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

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202 DUALISM IN THE ESSENE COMMUNITIES<br />

<strong>The</strong> exact meaning of hymr in o<strong>the</strong>r passages in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Dead</strong> <strong>Sea</strong> <strong>Scrolls</strong><br />

is beyond <strong>the</strong> scope of this article. In fact, when it refers to <strong>the</strong> opponents<br />

it may have ano<strong>the</strong>r connotation. 8 In <strong>the</strong> passage under discussion, it<br />

refers to a group within <strong>the</strong> sect <strong>and</strong> is clearly defined.<br />

<strong>The</strong> term glp tyb occurs only twice in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Dead</strong> <strong>Sea</strong> <strong>Scrolls</strong>. In <strong>the</strong><br />

passage under discussion, it is well defined. <strong>The</strong> second occurrence is in<br />

Pesher Nahum:<br />

Mywlnh glp tyb h[d( y](#r Mh wr#p [Ktrz(b wyh Mybwlw +wp]<br />

h#nm l(<br />

Put <strong>and</strong> Libyans were your helpers. This refers to <strong>the</strong> wicked within <strong>the</strong><br />

Congregation, <strong>the</strong> mixed group who joined Manasseh. (4Q169 4.1)<br />

I have restored h[d( y](#r assuming that <strong>the</strong> pesher mentions a group<br />

within <strong>the</strong> community that follows some of <strong>the</strong> Sadducean practices. <strong>The</strong><br />

word glp would <strong>the</strong>n mean “mixed” as in biblical Aramaic (Dan 2:41).<br />

8. Yet, it can mean “careless individuals” even in reference to <strong>the</strong> opponents.

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