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The '''‘[[Pesher]] on Genesis’''', or ‘Commentaries on Genesis’, is part of the collection of the Dead Sea Scrolls found in caves near the archaeological site of [[Qumran]] about a mile off the Northwestern shore of the [[Dead Sea]]. There are four fragmentary manuscripts that have been grouped together from Cave 4; [[4Q252]], 4Q253, 4Q254, and 4Q254a which contain interpretations of the Book of Genesis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195084504.001.0001/acref-9780195084504-e-181?rskey=e2kjao&result=1|title=Genesis, Commentary on - Oxford Reference|work=oxfordreference.com}}</ref> The most extensive of the manuscripts is 4Q252 which contains 6 fragments. They date from mid 1st century BCE (Hasmonean period) to late 1st century CE (Herodian period). They are all written in [[Hebrew]] on parchment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/explore-the-archive/manuscript/4Q252-1|title=The Dead Sea Scrolls - Browse Manuscripts|work=deadseascrolls.org.il}}</ref> |
The '''‘[[Pesher]] on Genesis’''', or ‘Commentaries on Genesis’, is part of the collection of the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] found in caves near the archaeological site of [[Qumran]] about a mile off the Northwestern shore of the [[Dead Sea]]. There are four fragmentary manuscripts that have been grouped together from Cave 4; [[4Q252]], 4Q253, 4Q254, and 4Q254a which contain interpretations of the Book of Genesis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195084504.001.0001/acref-9780195084504-e-181?rskey=e2kjao&result=1|title=Genesis, Commentary on - Oxford Reference|work=oxfordreference.com}}</ref> The most extensive of the manuscripts is 4Q252 which contains 6 fragments. They date from mid 1st century BCE (Hasmonean period) to late 1st century CE (Herodian period). They are all written in [[Hebrew]] on parchment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/explore-the-archive/manuscript/4Q252-1|title=The Dead Sea Scrolls - Browse Manuscripts|work=deadseascrolls.org.il}}</ref> |
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== 4Q252 == |
== 4Q252 == |
The ‘Pesher on Genesis’, or ‘Commentaries on Genesis’, is part of the collection of the Dead Sea Scrolls found in caves near the archaeological site of Qumran about a mile off the Northwestern shore of the Dead Sea. There are four fragmentary manuscripts that have been grouped together from Cave 4; 4Q252, 4Q253, 4Q254, and 4Q254a which contain interpretations of the Book of Genesis.[1] The most extensive of the manuscripts is 4Q252 which contains 6 fragments. They date from mid 1st century BCE (Hasmonean period) to late 1st century CE (Herodian period). They are all written in Hebrew on parchment.[2]
4Q252 is dated approximately to the 1st century BCE and is the most extensive of the 4Q commentaries. There are three manuscripts that have been ascribed to 4Q252.
For decades only column V of 4Q252 was known to scholars, and this fragment was known as 4QPatriarchal Blessings. Gerbern S. Oegema and other scholars later recognized that other fragments should be included with this work to comprise 4QCommentary on Genesis A.
There are 6 columns extant of 4Q252, some more fragmentary than others.
Column I and II lines 1-7 mostly retell and expand slightly the story of Noah and the flood from Genesis 6-9. In this portion, the author was mostly concerned with including more dating details than appear in Genesis.
Column II lines 8-14 and all of column III focus on the story of Abraham, including the judgement on Sodom and Gomorrah and the binding of Isaac. Column III is especially fragmentary, with several blanks.
Columns IV-VI are based on Genesis 49, Jacob's blessing of his twelve sons.
Column IV covers Jacob's blessing of Reuben. The author's comment on Jacob's blessing is an exclusively negative portrayal of Reuben.
Column V, formerly known as Patriarchal Blessing, covers Jacob's blessing of Judah. It contains a quotation from Jeremiah 33:17. The author links this blessing to Messianic expectation and the "covenant of royalty" given to David. The commentary serves dually as anti Hasmonaean polemic and affirmation of the Qumran community's self-understanding as spiritual descendants of David.
Column VI is a couple of lines and only a few words, but apparently contains Jacob's blessing of Naphtali.
4Q253 consists of three fragments that were found in cave four. The first fragment mentions the Ark of the Covenant. The second fragment is said to be associated with Jacob and his cultic activities. Fragment three cannot actually be placed in relation to the Genesis text, however, it speaks of Belial – the traditional name for Satan in Jewish apocalyptic writings.[3]
Physical Description:
The fragments are quite small in size and show the very bottom of a column of a commentary on Genesis. Unfortunately, due to the poor state of the fragments, scholars are unable to determine the size of what the full manuscript would have been.[4]
Frg. 1 = 3.1 x 3.9 cm
Frg. 2 = 5.2 x 6.2 cm (two joined pieces)
Frg. 3 = 3.2 x 3.0 cm
The fragments are almost certainly recognized to have been written by the same scribe due to the type of writing – a formal script from the late Hasmonaean to the early Herodian period.[4]
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