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

COMMUNAL FASTS 131
the time of Herod 20 and, Flusser maintains, was depicted in several
of the pesharim. On Hos. 2:11, ... "Assuredly,
I will take back My new grain in its time . . .," the pesher reads:
(4Q166 ii 8-14)
Its interpretation is that he smote them with hunger and nakedness to
be a sha[me] and ignominy in the sight of the Gentiles upon whom
they relied, but they will not save them from their torments (4Q166
ii 8-14). 21
Both Josephus and the Hosea Pesher mention famine, nakedness, and
an appeal for external aid. In addition, Josephus mentions a plague,
while famine and plague are mentioned in 4Q171 1-10 iii 2—5, quoted
above. Flusser therefore suggests that these passages reflect the interpretation
of the sect regarding the famine in the time of Herod.
4QJ71 1-10 iii 2-5 also mentions Flusser concludes
that, according to this pesher, those who observed the 'season of the
fast' survived the famine, while those who did not join the sect perished
from the famine and plague, occurs in 4Q171
1—10 ii 8—11 above: a poverty-stricken congregation that accepted
upon itself the 'season of the fast' was saved from the snares of
Belial. It seems, Flusser argues, that this particular fast was established
due to the famine and saved the sectarians from harm; therefore,
the 'season of the fast' was worthy of commemoration. The
Damascus Document adds to the Sabbath and the festivals
whose observance is obligatory (CD 6:18-19). According to Flusser,
the addition of this fast day was in commemoration of the fast that
saved the sect members. This interpretation of is preferable,
in Flusser's opinion, because "the word ta'anit is never applied
[elsewhere] to the fast of the Day of Atonement." 22
Flusser's argument deserves to be re-examined. He and other scholars
did not relate it to the appearances of in two other collections
of Qumran documents, the Festival Prayers and the Songs of
the Sage. The first two passages are from the Festival Prayers, followed
by three passages from the Songs of the Sage:
20 Josephus, Ant. 15.299-316.
21 English translation of Allegro, DJDJ 5.32.
22 Flusser, "Qumran and the Famine," 12.