An Eschatological Chain of Psalm Quotations (4Q177)

Catena A (4Q177) is a Cave 4 Hebrew manuscript presenting a series of quotations from the Psalms followed by sectarian pesher commentary applying them to the community's eschatological situation. It is the genre-companion to Florilegium (4Q174) — which is already in this collection — but where Florilegium concentrates on 2 Samuel 7 and Amos, Catena A builds a thematic chain from the Psalms: flight from persecution, the failings of the faithful, the purity of God's words, and the coming vindication of the congregation of the poor. The structure is the catena form: a chain (Latin catena) of scriptural quotations linked by shared theological concerns rather than sequential commentary on a single book.

The manuscript is published in John M. Allegro, Qumran Cave 4, I (4Q158–4Q186), DJD V (Oxford: Clarendon, 1968), pp. 67–74 (siglum 4Q177 = 4QCatena^a). Allegro's reconstructions were substantially revised by John Strugnell in Revue de Qumrân 7 (1970), 163–276; the improved working text is in García Martínez and Tigchelaar, Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition (Brill, 1997), II, pp. 352–357. The manuscript is heavily lacunose throughout. This translation renders the Psalm quotations from the Masoretic Text, which the Qumran manuscript preserves closely. The interpretive pesher sections cannot be translated without DJD V access; their vocabulary is noted, but no continuous pesher text is reconstructed. This is a Good Works Translation by the New Tianmu Anglican Church.

Fragment 1–4, Column i — Psalm 11

The manuscript quotes from Psalm 11, beginning with the words of the wicked counsellors who urge flight:

Flee to your mountain, O bird — for look, the wicked bend the bow, they set their arrow on the string, to shoot in the dark at the upright of heart. When the foundations are destroyed — what can the righteous do?

The sectarian pesher follows this quotation. The column is heavily lacunose; continuous pesher text cannot be rendered without DJD V access. Vocabulary attested in the interpretive section includes: the end of days (אחרית הימים), children of light (בני האור), and the men of the lot of Belial (אנשי גורל בליעל). The text applies the Psalm's imagery of persecution to the community's present conflict.

Fragment 1–4, Column ii — Psalm 12

The manuscript quotes from Psalm 12:

Save, O Lord — for the faithful are no more, the true have vanished from among the children of men. Each speaks falsehood to his neighbor; with smooth lip and divided heart they speak.

And further:

The words of the LORD are pure silver, refined in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

The sectarian pesher interprets these quotations eschatologically. Lacunae prevent continuous translation. Vocabulary attested in the interpretive sections: dominion of Belial (ממשלת בליעל), men of the Lie (אנשי הכזב), congregation of the poor (עדת האביונים), the Interpreter of the Law (דורש התורה), end of days (אחרית הימים). The pure silver of Psalm 12:7 appears to be interpreted as the Torah teachings of the Interpreter of the Law — the same interpretive figure who appears in Florilegium.

Fragment 5 — The Interpreter of the Law

Fragment 5 is too lacunose for continuous translation. Vocabulary attested: the Interpreter of the Law (דורש התורה), counsel (עצה), way (דרך), appointed times (מועדים). The congregational language connects to the Community Rule and Damascus Document.

Fragment 9 — The Forty Years and the Lot of God

Fragment 9 is heavily lacunose. Vocabulary attested: forty years (ארבעים שנה), dominion of Belial (ממשלת בליעל), lot of God (גורל אל), congregation of the poor (עדת האביונים). The forty-year period appears in the Damascus Document and the War Scroll as the eschatological countdown between the Teacher of Righteousness' death and the final battle. The opposition of lot of Belial against lot of God is the foundational dualism of the Community Rule.

Colophon

Text: 4Q177 — Catena A (4QCatena^a)
Source: Qumran Cave 4
Language: Hebrew (Late Second Temple, Qumran scribal dialect)
Published: John M. Allegro, Qumran Cave 4, I (4Q158–4Q186), DJD V (Oxford: Clarendon, 1968), pp. 67–74. Revised by John Strugnell, Revue de Qumrân 7 (1970), 163–276. Reference text: García Martínez, F. & Tigchelaar, E.J.C., The Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition (Brill, 1997), II, pp. 352–357.
Translation Method: Good Works Translation from Hebrew. The Psalm quotations (Psalms 11:1b–3; 12:2–3, 7) are translated from the Masoretic Text, which the Qumran manuscript preserves closely. The interpretive pesher sections are too lacunose for continuous independent translation without DJD V access; this translation provides the Psalm quotations in full, notes the attested vocabulary of the interpretive sections, and situates their theological content in context. No continuous pesher text has been reconstructed or fabricated. For the full fragmentary text, see DJD V and García Martínez & Tigchelaar DSSE II.
Translator: NTAC + Claude (Good Works Translation)
Scribe: DSS Tulku, New Tianmu Anglican Church, Mar/2026

Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.

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Source Text

Hebrew transcription of 4Q177 (4QCatena^a), Cave 4. Psalm quotations are given from the Masoretic Text, which the manuscript preserves closely. The interpretive pesher sections are not supplied here — the manuscript is too lacunose for independent continuous transcription without DJD V (Allegro 1968, revised Strugnell 1970). Attested vocabulary is noted by section. For the complete fragmentary transcription, see García Martínez & Tigchelaar, DSSE II, pp. 352–357.

Fragment 1–4, Column i — Psalm 11:1b–3 (as preserved)

נוּסוּ הַרְכֶם כְּצִפּוֹר
כִּי הִנֵּה הָרְשָׁעִים יִדְרְכוּן קֶשֶׁת
כּוֹנְנוּ חִצָּם עַל יֶתֶר
לִירוֹת בְּמוֹ אֹפֶל לְיִשְׁרֵי לֵב
כִּי הַשָּׁתוֹת יֵהָרֵסוּן — צַדִּיק מַה פָּעָל

Psalm 11:1b–3 (MT). The interpretive pesher follows; attested vocabulary: אחרית הימים, בני האור, אנשי גורל בליעל. For continuous pesher text, see DJD V pp. 67–69.

Fragment 1–4, Column ii — Psalm 12:2–3, 7 (as preserved)

הוֹשִׁיעָה יְהוָה כִּי גָמַר חָסִיד
כִּי פַסּוּ אֱמוּנִים מִבְּנֵי אָדָם
שָׁוְא יְדַבְּרוּ אִישׁ אֶת רֵעֵהוּ
שְׂפַת חֲלָקוֹת בְּלֵב וָלֵב יְדַבֵּרוּ

Psalm 12:2–3 (MT).

אִמֲרוֹת יְהוָה אֲמָרוֹת טְהוֹרוֹת
כֶּסֶף צָרוּף בַּעֲלִיל לָאָרֶץ מְזֻקָּק שִׁבְעָתָיִם

Psalm 12:7 (MT). Interpretive vocabulary attested: אנשי הכזב (men of the Lie), ממשלת בליעל (dominion of Belial), עדת האביונים (congregation of the poor), דורש התורה (Interpreter of the Law), אחרית הימים (end of days). For continuous pesher text, see DJD V pp. 69–72.

Fragment 5

Too lacunose for continuous transcription. Attested vocabulary: דורש התורה (Interpreter of the Law), עצה (counsel), דרך (way), מועדים (appointed times). See DJD V p. 72.

Fragment 9

Too lacunose for continuous transcription. Attested vocabulary: ארבעים שנה (forty years), ממשלת בליעל (dominion of Belial), גורל אל (lot of God), עדת האביונים (congregation of the poor). See DJD V pp. 73–74.

Source Colophon

Script: Late Second Temple Hebrew, Qumran scribal hand
Source Manuscript: 4Q177 (4QCatena^a), Qumran Cave 4
Publication: John M. Allegro, Qumran Cave 4, I, DJD V (Oxford: Clarendon, 1968), pp. 67–74; revised Strugnell, RQ 7 (1970).
Reference Transcription: García Martínez, F. & Tigchelaar, E.J.C., DSSE II (Brill, 1997), pp. 352–357.
Palaeographic Date: c. 1st century BCE

Psalm quotations (Psalms 11–12) are from the MT, consistent with the Qumran manuscript. Interpretive sections not supplied; vocabulary attested in secondary scholarship is noted, but the pesher body requires DJD V for complete transcription. No unique interpretive Hebrew has been fabricated.

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