming the Teacher of Righteousness, the Wicked Priest, and the Man of the Lie.Commentary on Psalms BThe Pesher on Psalms B — Qumran commentary on Psalms 127 and 118:22, interpreting 'the stone which the builders rejected' against the sect's opponents.Commentary on Psalms CThe Pesher on Psalms C — 1Q16 from Cave 1, fragmentary Qumran commentary on Psalm 57 and Psalm 68, applying the psalms of David to the sect's eschatological situation.Commentary on the Apocalypse of WeeksCave 4 Hebrew pesher applying the ten-week periodization of 1 Enoch to the community's eschatological history. Sixth week — exile to Babylon. Seventh week — betrayal by the sons of Levi, the Kittim.Commentary on ZephaniahDead Sea Scrolls pesher on Zephaniah 1:12–13, from Cave 1 (1Q15) and Cave 4 (4Q170). Among the most fragmentary of the Qumran biblical commentaries.FlorilegiumA Good Works Translation of the Florilegium (4Q174) from Hebrew. An eschatological midrash on the Temple, the Branch of David, and the end of days.Midrash Mishpatim4Q251 — A Dead Sea Scrolls halakhic midrash expanding biblical law from Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, including incest prohibitions, assault rulings, firstborn offerings, and Sabbath rules.Pesher HoseaThe Dead Sea Scrolls pesher commentary on the Book of Hosea — interpreting the prophet's oracles of divine judgment and Israel's spiritual adultery as addressed to the Qumran sect's own last days.Pesher on the Latter Days CDead Sea Scrolls eschatological commentary (4Q182), the third of three pesher compositions on the latter days. Single fragment; column i preserves biblical language of stubborn rebellion applied to the sect's enemies; column ii nearly destroyed.TestimoniaA Good Works Translation of the Testimonia (4Q175) from Hebrew. Four proof-texts of the Prophet, the Star, the Priest, and the cursed man of Belial.