Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Excerpts from 4Q541 (4QApocryphon of Levib)

In the following from 4Q541 (AKA 4QApocryphon of Levib), a future priest shows dramatic correlations with the atoning mission of Jesus:

 

Frag. 9 col. i 1 […] … […] the sons of his generation […] … […] 2 […] his [wi]sdom. And he will atone for all the children of his generation, and he will be sent to all the children of 3 his [people]. His word is like the word of the heavens, and his teaching, according to the will of God. His eternal sun will shine 4 and its fire will burn in all the ends of the earth; above the darkness it will shine. Then, darkness will vanish 5 [fr]om the earth, and gloom from the dry land. They will utter many words against him, and an abundance of 6 [lie]s; they will fabricate fables against him, and utter every kind of disparagement against him. His generation will be evil and changed 7 [and …] will be, and its position of deceit and of violence. [And] the people will go astray in his days and they will be bewildered.

 

Frag. 9 col. ii 3 […] … […] 4 [… w]ho has seen one […] 5 seven rams watch[ing …] 6 some of his sons will go […] 7 and they will be added to … […]

 

Frag. 24 col. ii 1 […] … […] … […] 2 Do [n]ot mourn for [him …] and do not […] 3 [And] God will establish many […] many […] will be revealed, and […] 4 Examine, ask and know what the dove has asked; and do not punish it by the sea-mew and […] … […] 5 do not bring the night-hawk near it. And you will establish for your father a name of joy, and for your brothers you will make a [tested] foundation 6 rise. You will see and rejoice in eternal light. And you will not be of the enemy. Blank (Florentino García Martínez and Eibert J. C. Tigchelaar, The Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition [Leiden: Brill, 1999], 1081)