Sunday, March 7, 2021

Affirming of the Ontological Existence of Other Deities in the Midst of the True God in the Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice from Qumran

In 4QSongs of the Sabbath Sacrificed (AKA 4Q403/4QShirShabbd), fragment 1, column 1, lines 30-37 we read the following affirmation of the ontological (“real”) existence of other deities in the midst of the One True God:

 

30 Of the Instructor. Song of the sacrifice of the seventh sabbath on the sixteenth of the month. Praise the God of the heights, you exalted ones among all the 31 divinities of knowledge. May the holy ones of God magnify the King of glory, who makes holy with holiness all his holy ones. Chiefs of the praises of 32 all the gods, praise the God [of] majestic praises, for in the magnificence of the praises is the glory of his kingdom. Through it (come) the praises of all 33 gods, together with the splendour of all [his] maje[sty. And] exalt {his} exaltation to the heights, gods of the exalted divinities, and his glorious divinity above 34 all the exalted heights. For h[e is the God of the gods] of all the chiefs of the heights, and king of king[s] of all the eternal councils. {By the will} 35 {of his knowledge} At the words of his mouth a[ll the exalted divinities] exist; by what issues from his lips, all the eternal spirits; [by the w]ill of his knowledge, all his creatures 36 in their enterprises. Sing with joy, those of you enjoying [his knowledge, with] rejoicing among the wonderful gods. Proclaim his glory with the tongue of all who proclaim knowledge, his wonderful songs 37 with the mouth of all who proclaim [him. For he is] God of all who sing {knowledge} for ever, and Judge in his power over all the spirits of understanding. (The Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition, eds. Florentino García Martínez and Eibert J.C. Tigchelaar [Leiden: Brill, 1997], 819)