Dead Sea Scrolls Uncovered - The Preterist Archive

Ways of Righteousness you will aba[n]don, [and] all the ways (6) . . . you will renounce, and you will
walk in Darkn[ess] (7) . . . great oppression will come upon you, [and] you will be gi[ve]n (8) . . . you
will become fools . . .
Manuscript B Fragment 1 (1) to offer up on the altar (anything fitting), wash your hands and feet once
again. And offer] split [woo]d. (2) [Examine it first for an[y worms, and t]he[n offer] it up, [for] thus I
saw Abraham (3) [my father taking care regarding] anything that might restrain (him from offering the
wood). Any of [twel]ve woods [that are fitting] he to[ld] me [to] offer up on the altar, (4) [whose
smoke] rises up with a pleasant odor. These are th[eir] na[mes:] ce[dar, juniper, almond, (5) [fir, pine,
ash, cypress, fig, oleaster, laurel, myrtle and (6) as[ph]althos. These are th[ose he said] are fitt[ing to
offer up] under the burnt offering (7) on the altar. And [when you begin to offer up one of these
[wood]s upon [the] altar and the [fire begins] (8) to burn them, you are to sprinkle the blood] on the
sides of the altar. Again, [wash] (9) [your hands and feet of the blood, then begin to offer up] sa[lt]ed
portion[s.] As for [its[ he[ad,] . . .
28. A Firm Foundation (AARON A - 4Q541)
The relationship of this text to the Aramaic Testament of Levi above should be clear. In fact, there is
no real reason to consider it distinct from it, but rather simply another version or portion of it. The
working title, 4QAaron, must be seen as a convention, nothing more, though it does reflect the priestly
character of some of the material, particularly the references in Column 2.4 to 'burnt offerings' and
being 'a Foundation of peace' and similar allusions, including more 'Foundation' imagery in Columns
4 and 6. The reference in 6.3 to 'brothers', however, would rather suggest a more direct attribution to
Levi than Aaron, though the implication might simply be the same general priestly and Levitical
thrust of the two Testaments attributed to Kohath and Amram - two more descendants of Levi -
below.
The relationship of this text to extant Testament of Levi literature in other languages, as well as to
Daniel and Enoch materials - particularly as it turns more apocalyptic in Columns 4-5 - is also strong.
These columns parallel the famous eschatological portions of the Greek Testament of Levi ME Apart
from the usual allusions to 'Wisdom', 'Mysteries' and some visionary thrust in the first two columns,
one should note in 4.1 the emphasis on 'making atonement for all the sons of his generation'.
This 'atonement' imagery is strong in other Qumran literature like the Vision of the Four Kingdoms in
Chapter 2 and the Community Rule (viii.6-10). In the latter, it is definitively related to the Council of
the Community, who stand as both an 'Inner Sanctum' or 'Holy of Holies' for Aaron and a 'House' or
'Temple' for Israel. It is, of course, strong, too, in early Christianity as we have seen. The use of the
imagery of a 'firm Foundation', again so prominent here, is very strong in the Qumran Hymns and the
Community Rule as well, the last particularly where the Community Council and spiritualized
'atonement' imagery is concerned. It is even alluded to in the New Testament. It is, of course,
generically related to 'Rock' imagery in the latter tradition. In the Qumran Hymns it is not only
accompanied by this imagery and that of 'the Cornerstone', but also that of the 'Tower', 'wall' and
'Fortress', of the kind also associated with James, who was called in early Christian tradition both
'Protection of the people' and 'Fortress'.