Aramaic Poetry in Qumran

476 Pages·2011·1.51 MB·English

THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA

Aramaic Poetry in Qumran

A DISSERTATION

Submitted to the Faculty of the

Department of Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literatures

School of Arts and Sciences

Of The Catholic University of America

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

For the Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

©

Copyright

All Rights Reserved

By

Peter Y. Lee

Washington, D.C.

2011
Aramaic Poetry in Qumran

Peter Y. Lee

Director: Edward M. Cook, Ph.D.

The often fragmentary Aramaic texts preserved by the Qumran community represent
a large collection of well edited texts, whose publications have triggered numerous
contributions that have brought a significantly clearer understanding of them. Little
attention, however, has been devoted to the poetic structure of these Aramaic texts, much less
on Aramaic literature as a whole. This study presents a model for the analysis of Aramaic
poetic texts as well as a detailed poetic discussion of six Aramaic texts within the Qumran
collection. These texts are: 1) 4Q246, “The Son of God” text; 2) 4QLevia, a portion of the
wisdom poem in the Aramaic Levi Document; 3) 4Q534, “The Elect of God” text; 4) 4Q542,
The Testament of Qahat; 5) 4Q541, two fragments from the Apocryphon of Levi; 6)
1QapGen, the beauty of Sarai in the Genesis Apocryphon. Three have been previously
identified as poetic, namely 4Q246, the wisdom poem in ALD, and the beauty of Sarai. The
poetic nature of the remaining three has not. Also included are the eight poetic passages
from the Aramaic portions of the Book of Daniel: 2:20-23 (=4QDana), 3:33-4:2; 4:7b-14;
4:31-32; 6:27b-28; 7:9-10; 7: 13-14; 7:23-27. Combined, this study examines over 124 lines
of poetry. These texts use literary features and devices that are characteristic of poetic texts,
specifically parallelism and terseness. It is the interrelationship between these two particular
poetic devices that is the hallmark characteristic of Aramaic poetry. In addition to these is
the use of imagery, strophic formations, and sound repetitions. The application of all these
various techniques within any given text is what identifies it as poetic. It is what makes
Aramaic poetry poetic.
This dissertation by Peter Y. Lee fulfills the dissertation requirement for the doctoral
degree in Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literatures approved by Edward M.
Cook, Ph.D., as Director, and by Andrew D. Gross, Ph.D. and David A. Bosworth, Ph.D.
as Readers.

Signature Page

__________________________________________

Edward M. Cook, Ph.D., Director

__________________________________________

Andrew D. Gross, Ph.D., Reader

__________________________________________

David A. Bosworth, Ph.D., Reader

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Dedication

I dedicate this study with great meekness, admiration, and affection to the ones
who endured the most during the past ten years, to the ones I call “heroes” – my family.

To my parents – Sepoong and Soonsill Lee. Their support throughout these years
reflects their love and care as seen throughout my entire lifetime.

To my children – Caleb, Jeremiah, Kara, Micah, Tabitha and Priscilla. When I
began my studies, they were only infants and children. They have now grown to become
mature and faithful young men and women. Although many events and hours were
missed between us, their father is humbled that they never complained of it. He can only
hope to have the heart of dedication and patience that they model to him every day of his
life.

Also to my dearest and loving wife, Clara. She is a daily reminder to me of the
richness and beauty of the grace and love that I do not deserve yet receive nonetheless.

hn"L'Ku-l[; tyli[' T.a;w> lyIx; Wf[' tAnB' tABr:.

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Table of Contents

Signature Page ................................................................................................................ii
Dedication ..................................................................................................................... iii
Table of Contents ........................................................................................................... iv
List of Abbreviations ...................................................................................................... ix
Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... xi

Chapter One: Current State of Studies in Aramaic Poetry ......................................... 1

Chapter Two: Explanation of the Model of Poetic Analysis ...................................... 17
2.1 Parallelism ........................................................................................................... 18
2.2 Terseness ............................................................................................................ 40
2.3 Other Poetic Features ......................................................................................... 55
2.3.1 Imagery: ........................................................................................................ 55
2.3.2 Strophic Organization: ................................................................................. 61

Chapter Three: Aramaic Poetry from the Book of Daniel ........................................ 66

3.1 Poetry of 4QDana frag. 3.1.1-5 (Dan. 2:20-23) ................................................. 70
3.1.1 Transcription of 4QDana frag. 3.1.1-5 (Dan. 2:20-23)................................ 71
3.1.2 Stichometry of 4QDana frag. 3.1.1-5 (Dan. 2:20-23) .................................. 72
3.1.3 Translation of 4QDana frag. 3.1.1-5 (Dan. 2:20-23) ................................... 73
3.1.4 Poetic Features in 4QDana frag. 3.1.1-5 (Dan. 2:20-23) ............................. 73
3.1.4.1 Parallelism in 4QDana frag. 3.1.1-5 (Dan. 2:20-23) ................................ 73
3.1.4.2 Terseness of 4QDana frag. 3.1.1-5 (Dan. 2:20-23) .................................. 79
3.1.4.3 Strophic Organization of 4QDana frag. 3.1.1-5 (Dan. 2:20-23) ............... 83

3.2 Poetry of Daniel 3:33-4:2 (MT) ......................................................................... 84
3.2.1 Stichometry of Daniel 3:33-4:2 (MT) ............................................................. 87
3.2.2 Translation of Daniel 3:33-4:2 (MT) ........................................................... 88
3.2.3 Poetic Features in Daniel 3:33-4:2 (MT) .................................................... 88
3.2.3.1 Parallelism in Daniel 3:33-4:2 (MT) ....................................................... 88
3.2.3.2 Terseness of Daniel 3:33-4:2 (MT) ......................................................... 95
3.2.3.4 Strophic Organization of Daniel 3:33-4:2 (MT) ...................................... 96

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3.3 Poetry of Daniel 4:7b-14 (MT) .......................................................................... 97
3.3.1 Transcription of 4QDand frag. 3-7, lines 5-15 (Dan. 4:7b-14) ................... 98
3.3.2 Stichometry of Daniel 4:7b-14 (MT)........................................................... 99
3.3.3 Translation of Daniel 4:7b-14 (MT) .......................................................... 101
3.3.4 Poetic Features in Daniel 4:7b-14 (MT) .................................................... 103
3.3.4.1 Parallelism in Daniel 4:7b-14 (MT) ...................................................... 103
3.3.4.2 Terseness of Daniel 4:7b-14 (MT) ........................................................ 117
3.3.4.4 Imagery in Daniel 4:7b-14 (MT) .......................................................... 121
3.3.4.3 Strophic Organization of Daniel 4:7b-14 (MT) ..................................... 124

3.4 Poetry of Daniel 4:31-32 (MT) ........................................................................ 130
3.4.1 Stichometry of Daniel 4:31-32 (MT)......................................................... 130
3.4.2 Translation of Daniel 4:31-32 (MT) .......................................................... 131
3.4.3 Poetic Features in Daniel 4:31-32 (MT) .................................................... 132
3.4.3.1 Parallelism in Daniel 4:31-32 (MT) ...................................................... 132
3.4.3.2 Terseness of Daniel 4:31-32 (MT) ........................................................ 135
3.4.3.4 Imagery in Daniel 4:31-32 (MT) .......................................................... 137
3.4.3.3 Strophic Organization of Daniel 4:31-32 (MT) ..................................... 138

3.5 Poetry of Daniel 6:27b-28 (MT) ...................................................................... 138
3.5.1 Stichometry of Daniel 6:27b-28 (MT)....................................................... 139
3.5.2 Translation of Daniel 6:27b-28 (MT) ........................................................ 140
3.5.3 Poetic Features in Daniel 6:27b-28 (MT) .................................................. 140
3.5.3.1 Parallelism in Daniel 6:27b-28 (MT) .................................................... 140
3.5.3.2 Terseness of Daniel 6:27b-28 (MT) ...................................................... 143
3.5.3.3 Strophic Organization of Daniel 6:27b-28 (MT) ................................... 143

3.6 Poetry of Daniel 7:9-10 (MT) .......................................................................... 144
3.6.1 Stichometry of Daniel 7:9-10 (MT)........................................................... 145
3.6.2 Translation of Daniel 7:9-10 (MT) ............................................................ 146
3.6.3 Poetic Features in Daniel 7:9-10 (MT) ...................................................... 146
3.6.3.1 Parallelism in Daniel 7:9-10 (MT) ........................................................ 146
3.6.3.2 Terseness of Daniel 7:9-10 (MT) .......................................................... 151
3.6.3.4 Imagery in Daniel 7:9-10 (MT) ............................................................ 152
3.6.3.3 Strophic Organization of Daniel 7:9-10 (MT) ....................................... 158

3.7 Poetry of Daniel 7:13-14 (MT) ........................................................................ 159
3.7.1 Stichometry of Daniel 7:13-14 (MT)......................................................... 160
3.7.2 Translation of Daniel 7:13-14 (MT) .......................................................... 160
3.7.3 Poetic Features in Daniel 7:13-14 (MT) .................................................... 161
3.7.3.1 Parallelism in Daniel 7:13-14 (MT) ...................................................... 161
3.7.3.2 Terseness of Daniel 7:13-14 (MT) ........................................................ 164

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3.7.3.4 Imagery in Daniel 7:13-14 (MT) .......................................................... 166
3.7.3.3 Strophic Organization of Daniel 7:13-14 (MT) ..................................... 168

3.8 Poetry of Daniel 7:23-27 (MT) ........................................................................ 168
3.8.1 Stichometry of Daniel 7:23-27 (MT)......................................................... 169
3.8.2 Translation of Daniel 7:23-27 (MT) .......................................................... 171
3.8.3 Poetic Features in Daniel 7:23-27 (MT) .................................................... 172
3.8.3.1 Parallelism in Daniel 7:23-27 (MT) ...................................................... 172
3.8.3.2 Terseness of Daniel 7:23-27 (MT) ........................................................ 182
3.8.3.4 Imagery in Daniel 7:23-27 (MT) .......................................................... 184
3.8.3.3 Strophic Organization of Daniel 7:23-27 (MT) ..................................... 185

3.9 Conclusions on the Aramaic Poetry in the Book of Daniel ............................. 188

Chapter Four: Poetry of 4Q246, “The son of God” Text ......................................... 193
4.1 Transcription of 4Q246 col. 2.1-9 .................................................................... 196
4.2 Stichometry of 4Q246 col. 2.1-9 ...................................................................... 196
4.3 Translation of 4Q246 col. 2.1-9 ....................................................................... 197
4.4 Poetic Features in 4Q246 col. 2.1-9 ................................................................. 199
4.4.1 Parallelism in 4Q246 col. 2.1-9 .................................................................... 199
4.4.2 Terseness of 4Q246 col. 2.1-9 ................................................................... 211
4.4.3 Imagery in 4Q246 col. 2.1-9 ...................................................................... 214
4.4.4 Strophic Organization of 4Q246 col. 2.1-9 ................................................... 215
4.5 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 216

Chapter Five: The Wisdom Poem from the Aramaic Levi Document...................... 218
5.1 Transcription of the Reconstructed text of 4QLevia frag. 1.1.5-21b ............... 223
5.2 Stichometry of the Reconstructed text of 4QLevia frag. 1.1.5-21b ................. 224
5.3 Translation of the Reconstructed text of 4QLevia frag. 1.1.5-21b .................. 227
5.4 Poetic Features in the Reconstructed text of 4QLevia frag. 1.1.5-21b ............ 229
5.4.1 Parallelism in the Reconstructed Text ....................................................... 229
5.4.2 Terseness of the Reconstructed Text ......................................................... 246
5.4.3 Imagery in the Reconstructed Text ............................................................ 248
5.4.4 Strophic Organization of the Reconstructed Text ..................................... 250
5.5 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 253

Chapter Six: Poetry of 4Q534, “The elect of God” Text .......................................... 255
6.1 Transcription of 4Q534 frag. 1.1.5-11 ............................................................. 258
6.2 Stichometry of 4Q534 frag. 1.1.5-11 ............................................................... 259
6.3 Translation of 4Q534 frag. 1.1.5-11 ................................................................ 260
6.4 Poetic Features in 4Q534 frag. 1.1.5-11 .......................................................... 261
6.4.1 Parallelism in 4Q534 frag 1.1.5-11 ........................................................... 261

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6.4.2 Terseness of 4Q534 frag 1.1.5-11 ............................................................. 266
6.4.3 Imagery in 4Q534 frag 1.1.5-11 ................................................................ 267
6.4.4 Strophic Organization of 4Q534 frag. 1.1.5-11 ........................................ 270
6.5 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 272

Chapter Seven: Poetry of 4Q542, The Testament of Qahat ...................................... 274
7.1 Transcription of 4Q542 frag. 1.1.1-2.1a .......................................................... 277
7.2 Stichometry of 4Q542 frag. 1.1.1-2.1a ............................................................ 278
7.3 Translation of 4Q542 frag. 1 col. 1.1-2.1a ...................................................... 279
7.4 Poetic Features in 4Q542 frag. 1.1.1-2.1a ....................................................... 282
7.4.1 Parallelism in 4Q542 frag. 1.1.1-2.1a ....................................................... 282
7.4.2 Terseness of 4Q542 frag. 1.1.1-2.1a.......................................................... 298
7.4.3 Strophic Organization of 4Q542 frag. 1.1.1-2.1a ...................................... 303
7.5 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 306

Chapter Eight: Poetry of 4Q541, The Apocryphon of Levi ....................................... 307
8.1 Transcription of 4Q541 frag. 9.1.2-7 ............................................................... 309
8.2 Stichometry of 4Q541 frag. 9.1.2-7 ................................................................. 309
8.3 Translation of 4Q541 frag. 9.1.2-7 .................................................................. 310
8.4 Poetic Features in 4Q541 frag. 9.1.2-7 ............................................................ 311
8.4.1 Parallelism in 4Q541 frag. 9.1.2-7 ............................................................ 311
8.4.2 Terseness of 4Q541 frag. 9.1.2-7 .............................................................. 320
8.4.3 Repetition in 4Q541 frag. 9.1.2-7 .............................................................. 321
8.4.4 Imagery in 4Q541 frag. 9.1.2-7 ................................................................. 327
8.4.5 Strophic Organization of 4Q541 frag. 9.1.2-7 .......................................... 329

8.5 Transcription of 4Q541 frag. 24.2.4-6 ............................................................. 330
8.6 Stichometry of 4Q541 frag. 24.2.4-6 ............................................................... 331
8.7 Translation of 4Q541 frag. 24.2.2-6 ................................................................ 331
8.8 Poetic Features in 4Q541 frag. 24.2.4-6 .......................................................... 332
8.8.1 Parallelism in 4Q541 frag. 24.2.4-6 .......................................................... 332
8.8.2 Terseness of 4Q541 frag. 24.2.4-6 ............................................................ 338
8.8.3 Imagery in 4Q541 frag. 24.2.4-6 ............................................................... 339
8.9 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 340

Chapter 9: Poetry of the “Beauty of Sarai” in the Genesis Apocryphon.................. 342
9.1 Previous Publications on the Poetic Nature of the text ................................... 344
9.1.1 Jonas Greenfield ........................................................................................ 344
9.1.2 James VanderKam ..................................................................................... 347
9.1.3 A. S. Rodrigues Pereira ............................................................................. 353
9.2 Wacf Genre of “the Beauty of Sarai” ................................................................ 360
9.3 Transcription of 1QapGen 20.2-8a .................................................................. 363

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9.4 Stichometry of 1QapGen 20.2-8a .................................................................... 364
9.5 Translation of 1QapGen 20.2-8a ...................................................................... 365
9.6 Poetic Features in 1QapGen 20.2-8 ................................................................. 366
9.6.1 Parallelism in 1QapGen 20:2-8a................................................................ 370
9.6.2 Terseness of 1QapGen 20.2-8a .................................................................. 374
9.6.3 Sound/Word Repetitions in 1QapGen 20.2-8a .......................................... 375
9.6.4 Strophic Organization of 1QapGen 20.2-8a .............................................. 376
9.7 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 379

Chapter Ten: Conclusion .......................................................................................... 381
10.1 Parallelism ...................................................................................................... 382
10.1.1 Semantic ................................................................................................... 383
10.1.2 Syntactic: ................................................................................................... 390
10.3 Phonologic.................................................................................................... 394
10.2 Terseness ........................................................................................................ 395
10.2.1 Statistical Summary of Terseness ............................................................ 396
10.2.2 Distribution of Line-Forms in Aramaic Poetry from Qumran ................ 397
10.3 Strophic Organization .................................................................................... 402
10.4 Imagery ............................................................................................................ 405
10.5 Sound Repetition ............................................................................................ 406

Final Thoughts ........................................................................................................... 408

Appendix A: Poetry of Jeremiah 10:11: A Proposal ..................................................... 410

Appendix B: Poetry of 4QLevib from the Aramaic Levi Document .............................. 419

Appendix C: Transcriptions, Stichometries, and Translations ...................................... 424

Bibliography ............................................................................................................... 454

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