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CHARLESWORTH AND MCSPADDEN 325<br />

confidently presume that immediately prior, in a section now missing, <strong>the</strong><br />

scribe(s) commented on vv. 1–6. By commenting on <strong>the</strong> Psalm verse by<br />

verse, one after ano<strong>the</strong>r in strict <strong>and</strong> deliberate succession (according to<br />

<strong>the</strong> MT arrangement of Psalm 37), <strong>the</strong> scribe gives <strong>the</strong> pesher continuity<br />

<strong>and</strong>, perhaps more importantly, demonstrates that Psalm 37, in its<br />

entirety, was significant to <strong>the</strong> Qumran Ya4h[ad.<br />

FUNCTIONS FOR IDENTITY FORMATION<br />

To claim that Psalm Pesher 1 functioned to maintain communal identity is<br />

not unique. Scholars have long observed <strong>the</strong> ways that <strong>the</strong> texts discovered<br />

at Qumran functioned to shape <strong>the</strong> community: Scripture solidified<br />

Jewish identity, hymns united <strong>the</strong> Ya4h[ad in collective praise <strong>and</strong> defined<br />

it as a worshipping body, <strong>and</strong> original compositions (see esp. 1QS, Some<br />

Works of <strong>the</strong> Torah [4Q394–399 = 4QMMT]) served as rules to tighten <strong>the</strong><br />

boundaries around <strong>the</strong> sect. In different ways, it seems, all of <strong>the</strong> documents<br />

composed at Qumran reinforced a certain sect identity.<br />

Psalm Pesher 1, as a singular <strong>and</strong> independent document, suggests that<br />

it may have enjoyed an additional function in <strong>the</strong> community. Through<br />

its display of history, attention to prophecy, <strong>and</strong> liturgical shape, Psalm<br />

Pesher 1 uses both text (Psalm 37) <strong>and</strong> commentary to create a particular<br />

sociology of identity.<br />

Revealing History <strong>and</strong> History Being Revealed<br />

The topic of history in <strong>the</strong> pesharim has received much debate. Do <strong>the</strong><br />

pesharim present history as fact—as incontrovertible <strong>and</strong> empirical truth?<br />

Or do <strong>the</strong> texts present ideology under <strong>the</strong> guise of history? That is, are<br />

<strong>the</strong> facts fabricated or manipulated by <strong>the</strong> scribe(s), or even <strong>the</strong> Righteous<br />

Teacher, to unite <strong>the</strong> community under one mind? While <strong>the</strong> distance<br />

between <strong>the</strong> two options is considerable, leaving scholars to take up one<br />

side or ano<strong>the</strong>r, a small, but reliable, middle way does exist. This via<br />

media affirms that all <strong>the</strong> history contained in <strong>the</strong> pesharim is “history as<br />

perceived from within <strong>the</strong> Qumran community.” 30 Like ancient historiography,<br />

which often blends facts with ideas, <strong>the</strong> pesharim allow fact <strong>and</strong><br />

30. Charlesworth, The Pesharim <strong>and</strong> Qumran History, 5.

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