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

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JACOB CHERIAN 361<br />

1. A cup of milk was offered to me, 41<br />

<strong>and</strong> I drank it in <strong>the</strong> sweetness of <strong>the</strong> Lord’s kindness.<br />

2. <strong>The</strong> Son is <strong>the</strong> cup,<br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Fa<strong>the</strong>r is he who was milked;<br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit is she who milked him;<br />

3. Because his breasts (tdwhi) were full,<br />

<strong>and</strong> it was undesirable that his milk should be released without purpose.<br />

4. <strong>The</strong> Holy Spirit opened her bosom,<br />

<strong>and</strong> mixed <strong>the</strong> milk of <strong>the</strong> two breasts of <strong>the</strong> Fa<strong>the</strong>r. (Odes 19:1–4)<br />

This is truly fascinating. In a developed Trinitarian framework, God “<strong>the</strong><br />

Fa<strong>the</strong>r” is pictured with nourishing breasts <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> spiritual milk he provides<br />

for his children is mediated through “<strong>the</strong> Son” <strong>and</strong> “<strong>the</strong> Holy<br />

Spirit.” <strong>The</strong>re is probably no stronger <strong>and</strong> clearer picture of God as a<br />

Nursing-Fa<strong>the</strong>r anywhere else in Jewish literature.<br />

5. CONCLUDING REMARKS<br />

God is often seen as <strong>the</strong> parent of Israel. More so God could be called<br />

<strong>the</strong> Nursing-Fa<strong>the</strong>r of Israel. <strong>The</strong> apostle Paul, albeit later than <strong>the</strong><br />

Righteous Teacher at Qumran, also uses this imagery to speak of his<br />

parental care <strong>and</strong> authority among his churches. <strong>The</strong> biblical tradition<br />

had used <strong>the</strong> term Nm) for Moses. Similarly <strong>the</strong> qdch hrwm, <strong>the</strong> Moses<br />

at Qumran, underst<strong>and</strong>s his authoritative yet tender calling to be that of<br />

a nursing-fa<strong>the</strong>r of his community. In <strong>the</strong> fulfillment of this role he is like<br />

Moses <strong>and</strong> God. This potent image presents valuable insight into <strong>the</strong> web<br />

of relations <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> ethos of <strong>the</strong> fascinating dxy.<br />

41. Cf. 1 Pet 2:3.

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