The Chosen One
4Qelect=4Q534, 4QarNC=4Q535-6
Paraphrase and comments by Nick Flanigan
Introduction
The fact that all things happen according to God's divine
plan for the world is a fairly common theme among the Dead Sea
Scrolls. For example, it was thought that if you belonged to the
Qumran sect, then it was so because it was in God's plan that you
belonged to it. For this reason, the Qumran sect sometimes
referred to themselves as "the chosen of God." However, the
following texts refer to a particular person as the "chosen
one."
It was originally thought that the "chosen one" referred to a messiah
(if not the messiah). In 4QTLevi (4Q541) there is a prophecy of an
eschatological priest reminiscent of the man described in this text
(Wise, 428). However, others believe that it is just as likely that the
text alludes to the miraculous birth of Noah. For this reason, it is
sometimes placed together with the remains of other Noah literature.
Vermes believes that this with a few other Qumran fragments "appear to
be the relics of a Book of Noah mentioned in Jubilees x, 13 and xxi,
10." (521).
The scroll marked 4Q534 is also labeled under the
designations "4Qmess ar" and "4QElect of God". This scroll tells
what the "Chosen One" will look like and some about his education
and future greatness. The scroll 4Q535 (also designated
"4QAramaic N") tells more about the circumstances of his birth,
although details are obscure. The last of the scrolls in this
set, 4Q536 (also designated "4QAramaic C") tells of the "Chosen
One's" teachings.
Paraphrase
4Q534
Col 1
1[...] of his hand, two [...] a mark. His
| hair will be red and he will have moles on
[...] | and small marks in his thighs. [And
after t]wo years, he will know one thing from another[1]. | While he is young, he will
be like ...[...like] someone who knows nothing, until he
5knows the three Books[2] [...]
| Then he will gain wisdom and learn
understanding [...] visions will come to him while he is on
his knees. | And with his father and ancestors
[...] life and old age. He will have wisdom and discretion
| and he will know the secrets of man. His wisdom
will reach out to everyone and he will know the secrets of
all living things. | All of their plans against
him will fail, and his rule over all things will be great.
10[...] his plans will succeed because he is the
one picked by God. His birth and the breath of his spirit
[...] and his plans will last forever. [...]
Col 2
1[...] which [...] fell in ancient times. The sons
of the pit [...] | [...] evil. The spot [...]
| [...] | [...] in order to go [...]
5 [...] flesh [...] | [...]
| and his breathing out [...] |
forever [...] | 10 | [...]
| and the cities [...] | and they will
destroy [...] | The waters will stop [...] they
will destroy [...] from the heights. They will all come
[...] 15 [...] | [...] and they will all
be destroyed. His work will be like that of the Watcher.
| Instead of his voice [...] he will establish
his foundation on him. His sin and his error |
[...] the Holy One and the Watchers [...] to say
| they will speak against him [...].
4Q435
frag. 1
1when [...] | Baraq'el [...] |
my face once more [...] | I got up [...]
frag. 2
1[...]the time of birth [...] | [...] the
walls of the house of [...]
frag 3
1[...] he is born and they are praised together
[...] | [...] he is born at night and comes out
complete [...] | [...] with the weight of three
hundred and fifty shekels[3] [...]
| [...] he sleep until mid afternoon and [...]
5 [...] during the day until two years are over
[...] | [...] he removes it from him; and after
[x] years [...]
4Q536
frag 1 Col 1
1[...] you will be [...] | [...] he will
make you think of the holy angels [...] | [...]
the lights will be revealed to him | [...] all of
his teachings 5 [...] the wisdom of humanity, and
every wise man | [...] in the region he will be
great | [...] humanity will be troubled
| [...] he will share God's secrets |
[...] he will understand God's mysteries [...]
frag 1 Col 2
8 he made [...] | that you are afraid of
[...] 10 he will strengthen its concealment at the
end of your powers. His possessions [...] | and
he will not die in the days of evil. And his words will
contain great wisdom. I will praise you [...] |
is sentenced to death. Who will write the words of God in a
book that will not decay? And my sayings [...]
|You will come to me and in the time of evil he
will know you forever. A man who [...] your servants, [...]
sons [...]
Footnotes:
[1] "[And after t]wo years, he will know one thing
from another" has also been translated as" which will be different from
each other."
[2] I feel that this refers to the three parts of the
Hebrew Bible (the law, the prophets, and the writings).
[3] A shekel is defined as any of various ancient
unit of weight; especially: a Hebrew unit equal to about 252 grains
troy.
Bibliography:
Vermes, Geza. The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in
English. The Penguin Press, New York. 1997.
Wise, Michael, Martin Abegg Jr., and Edward Cook. The
Dead Sea Scrolls: A New Translation. Harper Collins
Publishers, San Francisco. 1996.
12/98
prepared for
Intro. to the Hebrew Bible
by Nick Flanigan
FlaniganN@albnet.alb.edu