A — The Rules

Part 30

The Hymns Scroll was published by E. L. Sukenik in 1954-5. It has suffered a good deal of deterioration and the translator has difficulty, not only in making sense of the poems, but also in determining where one ends and another begins. For a method of restoration of the Hymns, see E. Puech, 'Quelques aspects de la restauration du Rouleau des Hymnes', JJS, 38-55. He has convincingly argued that apart from some fragments, the first three columns of the original Hymns Scroll are lost. The missing beginning should be followed by the existing columns in the following order: XIII-XVI, I-IV, V-VIII and IX-XII of the editio princeps. Four further columns may be reconstructed with the help of the former col. and various fragments published by Sukenik. Puech tentatively suggests also two further columns made up from other fragments. Our presentation of the Hymns is now rearranged according to Puech's thesis and his reconstruction of the poem in col. is also adopted. No translation is offered for the extremely fragmentary cols. XXIV-XXVI, though it should be noted that col. xxv includes the beginning of a new poem, 'For the Master. A song ' from IQH, fr. 8. Further fragments, occasionally used to improve the reading of IQH, may be found at IQ35 and 4Q427-32; for the latter, see Eileen Schuller, DJD, XXIX, 69-232. The poems contained in the Scroll are similar to the biblical Psalms. They are mostly hymns of thanksgiving, individual prayers as opposed to those intended for communal worship, expressing a rich variety of spiritual and doctrinal detail. But the two fundamental themes running

through the whole collection are those of salvation and knowledge. The sectary thanks God continually for having been saved from the 'lot' of the wicked, and for his gift of insight into the divine mysteries. He, a 'creature of clay', has been singled out by his Maker to receive favours of which he feels himself unworthy and he alludes again and again to his frailty and total dependence on God. Whereas some of the Hymns give expression to thoughts and sentiments common to all the members of the sect, others, particularly nos. 1, 2, and 7-11, appear to refer to the experiences of a teacher abandoned by his friends and persecuted by his enemies. Several scholars tend to ascribe the authorship of these to the Teacher of Righteousness, and even consider that he may be responsible for all the Hymns. But although this hypothesis is not impossible, no sure conclusion can yet be reached. Nor are we in a position to date any particular composition. The most we can say is that the collection as such probably attained its final shape during the last pre-Christian century. Philo's account of the banquet celebrated by the contemplative Essenes, or Therapeutae, on the Feast of Pentecost may indicate the use to which the Hymns were put. He reports that when the President of the meeting had ended his commentary on the Scriptures, he rose and chanted a hymn, either one of his own making or an old one, and after him each of his brethren did likewise. Similarly, it is probable that the psalms of this Scroll were recited by the Guardian and newly initiated members at the Feast of the Renewal of the Covenant. Hymn expressly refers to the oath of the Covenant, and Hymn appears to be a poetic commentary on the liturgy marking the entry into the Community. Indeed, the relative poverty of principal themes may be due to the fact that all this poetry was intended for a special occasion and its inspirational scope was thereby limited.

Cols. I-III are missing.

IV..

As Thou hast said by the hand of Moses, Thou forgivest transgression, iniquity, and sin, and pardonest rebellion and unfaithfulness.

For the bases of the mountains shall melt and fire shall consume the deep places of Hell, but Thou wilt deliver all those that are corrected by Thy judgements, that they may serve Thee faithfully and that their seed may be before Thee for ever. Thou wilt keep Thine oath and wilt pardon their transgression; Thou wilt cast away all their sins.

Thou wilt cause them to inherit all the glory of Adam and abundance of days. Hymn I give Thee thanks because of the spirits which Thou hast given to me! I will bring forth a reply of the tongue to recount Thy righteous deeds, and the forbearance.. and the works of Thy mighty right hand, and the pardon of the sins of the forefathers. I will bow down and implore Thy mercy on my sins and wicked deeds, and on the perversity of my heart, for I have wallowed in uncleanness, and have turned aside from the counsel of Thy truth and I have not laboured.. For Thine, Thine is righteousness,

and an everlasting blessing be upon Thy Name! According to Thy righteousness, let Thy servant be redeemed and the wicked be brought to an end.

For I have understood that it is Thou who dost establish the path of whomsoever Thou choosest; Thou dost hedge him in with true discernment that he may not sin against Thee, and that his humility may bear fruit through Thy chastisement. Thou dost purify his heart in Thy trials. Preserve Thy servant, O God, lest he sin against Thee, or stagger aside from any word of Thy will. Strengthen the loins of Thy servant that he may resist the spirits of falsehood, that he may walk in all that Thou lovest, and despise all that Thou loathest,

that he may do that which is good in Thine eyes. Destroy their dominion in my bowels, for within Thy servant is a spirit of flesh. Hymn I thank Thee, O Lord, for Thou didst shed Thy Holy Spirit upon Thy Servant All these things Thou didst establish in Thy wisdom. Thou didst appoint all Thy works before ever creating them: the host of Thy spirits and the Congregation of Thy Holy Ones, the heavens and all their hosts and the earth and all it brings forth. In the seas and deeps..

.. and an everlasting task; for Thou hast established them from before eternity.

And the work of.. and they shall recount Thy glory throughout all Thy dominion For Thou hast shown them that which they had not seen by removing all ancient things and creating new ones, by breaking asunder things anciently established, and raising up the things of eternity. For Thou art from the beginning and shalt endure for ages without end. And Thou hast appointed all these things in the mysteries of Thy wisdom to make known Thy glory to all.

But what is the spirit of flesh that it should understand all this, and that it should comprehend

the great design of Thy wisdom? What is he that is born of woman in the midst of all Thy terrible works? He is but an edifice of dust, and a thing kneaded with water, whose beginning is sinful iniquity, and shameful nakedness, and a fount of uncleanness, and over whom a spirit of straying rules. If he is wicked he shall become a sign for ever, and a wonder to generation, and an object of horror to all flesh.

By Thy goodness alone is man righteous,

and with Thy many mercies Thou strengthenest him. Thou wilt adorn him with Thy splendour and wilt cause him to reign amid many delights with everlasting peace and length of days. For Thou hast spoken, and Thou wilt not take back Thy word.

And I, Thy servant, I know by the spirit which Thou hast given to me that Thy words are truth, and that all Thy works are righteousness, and that Thou wilt not take back Thy word Hymn Blessed art Thou, O Lord who hast given understanding to the heart of Thy servant that he may understand all these things and resist the works of wickedness and bless justly all those who choose Thy will, and that he may love all that Thou lovest and loathe all that Thou hatest. Thou shalt instruct Thy servant.. spirits of man for Thou hast cast their according to the spirits between good and evil to accomplish their task. And I know through the understanding which comes from Thee, that in Thy goodwill towards man Thou hast increased his inheritance in Thy Holy Spirit and thus Thou hast drawn me near to understanding of Thee. And the closer I approach, the more am I filled with zeal

against all the workers of iniquity and the men of deceit.

For none of those who approach Thee rebels against Thy command, nor do any of those who know Thee alter Thy words; for Thou art righteous, and all Thine elect are truth. Thou wilt blot out all injustice and wickedness for ever, and Thy righteousness shall be revealed before the eyes of all Thy creatures.

I know through Thy great goodness; and with an oath I have undertaken never to sin against Thee, nor to do anything evil in Thine eyes. And thus do I bring into community all the men of my Council.

I will cause each man to draw near in accordance with his understanding, and according to the greatness of his inheritance, so will I love him. I will not honour an evil man, nor consider the bribes of shame; I will not barter Thy truth for riches, nor one of Thy precepts for bribes.

But I will love each man according to his speech and according as Thou removest him far from Thee, so will I hate him; and none of those who have turned from Thy Covenant will I bring into the Council of Thy truth.

Hymn I thank Thee, O Lord, as befits the greatness of Thy power and the multitude of Thy marvels for ever and ever. Thou art a merciful God and rich in favours, pardoning those who repent of their sin and visiting the iniquity of the wicked. Thou delightest in the free-will offering of the righteous but iniquity Thou hatest always. Thou hast favoured me, Thy servant, with a spirit of knowledge, that I may choose truth and goodness and loathe all the ways of iniquity. And I have loved Thee freely and with all my heart; contemplating the mysteries of Thy wisdom I have sought Thee. For this is from Thy hand and nothing is done without Thy will. I have loved Thee freely and with all my heart and soul I have purified.. that I might not turn aside from any of Thy commands. I have clung to the Congregation.. that I might not be separated from any of Thy laws.

I know through the understanding which comes from Thee that righteousness is not in a hand of flesh, that man is not master of his way and that it is not in mortals to direct their step. I know that the inclination of every spirit is in Thy hand; Thou didst establish all its ways before ever creating it, and how can any man change Thy words?

Thou alone didst create the just and establish him from the womb for the time of goodwill, that he might hearken to Thy Covenant and walk in all, and that Thou mightest show Thyself great to him in the multitude of Thy mercies, and enlarge his straitened soul to eternal salvation, to perpetual and unfailing peace. Thou wilt raise up his glory from among flesh.

But the wicked Thou didst create for the time of Thy wrath, Thou didst vow them from the womb to the Day of Massacre, for they walk in the way which is not good. They have despised Thy Covenant and their souls have loathed Thy truth; they have taken no delight in all Thy commandments and have chosen that which Thou hatest.

For according to the mysteries of Thy wisdom, Thou hast ordained them for great chastisements before the eyes of all Thy creatures, that for all eternity they may serve as a sign and a wonder, and that all men may know Thy glory and Thy tremendous power.

But what is flesh that it should understand these things? And how should a creature of dust direct his steps? It is Thou who didst shape the spirit and establish its work from the beginning; the way of all the living proceeds from Thee.

I know that no riches equal Thy truth, and have therefore desired to enter the Council of Thy holiness. I know that Thou hast chosen them before all others and that they shall serve Thee for ever. Thou wilt take no bribe for the deeds of iniquity, nor ransom for the works of wickedness; for Thou art a God of truth and wilt destroy all iniquity for ever, and no wickedness shall exist before Thee. Because I know all these things my tongue shall utter a reply. Bowing down and confessing all my transgressions, I will seek Thy spirit of knowledge; cleaving to Thy spirit of holiness, I will hold fast to the truth of Thy Covenant, that I may serve Thee in truth and wholeness of heart, and that I may love Thy Name.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Maker of all things and mighty in deeds: all things are Thy work! Behold, Thou art pleased to favour Thy servant, and hast graced me with Thy spirit of mercy and with the radiance of Thy glory. Thine, Thine is righteousness, for it is Thou who hast done all these things!