1qphab-habakkuk-pesherdead-sea-scrolls
Habakkuk Pesher
The Habakkuk Pesher opens by declaring that the ancient prophet's cry — 'How long, O Lord?' — was addressed not only to his own generation but was sealed until a latter generation of the unfaithful would hear it expounded through a priestly Teacher of Righteousness, to whom God granted understanding of all the prophets' mysteries. The pesherist reads Habakkuk's Chaldeans as the Kittim — a swift, war-bent empire — and anchors 'the just shall live by his faith' in the covenanting doers of the law who endure tribulation by trusting the Teacher. Against him stands the Wicked Priest: once rightly named, then corrupted by rulership, wealth, and defilement, who pursued the Teacher even on the Day of Atonement to break the community's fast and sabbath rest. The cup of divine wrath awaits him at the day of great judgment.
1
How long, O Lord, shall I cry, and Thou wilt not hear? — that is, the beginning of the words of Habakkuk. The interpretation thereof concerneth the beginning of the generation of them that have been unfaithful — they have not believed when they have heard all that should befall the latter generation, from the mouth of the priest in whose heart God hath set understanding to interpret all the words of His servants the prophets.
2
By the hand of His prophets He hath made known all the mysteries of the words of His servants. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans — that haughty and quick-acting nation, that marcheth through the breadth of the earth to take possession of dwellings that are not theirs. The interpretation thereof concerneth the Kittim, that are quick and mighty in war.
3
Behold his soul is puffed up; it is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith. The interpretation thereof concerneth all the doers of the law in the house of Judah, whom God shall deliver from the house of judgment because of their tribulation and their faith in the Teacher of Righteousness.
4
Wo unto him that buildeth a city with blood, and stablisheth a town by iniquity. The interpretation thereof concerneth the Spreader of Lies, who hath led many astray, that he might build a city of vanity by means of bloodshed, and that he might erect a congregation by deceit, for the sake of his own glory. He hath caused many to be weary in the works of vanity; and hath instructed them in the works of falsehood — that their toil might be for vanity.
5
Wo unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that mingleth in his fury, and that maketh him drunk also, that he may look on their nakedness. The interpretation thereof concerneth the Wicked Priest who pursued the Teacher of Righteousness — that he might confound him in the heat of his anger; even unto his place of exile. And in the season of the festival of rest of the Day of Atonement he appeared unto them, that he might confound them, and that he might cause them to stumble on the day of fasting, even on their sabbath of repose.
6
Behold, the Wicked Priest who, in the beginning of his service, was called by the name of truth. But when he had ruled in Israel, his heart was lifted up; and he forsook God, and was unfaithful unto the precepts for the sake of riches. He robbed; he amassed wealth; he gathered the wealth of violent men, them that had rebelled against God. The wealth of the peoples did he take, that he might add unto himself iniquity and guilt. And the ways of abominations did he do, with all manner of unclean defilement.
7
Thou hast filled thyself with shame more than with glory. Drink also, and stagger! The cup of the right hand of the Lord shall come round unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be upon thy glory. The interpretation thereof concerneth the priest whose shame hath been greater than his glory. He hath not circumcised the foreskin of his heart; he hath walked in the ways of drunkenness, that he might quench his thirst. But the cup of the wrath of God shall confound him, that He may add unto … shame and pain.
8
But the just shall live by his faith — and the interpretation thereof concerneth all the doers of the law in the house of Judah, whom God shall deliver from the house of judgment because of their toil and their faith in the Teacher of Righteousness. He hath made known unto them all the mysteries of the words of His servants the prophets.
9
Blessed be the God of Israel, who hath sent the Teacher of Righteousness; and who shall recompense the Wicked Priest, even according to his iniquities, in the day of the great judgment. Amen, and amen.
