The Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls: The ... - josephprestonkirk

ELISHA QIMRON 199
h#(w wdb( )l r#)l l) db( Nyb (#rw qydc Nyb Mty)rw Mtb#w
wybh)l […] dsx
wn(#yw #dqh ry(m w)cy r#) glp tyb […] rwd Pl)l wyrm#lw
l(m Cqb l) l(
+(m Myrbdb M(h Krd l) dw( wb#w #dqmh t) w)m+yw l)r#y
.#dqh tc(b w+p#y wxwr ypl #y) Ml[…]
Then you will distinguish once more between the just and the wicked,
between one who has served God and one who has not served Him” (Mal
3:18). “And He will show mercy to thousands to those who love Him and
observe (His commandments) for a thousand generations” (Exod 20:6,
Deut 5:10, 7:9). (These verses refer to) the mixed group who left the Holy
City. They trust in God during the time when the Israelites sinned and contaminated
the Temple. They, however, returned to the (wrong) way of the
(rest of) the people in some respects. Each of them shall be judged within
the Holy Community according to his own virtue.
This passage is part of a much longer discussion of the observance of the
covenant. In particular, the longer passage concerns the lot of those who
observe God’s commandments, and that of those who do not, namely,
the rebels.
The relationship between the passage of 1QS and that of CD is obvious:
1. Both concern a group within the Community which observes some of the
wrong practices of the opponents of the Community—cf. Krd l) dw( wb#w
+(m Myrbdb M(h in CD and )wl r#) Mbl twryr# lwkb tkll w)cy
)wl hrwth tc( lwkmw Krd Mymtb tkllw lw(m ldbhl Mkrd wkzh
in 1QS. Note the word Krd in both passages and the equivalents lwkmw
and +(m Myrbdb. Note also the repetition of lwkm in 1QS.
2. Both say that these people should be judged within the Community—cf.
ypl #y) #dqh tc(b w+p#y wxwr and Mynw#rh My+p#mb w+p#nw
Mb rsytl dxyh y#n) wlxh r#) in 1QS.
3. Both postpone the decision of the lot of these people to the Day of Judgment
mentioned at the end of the Book of Malachi—CD cites the relevant passage
in this book, while 1QS refers to (the) Prophet, which commentators have
identified with Elijah mentioned at the end of the Book of Malachi. From
other sources, we learn that when Elijah appears, he will make a final determination
for the solution of problems which are evenly balanced. 5
5. Menahem Kister reminded me that the expression )ybn )wb d( occurs in 1 Macc
4:46 with regard to the contaminated stones of the altar (being both holy and contaminated).
Therefore, only when Elijah appears will their status be finally determined.