An Aramaic Wisdom Text From Qumran: A New Interpretation Of The Levi Document (Supplements to the Journal for the Study of Judaism)

537 Pages·2004·3.93 MB·English

by  Henryk Drawnel

An Aramaic Wisdom Text from Qumran
Supplements
to the
Journal for the
Study of Judaism
Editor
John J. Collins
The Divinity School, Yale University
Associate Editor
Florentino García Martínez
Qumran Institute, University of Groningen
Advisory Board
j. duhaime ‒ a. hilhorst ‒ p.w. van der horst
a. klostergaard petersen ‒ m.a. knibb ‒ j.t.a.g.m. van ruiten
j. sievers ‒ g. stemberger ‒ e.j.c. tigchelaar ‒ j. tromp
VOLUME 86
An Aramaic
Wisdom Text from
Qumran
A New Interpretation of the Levi Document
by
Henryk Drawnel, S.D.B.
A E GI
B D
U E
S . .. PP
AA
A LL
T .. LL
UT. .SSAA
BRILL
LEIDEN•BOSTON
2004
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Drawnel, Henryk.
AnAramaic wisdom text from Qumran: a new interpretation of the Levi document/
by Henryk Drawnel.
p. cm. —(Supplements to the Journal for the study of Judaism, ISSN 1384-2161;
v. 86)
Includes bibliographical references (p.) and index.
ISBN 90-04-13753-X
1. Levi document. 2. Manuscripts, Aramaic. 3. Israel. Rashut Ha-Atikot—Library.
4. Bodleian Library. 5. Cambridge University Library. I. Levi document. II. Title.
III. Series
BM488.L48D73 2004
229’.914—dc22 2004045596
ISSN 1384–2161
ISBN 90 04 13753 X
© Copyright 2004 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated,
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Fees are subject to change.
printed in the netherlands
éllå pãnta m°trƒ ka‹ ériym“ ka‹ staym“ di°tajaw
Wis 11:20

CONTENTS
Tables .......................................................................................... xi
Plates .......................................................................................... xii
Preface ........................................................................................ xiii
Abbreviations .............................................................................. xvi
CHAPTER ONE: ARAMAIC LEVI DOCUMENT:
INTRODUCTION ................................................................ 1
1.1 A General Presentation of the Document .......................... 1
1.2 Previous Research ............................................................ 4
1.3 Purpose of the Study ........................................................ 12
1.4 The Text of the Document ................................................ 14
1.4.1 History of Publication .......................................... 14
1.4.2 Manuscript Description ........................................ 21
1.4.2.1 The Qumran Fragments ...................... 21
1.4.2.2 The Cairo Geniza Fragments .............. 29
1.4.2.3 The Mt. Athos Fragments .................... 31
1.4.2.4 The Syriac Fragment ............................ 32
1.4.3 The Order of Manuscripts and their
Reconstruction ...................................................... 32
1.4.3.1 A Reconstruction of the Qumran
Manuscripts ............................................ 32
1.4.3.2 A Reconstruction of MS A .................. 38
1.4.3.3 A Reconstruction of MS E .................. 43
1.4.3.4 A Reconstruction of MS B .................. 51
1.4.3.5 Two Recensions Theory ...................... 51
1.4.3.6 A Tentative Order of Manuscripts and
Events in the Document .......................... 53
1.5 The Language, Author, Date, Place, and Purpose
of the Composition .......................................................... 55
1.5.1 The Language ...................................................... 55
1.5.2 The Author ............................................................ 61
1.5.3 The Date, Place, and Purpose of the
Composition .......................................................... 63
1.5.3.1 The Date ................................................ 63
viii contents
1.5.3.2 The Place .............................................. 75
1.5.3.3 The Purpose ........................................ 78
1.6 The Literary Genre .......................................................... 85
CHAPTER TWO: ARAMAIC LEVI DOCUMENT:
THE TEXT .......................................................................... 97
2.1 Reconstructed Text .......................................................... 97
2.1.1 A.L.D. 1a .............................................................. 98
2.1.2 A.L.D. 1b .............................................................. 103
2.1.3 A.L.D. 1c–2 .......................................................... 104
2.1.4 A.L.D. 3 ................................................................ 107
2.1.5 A.L.D. 3a–3c ........................................................ 108
2.1.5.1 A.L.D. 3a .............................................. 108
2.1.5.2 A.L.D. 3b .............................................. 110
2.1.5.3 A.L.D. 3c .............................................. 111
2.1.6 A.L.D. 4–10 .......................................................... 112
2.1.7 A.L.D. 11–18 ........................................................ 118
2.1.8 A.L.D. 19–25b ...................................................... 124
2.1.9 A.L.D. 25b–32a .................................................... 132
2.1.10 A.L.D. 32b–64 ...................................................... 138
2.1.11 A.L.D. 65–72 ........................................................ 144
2.1.12 A.L.D. 72–80 ........................................................ 150
2.1.13 A.L.D. 81–90 ........................................................ 155
2.1.14 A.L.D. 90–96 ........................................................ 159
2.1.15 A.L.D. 96–100 ...................................................... 163
2.1.16 A.L.D. 83b–98—Wisdom Poem: Strophic
Disposition ............................................................ 165
2.1.17 A.L.D. 101–104 .................................................... 168
2.1.17.1 A.L.D. 101 .......................................... 168
2.1.17.2 A.L.D. 102 .......................................... 169
2.1.17.3 A.L.D. 103 .......................................... 170
2.1.17.4 A.L.D. 104 .......................................... 171
2.2 Overlapping Qumran Texts ............................................ 172
2.2.1 A.L.D. 1a–1b ........................................................ 172
2.2.2 A.L.D. 4–9 ............................................................ 179
2.2.3 A.L.D. 20–32 ........................................................ 182
2.2.4 A.L.D. 22–31 ........................................................ 186
2.2.5 A.L.D. 69–73 ........................................................ 190
2.2.6 A.L.D. 82–100 ...................................................... 192
2.3 Non Classified Fragments ................................................ 201
contents ix
CHAPTER THREE: ARAMAIC LEVI DOCUMENT:
COMMENTARY .................................................................. 205
3.1 Levi’s Prayer—A.L.D. 1a ................................................ 205
3.1.1 Introductory Narrative—A.L.D. 1a vv. 1–4 .... 208
3.1.2 The Prayer—A.L.D. 1a vv. 5–19 .................... 212
3.2 First Vision—A.L.D. 1b .................................................. 224
3.3 Shechem Incident—A.L.D. 1c–2 .................................... 228
3.4 Selling of Joseph—A.L.D. 3 ............................................ 230
3.5 Heavenly Elevation—A.L.D. 3a–7 .................................. 233
3.6 First Visit to Isaac—A.L.D. 8 ........................................ 248
3.7 Ordination in Bethel—A.L.D. 9–10 .............................. 249
3.8 Wisdom Instruction—A.L.D. 11–61 .............................. 254
3.8.1 Introductory Narrative—A.L.D. 11–13 ............ 259
3.8.2 Priestly Purity and Holiness—A.L.D. 14–18 .... 262
3.8.3 Due Order of Sacrificial Activity—A.L.D. 19–30 269
3.8.3.1 Ablutions—A.L.D. 19–21 .................... 269
3.8.3.2 Wood for the Burnt Offering—A.L.D.
22–25a .................................................. 271
3.8.3.3 Burnt Offering of the Bull—A.L.D.
25b–30 ................................................ 275
3.8.4 Metrological Order of Weights and
Measures—A.L.D. 31–47 .................................. 280
3.8.4.1 Wood Quantity—A.L.D. 31–36 ........ 280
3.8.4.2 Salt Quantity—A.L.D. 37–40 ............ 287
3.8.4.3 Fine Flour—A.L.D. 40b–42 ................ 288
3.8.4.4 Oil and Wine—A.L.D. 43–44 ............ 289
3.8.4.5 Frankincense—A.L.D. 45–46a ............ 290
3.8.4.6 Metrological Table—A.L.D. 46b–47 .... 291
3.8.5 Final Exhortation—A.L.D. 48–50 .................... 293
3.8.6 Sacrifice, Ablution, Blood, and
Blessing—A.L.D. 51–61 .................................... 295
3.9 Genealogy and Autobiography—A.L.D. 62–81 ............ 302
3.9.1 Marriage and Children—A.L.D. 62–73 .......... 304
3.9.2 Grandchildren—A.L.D. 73–77 .......................... 311
3.9.3 Autobiography—A.L.D. 78–81 .......................... 313
3.10 Wisdom Poem—A.L.D. 82–98 ........................................ 318
3.10.1 Introductory Narrative—A.L.D. 82–83a .......... 325
3.10.2 The Poem—A.L.D. 83b–98 .............................. 326