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Religious Life at Qumran

Religious Life at Qumran. Dr. Daniel K. Falk University of Oregon. Qumran cemetery. Qumran from west. Qumran and Ein Feshka aerial from north. Qumran site from west. Religion. Mythology (What’s the story?) Ritual (What do I do?) Ethical (How do I relate?) Experiential (What do I feel?).

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Religious Life at Qumran

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  1. Religious Life at Qumran Dr. Daniel K. Falk University of Oregon Daniel K. Falk

  2. Qumran cemetery Daniel K. Falk

  3. Qumran from west Daniel K. Falk

  4. Daniel K. Falk Qumran and Ein Feshka aerial from north

  5. Qumran site from west Daniel K. Falk

  6. Religion • Mythology (What’s the story?) • Ritual (What do I do?) • Ethical (How do I relate?) • Experiential (What do I feel?) Daniel K. Falk

  7. Yahad Ostracon In year two of … in Jericho, Honi son of … gave to Eleazar son of Nahmani … Hisdai from Holon … from this day to perpetuity … and the boundaries of the house … the fig trees, the olive trees … when he fulfills his oath to the Community (Yahad) ... Daniel K. Falk

  8. Theodicy • If God is good and powerful, why is there evil? • Why do bad things happen? • Why do bad things happen to good people? • Why do good people do bad things? Daniel K. Falk

  9. Background • Exile and return (6th c. BCE) • Hellenism • Desecration of Temple and Persecution • Antiochus Epiphanes IV (175-164 BCE) • Maccabean Revolt (168-165 BCE) • Hasmonean rule (152-37 BCE) Daniel K. Falk

  10. 4QMMT: Halakhic Letter • And you know that we have separated from the mass of the people … • We have also written to you concerning some of the observances of the Law, which we think are beneficial to you and your people … • … and it will be reckoned for you as righteousness when you perform what is right and good before Him ... Daniel K. Falk

  11. What’s the Story? Daniel K. Falk

  12. Predestination • By Your wisdom [You have establish]ed the successive [generations] and before You created them You knew all their works for ever and ever. . . . • in the wisdom of Your knowledge Youdetermined their destiny before they came into existence and according [to Your will] everything come[s to pass], and nothing happens apart from You. (Thanksgiving Hymns, 1QH 9; M. Abegg) Daniel K. Falk

  13. Dualism God Angels of Light Michael Sons of Light Angels of Darkness Belial Sons of Darkness Daniel K. Falk

  14. Light and Darkness He created the spirits of light and darkness, and upon them he founded every work … (1QS 3:25) But God, in his mysterious understanding and his glorious wisdom, has set an end for the existence of deceit. At the appointed time of visitation he will destroy it forever. (1QS 4:18-2) Daniel K. Falk

  15. Two Spirits He created humans for the dominion of the world, and he appointed for him two spirits in which to walk until the appointed time of his visitation, namely the spirits of truth and deceit… In the hand of the Prince of Lights is the dominion of all the Sons of Righteousness—they walk in the ways of light. In the hand of the Angel of Darkness is all the dominion of the Sons of Deceit—they walk in the ways of darkness. (1QS 3:17-25) Daniel K. Falk

  16. Two Spirits (1QS 3-4) And by the Angel of Darkness comes the straying of all the Sons of Righteousness (1QS 3:21-25) Daniel K. Falk

  17. Eschatology Those whom he curses will be exterminated: These are the cruel [Jews, the w]icked of Israel who will be exterminated and destroyed forever(Psalms Pesher) there shall be a battle and horrible carnage before the God of Israel, for it is a day appointed by Him from ancient times as a battle of annihilation for the Sons of Darkness. (War Scroll) The Sons of Light and the forces of Darkness shall fight together to show the strength of God with the roar of a great multitude and the shout of gods and men: a day of disaster. (War Scroll) God Kingdom of Darkness Kingdom of Light Daniel K. Falk

  18. Revelation Its interpretation concerns the Teacher of Righteousness, to whom God has made known all the mysteries of the words of his servants, the prophets. (Habakkuk Commentary 1QpHab 7) Now this is the Last Days, when those of Israel shall return to the Law of Moses with all their heart and will never turn away again. But the wicked will increase in wickedness ...(MMT) Habakkuk Pesher Daniel K. Falk

  19. Torah Isaiah 40:3: A voice crying: in the wilderness prepare a way for the Lord Rule of the Community 8:14-15 And when these become members of the Community in Israel according to all these rules, they shall separate from the habitation of unjust men and shall go into the wilderness to prepare there the way of Him; as it is written, Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a path for our God. This (path) is the study of the Law which He commanded by the hand of Moses . . . And as the Prophets have revealed by His Holy Spirit. Daniel K. Falk

  20. Isaiah Scroll a Daniel K. Falk

  21. What do I do? Daniel K. Falk

  22. Joining the Yahad Every initiant into the society of the Yahad is to enter the Covenant in full view of all the volunteers. He shall take upon himself a binding oath to return to the Law of Moses ... to all that has been revealed from it to the Sons of Zadok—priests and preservers of the covenant… (1QS 5:7-9; M. Wise) Daniel K. Falk

  23. Sacred Time Daniel K. Falk

  24. Purity: Biblical background • Contact with God/holy • Sources of impurity: • Corpse • bodily fluids • “unnatural“ animals • Ritual purification: • washing clothes • waiting a prescribed period • ritual bath (Miqveh) Daniel K. Falk

  25. Qumran Mikveh Daniel K. Falk

  26. Purification Ritual … and when he has completed the seven days of his purification ... then he shall wash his clothes in water and bathe his body ... and he shall cover his nakedness with his clothes and kneel upon his knees ... ...and he shall bless and recite, “Blessed are You, O God of Israel, who has delivered me from all my transgressions, cleansed me from filthy shame and atoned for me that I might enter …” (Purification Ritual 4Q512) Daniel K. Falk

  27. Qumran dining room Daniel K. Falk

  28. Purity and Sin “None of the perverse men is to enter purifying waters used by the Men of Holiness and contact their purity. (Indeed, it is impossible to be purified without first repenting of evil, in as much as impurity adheres to all who transgress His word).” (Community Rule, 1QS 5:13-14) Daniel K. Falk

  29. Initiation • 1st year probation: • Instruction • No contact with pure food or drink • Property recorded but kept separate • Examination • Postulant: examination • 2nd year probation: • Instruction in esoteric teaching • Can eat pure food but not pure drink • examination • Full Admission Daniel K. Falk

  30. Covenant Ceremony (1QS) 1 • Priests and Levites praise God • People respond “Amen, Amen” 2 • Priests recount God’s righteous acts •Levites recount sins of Israel • People confess sins and God’s justice 3 • Priests bless the “men of God’s lot“ • Levites curse the “men of Belial’s lot“ •People respond “Amen, Amen” 4 • Priests and Levites curse the apostate • People respond “Amen, Amen” Daniel K. Falk

  31. Atonement “Anyone who refuses to enter the society of God … cannot be sanctified by baptism in oceans and rivers, nor purified by mere ritual bathing. . . . Through an upright and humble attitude his sin may be covered, and by humbling himself before all God’s laws his flesh can be made clean. Only thus can he really receive the purifying waters and be purged by the cleansing flow. Let him order his steps to walk faultless in all the ways of God . . . Then indeed will he be accepted by God ...”(Rule of the Community, 1QS 3:4-12 ) Daniel K. Falk

  32. Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice For theMaskil. Song of the whole offering of the seventh sabbath, on the sixteenth of the month: (4Q403 1 i 30) Daniel K. Falk

  33. “Repent and Seek” • Exile as punishment for sin • Reparation: (Deut 4:29-30; 30:1-10) • “Repent” > penitential prayer • “Seek” > study of Torah • Lev 26:40:“But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their ancestors” Daniel K. Falk

  34. Communal Ritual They shall eat, pray, and deliberate communally. In any place where is gathered the ten-man quorum, someone must always be engaged in study of the Law, day and night, continually, each one taking his turn. The general membership will be diligent together for the first third of every night of the year, reading aloud from the Book, interpreting Scripture, and praying together. … (Rule of the Community, 1QS 6) Daniel K. Falk

  35. Temple Scroll • God’s Law written in first person • Study of laws on • Sabbath and Festivals • Temple and sacrifice Daniel K. Falk

  36. Prayer at Fixed Times • With the offering of lips he will bless Him during the times which He prescribed (1QS 9:26—10:1a) • Daily: Sunrise and sunset • Sabbath • Festivals • Grace at meals Daniel K. Falk

  37. Daily Prayer (1QS 10:10-14) Daniel K. Falk

  38. Tefillin Daniel K. Falk

  39. Daily Blessings And when the sun rises upon the earth, they shall bless and recite: “Blessed are You, god, who renews our happiness with light … Peace be upon you, Israel” (4Q503 Daily Prayers) Daniel K. Falk

  40. Daily Supplications: Prayer for Friday Remember, Lord … You have poured out your Holy Spirit on us … You removed from us all our transgressions … Now, today, when our heart is humbled, we have atoned for our iniquity and the iniquity of our fathers … Now we beseech You, Lord, as you have done miracles of old, turn your anger and wrath from us … Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered us from all distress. Amen, Amen. (4Q504 Words of the Luminaries) Daniel K. Falk

  41. Qumran and Jewish Prayer Qumran Temple Synagogue • Shema + Decalogue • Blessings • Confession/ petitions • Hymns • Priestly service • Priestly service • Temple prostrations • Temple Singers • Shema (+Decalogue) • Blessings • Amidah (Petitions) • Psalms Daniel K. Falk

  42. Prayer Motifs • Salvation • Physical help • Spiritual help: • Knowledge, forgiveness, protection from sin • Priestly • God as creator • God’s holiness • Communion with angels Daniel K. Falk

  43. Prayer and Sacrifice They shall atone for the guilty rebellion and sins of unfaithfulness, that they may obtain favor for the land without the flesh of burnt offerings and the fat of sacrifice. And prayer rightly offered shall be as an acceptable fragrance of righteousness. (Rule of the Community, 1QS 9:3-5) Daniel K. Falk

  44. How do I relate? Daniel K. Falk

  45. With all your heart … • All who volunteer for His truth are to bring all their knowledge, their strength, and their property into the Communityof God. (Rule of the Community, 1QS 1:12) • Deut 6:5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Daniel K. Falk

  46. Examination And whoever joins his congregation, let (the Examiner) examine him with regard to his works and his intelligence, his strength and might, and his wealth. Let them inscribe him in his place according to his inheritance in the lot of lig[ht] (Damascus Document, CD 13:11; Baumgarten) Daniel K. Falk

  47. Discernment • For the Master: to instruct and teach all the Sons of Light concerning the nature of all the sons of man, with respect to the kinds of their spirits with their distinguishing marks, with respect to their works in all their generations, and with respect to the visitations of their afflictions together with their times of peace. (Rule of the Community, 1QS 3:13-14) Daniel K. Falk

  48. Horoscope 4Q186 … and his thighs are long and slender, and his toes are thin and long. He is of the second column. His spirit has six parts in the House of Light and three in the House of Darkness. And this is the sign in which he was born: in the foot of the Bull. He will be humble. And this is his animal: the bull. Daniel K. Falk

  49. Separation They are to separate from the congregation of perverse men. (1QS 5) He is to teach them both to love all the Children of Light--each commensurate with his rightful place in the council of God--and to hate all the Children of Darkness, each commensurate with his guilt stand the vengeance due him from God. (1QS 1:9–11) Daniel K. Falk

  50. Internal Matters • Love and charity • Equality • Community of goods • Hierarchy and Authority • Rules and Discipline Daniel K. Falk

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