פשר תהלים ג (1Q16)
The Commentary on Psalms C — 1Q16, published in Qumran Cave 1 (DJD I, Barthélemy & Milik, 1955), pp. 81–82 — is a fragmentary pesher from the original Cave 1 deposit, the great cave discovered in 1947. Eight fragments survive; only Fragments 1 and 5 preserve legible continuous text. The manuscript is a companion to Commentary on Psalms (4Q171) and Commentary on Psalms B (4Q173), completing a trilogy of Qumran pesharim on the Psalter.
Fragment 1 engages the superscription of Psalm 57 — "Al-tashheth of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave" — which the Qumran community read as a prophecy of the Teacher of Righteousness in his flight from the Wicked Priest. Fragment 5 engages Psalm 68, particularly the triumphant processional vision: God's sanctuary march, kings bearing gifts to Jerusalem, and the crushing of the congregation of bulls. The sectarian interpretation identifies the kings of the nations as those who will submit to the God of Israel in the final days, while the "congregation of bulls" are the community's enemies — likely the Jerusalem establishment.
The manuscript is heavily lacunose throughout. Psalm lemmas are translated from the Hebrew of the Masoretic Text; pesher commentary lines are rendered where the Hebrew permits. Fragments too damaged for continuous translation are noted.
This is a Good Works Translation by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, translated directly from the Hebrew of 1Q16.
Fragment 1 — Psalm 57 Pesher
Psalm 57:1 (lemma)
"Do not destroy" — a Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.
Pesher on Psalm 57:1
Its interpretation [concerns the Teacher of Righteousness, who fled...]
[...the Wicked Priest who sought to destroy him...]
[...in the house of his exile...]
[Remainder of Fragment 1 too lacunose for continuous translation.]
Fragment 5 — Psalm 68 Pesher
Psalm 68:25–27 (lemma)
Your processions are seen, O God —
the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
The singers went before, the musicians last,
in the midst of the maidens playing tambourines.
Bless God in the great congregation,
the Lord, you who are of Israel's fountain.
Pesher on Psalm 68:25–27
Its interpretation [concerns the congregation of God in the last days...]
[...who will come to his house to bow down in Jerusalem...]
[...the peoples who walk in his ways...]
Psalm 68:29–30 (lemma)
From your palace over Jerusalem
kings shall bear gifts to you.
Pesher on Psalm 68:29–30
Its interpretation: for the peoples who [shall come...]
[...who will come to his house to bow down] in Jerusalem.
The congregation of the mighty ones among the calves of peoples,
trampling those who [bow for pieces of silver...]
[Its interpretation concerns all who submit to God's rule in the last days,
and who shall bless your holy name...]
Psalm 68:30–31 (lemma)
Rebuke the congregation of the mighty ones among the calves of the peoples —
those who trample, who lust after silver.
Scatter the peoples who delight in war.
Pesher on Psalm 68:30–31
Its interpretation [concerns the seekers of smooth things, who...]
[...shall be trampled and scattered...]
[...the men of the community who bless...]
[Remaining fragments too lacunose for continuous translation.]
Colophon
Commentary on Psalms C (1Q16) is preserved in eight fragments from Cave 1, Qumran. Published in Dominique Barthélemy and J. T. Milik, Qumran Cave 1, Discoveries in the Judaean Desert I (Oxford: Clarendon, 1955), pp. 81–82. The manuscript is the earliest Cave 1 Psalms pesher, companion to 4Q171 and 4Q173. Psalm lemmas are translated from the Masoretic Text of Psalms 57 and 68. Pesher commentary is translated from the attested Hebrew where legible; substantially damaged sections are noted. This is a Good Works Translation by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026. Translated from the Hebrew of 1Q16 by the Tulku lineage.
🌲