A fascinating fragment from Qumran (i.e., the Dead Sea Scrolls) that deserves mention is 4Q369 (4QPEnosh?) 1, II, 6–12. Here’s how it reads:
“and your good judgments you explained to him to […] 6 in eternal light, and you made him for you a first bo[rn] son […] 7 like him, to (be) a prince and ruler in all /your/inhabited world […] 8 the c[row]n of the heavens, and the glory of the clouds you have placed [on him …] 9 […] and the angel of your peace in his congregation and … […] 10 […] for him (?) righteous rules, as a father to [his] s[on] 11 his love, your soul cleaves to … […] 12 […] … for in them you [have placed] your glory […].”[1]
Of course, nowhere does the text explicitly identify the figure as a Davidide and, though the Davidic king is associated with divine sonship (e.g., 2 Sam 7; Ps 89; etc.), it is true that language of being God’s “firstborn son” is also applied to Israel elsewhere (Exod 4:22).
Nonetheless, it seems to me that all of the evidence points in the direction of a Davidic association. For one thing, one is hard pressed to find a passage where Israel is described as a “prince” and God’s “firstborn”. The fact that language of divine sonship—specifically the term “first-born son” (cf. Ps 89:21, 26–27)—is linked with the term “prince” coheres best with Davidic traditions.
In fact, Craig Evans[2] goes on to support a Davidic reading by pointing to three parallels with Psalm 89, which clearly has a Davidide in view:
“(1) David calls God his Father, which parallels line 10, ‘as a father to his son’; (2) the Psalmist says that God ‘will make him the first-born,’ which parallels line 6, ‘you made him a first-born son to you’; and (3) the psalmist says that God’s first-born will be ‘the highest of the kings of the earth,’ which finds a partial parallel in line 7, ‘like a prince and ruler in all your earthly land.’ From these parallels we may cautiously conclude that the ‘first-born’ of 4Q369 is either the historical David or a Davidic descendent.”
Similarly Chester wrote, “This fragment is most naturally to be understood, then, as representing expectation of a Davidic messiah who will be instrumental in bringing about the final kingdom of peace on earth.”[3] Likewise, Collins writes: “This passage is extremely fragmentary, and the context is quite uncertain, but a prince and ruler who is treated as a firstborn son must surely be related to the Davidic line, whether past or future.”[4]
I'm inclined to agree. What are your thoughts?
NOTES
[1] Florentino García Martínez and Eibert J. C. Tigchelaar. The Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition (2 vols. Leiden: Brill, 1997/1998), 2:731.
[2] Craig Evans, “Are the Son of God Texts at Qumran Messianic?,” in Qumran-Messianism (eds. J. H. Charlesworth, H. Lightenberger, and G. S. Oegema; Tübingen: Mohr-Siebeck, 1998), 151 (135–53).
[3] Andrew Chester, Messiah and Exaltation. (WUNT 207; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2007), 237.
[4] John Collins, The Scepter and the Star: The Messiahs of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Other Ancient Literature (ABRL; New York: Doubleday, 1995), 165.
3 comments:
Hail the new David!
Michael, I'm inclined to agree with you, and with Dr Evans as well...actually, I would agree with a lot of things he would say! I had the privilege of sitting under Dr Evans' teaching for two grad classes, one of which was on the DSS...hands down, one of the two greatest profs I had (along with Dr Gary Habermas).
The Davidic Messiah!
Indeed those who fail to learn life saving truths from History are doomed to repeat it.
To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my workes unto the end, to him I will give power over the nations:
And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessele of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
And I YHAHOSHUAH will give The Son of man the morning star.
Rev 2: 17, 26-29.
And I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him is called Faithful and True, and in YAH RIGHTEOUSNESS he doth judge and make war in His Qodesh name.
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head wore many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. Rev 19:11-12.
The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto treasure a man discovered in a field. In his excitement, he sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field-and get the treasure,too! Matthew13:44.
Who is this man?
Is he speaking about someone-or himself?
This day these words are fulfill in your hearing.
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