historical perspectives: from the hasmoneans to bar kokhba in light ...

90 BILHAH NITZAN
and post-biblical literature, the history of breaking and renewing the
covenant between God and Israel; the covenant's eschatological
renewal was considered an eternal revision of this process.
In order to understand the Qumran concept of covenant renewal,
one must survey the pragmatic changes made by the 'new covenanters
of Qumran' (a term suggested by S. Talmon) 13 to ensure the
eternal existence of the covenant between God and Israel. However,
before examining the Qumran literature, it is worthwhile to study
the development of the covenant as it is reflected in the apocalyptic
Second Temple literature that preceded the Qumran writings and
whose influence on the latter is apparent in many respects. For this
purpose I shall use the Book of Jubilees, some Hebrew copies of which
were preserved at Qumran. 14
The Book of Jubilees reflects the development of the biblical concept
of the covenant first and foremost by redressing the violations
of commandments concerning the rules of feasts, Sabbaths, and the
place sanctified for God (Jub. 1:10; cf. 1:14). According to the apocalyptic
revelation of the Angel of the Presence to Moses on Mount
Sinai, the eschatological reform that would have been established by
Israel for observing these commandments will pave the way for the
renewal of the covenant between God and Israel (Jub. 1:15-17,
23—25). The expression 'new covenant' is not explicit in this revelation;
however, the terminology of Jub. 1:21-24 is concerned with
the idea of an eternal, eschatological new covenant (cf. Jer. 31:32,
Ezek. 36:26, Deut. 4:29; 30:2, 6).
The redressing of the commandments is founded on God's predestined
decree. Thus, Israel was separated and sanctified as God's
people from among all the nations for keeping the holy Sabbath,
according to the laws of creation (Jub. 2:19, 23-33); the feasts of
13 Concerning this term see S. Talmon, "The New Covenanters of Qumran,"
Scientific American 225 (1971): 73-80; S. Talmon, "Waiting for the Messiah: the
Conceptual Universe of the Qumran Covenanters," in his book The World of Qumran
from Within (Leiden: E. J. Brill; Jerusalem: Magnes Press, 1989), 273-300.
14 Fragments of the Book of Jubilees were preserved in 1Q17-18, published in
D. Barthelemy and J. T. Milik, ed., Qumran Cave I, DJD 1 (Oxford: Clarendon Press,
1955), 82-84; 2Q19-20, in M. Baillet et al., ed., Les 'petites grottes' de Qumran, DJDJ
3 (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1962), 77-79; 4Q216-24, in H. Attridge et al., ed.,
Qumran Cave 4.VIII. Parabiblical Texts, Part I, DJD 13 (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1994),
1-140. See also 4Q225-27 "4QpseudoJubilees a-c " (DJD 13.141-75) and 4Q228
"4QText with Citation of Jubilees" (DJD 13.177-85). The title of the Book of Jubilees
is mentioned in CD 16:3-4.