B — Hymns and Poems

Chapter 9

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Twelve fragmentary manuscripts from Cave 4, palaeographically dated to the late second century BCE, present in various forms the peculiar 'solar' calendar - constructed in six-year sequences - of the Qumran Community. Their year consisted of twelve months of thirty days each, plus four extra days added to each of the four seasons. Some documents from 4Q attempt to combine this calendar with the various priestly courses which served in turn in the Temple for a week at a time from one sabbath to the following Friday. They also combine it with the dates of the full moon given according to the days of the week of duty of the priestly course, the date of the solar month and the equivalent date of the lunar calendar of mainstream Judaism. E.g. 'On the 5th in the week of Jedaiah, corresponding to the 29th day of the lunar month, which falls on the 30th day of the 1st solar month.' 4Q321 records in addition the occurrence of the New Moon. E.g. 'And the New Moon is on the third day in the week of Mijamin which is on the twelfth day in the eighth month.' An alternative interpretation suggests that the term in question designates the day after the full moon. 4Q321a is very fragmentary, but it seems almost identical to 4Q321. For the editio princeps, see S. Talmon with J. Ben-Dov, DJD, XXI, 1-156. The following table will help readers understand the relationship between the priestly courses on weekly duty, the 'solar' dates, the moon's phases and the feast-days falling in the month in question. First month of the first year in a six-year cycle Sigla: bold number=feast; t=New Moon; ††=full moon

Mishmarot A Fr. i I.. to show it from the east. And to cause it to shine in the middle of heaven, in the foundation of the creation, from evening till morning. On the 4th in the week of the sons of Gamul in the first month of the first year. On the 5th in Jedaiah, to the 29th on the 30th of the 1st. On the sabbath in Hakkoz, to the 30th on the 30th of the second. On the 1st in Eliashib, to the 29th, on the 29th in the third. On the 3rd in Bilgah, to the 30th on the 28th day in the fourth. On the 4th in Petahiah, to the 29th on the 27th day in the fifth.

On the 6th in Delaiah, to the 30th on the 27th in the sixth. On the sabbath in Seorim, to the 29th on the 25th in the seventh. On the 2nd in Abiah, to the 3oth on the 25th in the eighth. On the 3rd in Jakim, to the 29th on the 24th in the ninth. On the 5th in Immer, to the 30th on the 23rd in the tenth. On the 6th in Jehezekel, to the 29th on the 22nd in the eleventh month. On the 1st in Jeiarib, to the 30th on the 22nd in the twelfth month.

The second year: On the 2nd in Malchiah, to the 29th on the 20th in the first. On the 4th in Jeshua, to the 30th on the 20th in the second. On the 5th in Huppah, to the 29th on the 19th in the third. On the sabbath in Pizzez, to the 30th on the 18th in the fourth. On the 1st in Gamul, to the 29th on the 17th day in the fifth.

On the 3rd in Jedaiah, to the 30th on the 17th in the sixth. On the 4th in Mijamin, to the 9th on the 15th day in the seventh. On the 6th in Shecaniah, to the 3oth on the 15th in the eighth. On the sabbath in Bilgah, to the 29th on the 14th in the ninth. On the 2nd in Petahiah, to the 30th on the 13th in the tenth. Fr. On the 1st in Jeshua, to the 29th on the 5th in the seventh. On the 3rd in Huppah, to the 30th on the 5th in the eighth. On the 4th in Hezir, to the 29th on the 4th in the ninth. On the 6th in Jachin, to the 30th on the 3rd in the tenth. On the sabbath in Jedaiah, to the 29th on the 2nd of the eleventh month. On the 2nd of Mijamin, to the 30th the second day in the twelfth month.

Fr. i.. the days, the sabbaths and the months for years and for sabbatical years and for jubilees. On the 4th of the week of the sons of Gamul. Fr. iii The first year: its feasts. On the third Meoziah: the Passover. On the 1st in Jeda[iah: the Waving of the Sheaf. On the 5th in Seorim: the Second Passover. vacat On the 1st in Jeshua: the Feast of Weeks. On the 4th in Meoziah: the Day of Memorial. On the 6th in Jeiarib: the Day of Atonement in the seventh month. vacat On the 4th in Jedaiah: the Feast of Tabernacles.

The second: its feasts. On the 3rd in Seorim: the Passover. On the 1st in Mijamin: the Waving of the Sheaf. On the 5th in Abiah: the Second Passover. Fr. On the 1st in Huppah: the Feast of Weeks. On the 4th in Seorim: the Day of Memorial. On the 6th in Malchiah: the Day of Atonement. On the 4th in Mijamin: the Feast of Tabernacles. vacat

The third: its feasts. On the 3rd in Abiah: the Passover. On the 21st in Shecaniah: the Waving of the Sheaf. On the 5th in Jakim: the Second Passover. On the 1st in Hezir: the Feast of Weeks. On the 4th in Abiah: the Day of Memorial. On the 6th in Jeshua: the Day of Atonement. On the 4th in Shecaniah: the Feast of Tabernacles.

Thefourth: its feasts. On the 3rd in Jakim: the Passover. On the 1st in Jeshebeab: the Waving of the Sheaf. On [the 5th in Immer: the Second Passover. On the 1st in Pizzez: the Feast of Weeks. On the 4th in Jakim: the Day of Memorial. On the 6th in Huppah: the Day of Atonement. On the 4th in Jeshebeab: the Feast of Tabernacles. vacat

The fifth: its feasts. On the 3rd in Immer: the Passover. On the 1st in Pizzez: the Waving of the Sheaf. On the 5th in Jehezekel: the Second Passover. On the 1st in Joiarib: the Feast of Weeks. On the 4th in Immer: the Day of Memorial.

VI On the 6th in Hezir: the Day of Atonement. On the 4th in Pizzez: the Feast of Tabernacles. vacat

The sixth: its feasts. On the 3rd in Jehezekel: the Passover.

On the 1st in Gamul: the Waving of the Sheaf. On the 3rd in Maaziah: the Second Passover. On the 1st in Malchiah: the Feast of Weeks. On the 4th in Jehezekel: the Day of Memorial. On the 6th in Jachin: the Day of Atonement. On the 4th in Gamul: the Feast of Tabernacles.. Mishmarot B I And the New Moon is on the 1st in Jedaiah which is on the twelfth in it. On the second in Abiah which is on the twenty- fifth in the eighth. And the New Moon is on the third in Mijamin which is on the twelfth in. On the third in Jakim which is on the twenty-fou rth in the ninth. And the New Moon is on the fourth in Shecaniah which is on the eleventh in. On the fifth in Immer which is on the thirteenth in the tenth. And the New Moon is on the sixth in Jeshabeab which is on the tenth in. On the sixth in Jehezekel which is on the twenty- second in the eleventh. And the New Moon is on sabbath in Petahiah which is on the ninth in. On the first in Joiarib which is on the twenty- second in the twelfth month. And the New Moon is on the second in Delaiah which is on the ninth in. vacat

The second, the first. On the second in Malchiah which is on the twen[tieth in the first.

And] the New Moon is on the third in Harim which is on the seventh in. On the fourth in Jeshua which is on the twentieth in the second. And the New Moon is on the fifth in Hakkoz which is on the ninth in. On the fifth in Huppah which is on the nineteenth in the third. And the New Moon is on the sixth in Eliashib which is on the sixth in. On the sabbath in Pizzez Fr. which is on the eighteenth in the fourth. And the New Moon is on the first in Immer which is on the fifth in. On the first in Gamul, which is on the seventeenth in the fifth. And the New Moon is on the second in Jehezekel which is on the fourth in. On the third in Jedaiah which is on the seventeenth in the sixth. And the New Moon is on the fourth in Maoziah which is on the fourth in. On the fourth in Mijamin which is on the fifteenth in the seventh. And the New Moon is on the fifth in Seorim which is on the second in. On the sixth in Shecaniah which is on the fifteenth in the eighth. And the New Moon is on the sabbath in Abiah which is on the second in. On the sabbath in Bilgah which is on the fourteenth of the ninth. And the New Moon is on the first in the ninth month.

And the second New Moon is on the third in Hezir, which is on the thirty-first in. On the second in Petahiah which is on the thirteenth in the tenth. And the New Moon is on the fourth in Jachin which is on the twenty-ninth in. On the third in Delaiah which is on the twelfth in the eleventh month. And the New Moon is on the sixth in Joiarib which is on the twenty-ninth in. On the fifth in Harim which is on the twelfth of the twelfth month. And the New Moon is on the sabbath in Mijamin which is on the twenty-eighth in. The third. The first. On the sixth in Hakkoz which is on the tenth in the first. Fr. And the New Moon is on the second in Shecaniah which is on the twenty-seventh in. On the first in Jakim which is on the tenth in the second. And the New Moon is on the third in Jeshebeab which is on the twenty-sixth in. On the second in Immer which is on the ninth in the third. And the New Moon is on the fifth in Pizzez which is on the twenty-sixth in. On the fourth in Jehezekel which is on the eighth in the fourth. And the New Moon is on the sixth in Gamul which is on the twenty-fourth in. On the fifth in Meoziah which is on the seventh in the fifth. And the New Moo]n is on the first in Har[im which

is on the twenty-fourt]h in. On the sabbath in Malchiah which is on the seventh of the sixth. And the New Moon is on the second in Hakkoz which is on the twenty-third in. On the first in Jeshua which is on the fifth in the seventh. And the New Moon on the fourth in Eliashib which is on the twenty-second in. On the third in Huppah which is on the fifth in the eighth. And the New Moon is in the fifth in Bilgah which is on the twenty-first in. On the fourth in Hezir which is on the fourth in the ninth. And the New Moon is on the sabbath in Jehezekel which is on the twenty-first in. On the sixth in Jachin which is on the third in the tenth. And the New Moon is on the first in Maaziah which is on the nineteenth in. On the sabbath in Jedaiah which is on the second in the eleventh month. And the New Moon is on the third in Seorim which is on the nineteenth in. On the second in Mijamin which is on the second in the twelfth month. And the New Moon is on the fourth in Abiah which is on the eighteenth in.

The fourth. On the fourth in Shecaniah which is on the first in the first month. And the New Moon is on the sixth in Jakim which is on the seventeenth in. [On the fifth in Pizzez which is on the thirtieth

in] the first. On the sabbath in Petahiah which is on the thirtieth of the second month. And the New Moon is on the first in Hezir which is on the seventeenth in it. On the first in of Delaiah, which is on the twenty-ninth Fr. I On the fifth in the of Jakim which is on the seventh in the fifth. And the New Moon is on the first in Bilgah which is on the twenty-fourth in. On the sabbath in Hezir which is on the seventh in the sixth. And the New Moon is on the second in Petahiah which is on the twenty-third in. On the first in Jachin which is on the fifth in the seventh. And the New Moon is on the fourth in Delaiah which is on the twenty-second in. On the third in Joiarib which is on the fifth in the eighth. And the New Moon is on the fifth in Harim which is on the twenty-first in the eighth month. On the fourth in Malchiah which is on the fourth in the ninth. And the New Moon is on the sabbath in Abiah which is on the twenty-first in. On the sixth in Je]shua which is on the third in the tenth. And the New Moon is on the first in Jakim which is on the nineteenth in. On the sabbath in Jeshebeab which is on the second of the eleventh month.

And the New Moon is on the third in Immer which is on the nineteenth in. On the second in Pizzez which is on the second in the twelfth month. And the New Moon is on the fourth in Jehezekel which is on the eighteenth in the twelfth month. vacat.. In the first month in Gamul; on the third in Maaziah: Passover. In Jedaiah: the Waving of the Sheaf. The of the second is in Jedaiah; in Seorim: the Second Passover. third in (the week of Hakkoz.

V in Jeshua: the Feast of Weeks is in it. The fourth in Eliashib. The fifth in Bilgah. The sixth in Jehezekel. The seventh in Maoziah. In Maoziah is the Day of Memorial. In Joiarib is the Day of Atonement. In Jedaiah is the Feast of Tabernacles. The eighth in Seorim. The ninth in Jeshua. The tenth in Huppah. The eleventh in Hezir. The twelfth in Gamul. vacat

The second. The first in Jedaiah. In Seorim is the Passover. In Mijamin is the Waving of the Sheaf. The second in Mijamin. In Abiah is the Second Passover. The third in Eliashib and in Huppah is the Feast of Weeks. The fourth in Bilgah.

The fifth in Petahiah. The sixth in Maaziah. The seventh in Seorim. In Seorim is the Day of Memorial. In Malchiah is the Day of Atonement. In Mijamin is the Feast of Tabernacles. The eighth in Abiah. The ninth in Huppah. The tenth in Hezir. The eleventh in Jachin. The twelfth month in Jedaiah. vacat

The third. The first in Mijamin. In Abiah is the Passover. In Shecaniah is the Waving of the Sheaf. The second in Shecaniah and in Jakim is the Second Passover. The third in Bilgah. In Hezir Fr. 4—5 is the Feast of Weeks. The fourth in Petahiah. The fifth in Delaiah. The sixth in Seorim. In the seventh, in Abiah is the Day of Memorial. In Jeshua is the Day of Atonement. In Shecaniah is the Feast of Tabernacles. The eighth in Jakim. The ninth in Hezir. The tenth in Jachin. The eleventh month begins in Joiarib. The twelfth month in Mij]amin.

The fourth. The first in Shecaniah. In Jakim is the Passover. In Jeshebeab is the Waving of the Sheaf. The second in Jeshebeab. In Immer is the Second Passover. In Jachin is the Feast of Weeks. The fourth in Delaiah. The fifth in Harim. The sixth in Abiah. The seventh in Jakim. In Jakim is the Day of Memorial. In Huppah is the Day of Atonement. In Jeshebeab is the Feast of Tabernacles. The eighth in Immer. The ninth in Jachin. The tenth in Joiarib. The eleventh month in MaIchiah. The twelfth month in Shecaniah. vacat The fifth. The first in Jeshebeab. In Immer is the Passover. In Pizzez is the Waving of the Sheaf. The second in Pizzez. In Jehezekel is the Second Passover. The third in Delaiah. In Joiarib is the Feast of Weeks. The fourth in Harim. The fifth in Hakkoz. The sixth in Jakim. The seventh in Immer. In Immer is the Day of Memorial. In Hezir is the Day of Atonement. In Pizzez is the Feast of Tabernacles. The eighth in Jehezekel. The ninth in Joiarib and the tenth

Fr. [in Malchiah. The eleventh month in Jeshua. The twelfth month in Jeshebeab.

The sixth. The first in Pizzez. In Jehezekel is the Passover. In Gamul is the Waving of the Sheaf. The second in Gamul. In Maaziah is the Second Passover. The third month in Harim. In Malchiah is the Feast of Weeks. The fourth in Hakkoz. The fifth in Eliashib. The sixth in Immer. The seventh in Jehezekel. In Jehezekel is the Day of Memorial. In Jachin is the Day of Atonement. In Gamul is the Feast of Tabernacles. The eighth in Maaziah. The ninth in Malchiah. The tenth in Jeshua. The eleventh month in Huppah. The twelfth month in Pizzez. Mishmarot D Fr.. Passover on the third. On the eighteenth in

is the sabbath of Joiarib.. in the evening. On the twenty-fifth in is the sabbath of Jedaiah. During the same week is the Feast of Barley on the twenty-sixth in, after the sabbath. The beginning of the second month is on the sixth day of Jedaiah. On the second in is the sabbath of Harim. On the ninth in is the sabbath of Seorim. On the sixteenth in is the sabbath of Malchiah. On the twenty-third in is the sabbath of Mijamin. On the thirtieth in is the sabbath of Hakkoz. vacat The beginning of the third month after the sabbath Fr. On the sixth in Bilgah. On the second in is the sabbath of Immer. On the third in is the Feast of the New Wine after the sabbath of Immer. On the ninth in is the sabbath of Hezir. On the sixteenth in is the sabbath of Aphses. On the twenty-third in is the sabbath of Petahiah. On the thirtieth in is the sabbath of Jehezekel. The beginning of the sixth month is after the sabbath of Jehezekel. On the seventh in is the sabbath of Jachin. On the fou]rteenth in is the sabbath of Gamul. On the twenty-first in is the sabbath of Delaiah. On the twenty-second in is the Feast of New Oil. After the Feast of New Oil is the Feast of the Offering of Wo]od. Mishmarot F

.. In the fifth: Jeshabeab. In the sixth: Hapizzez. These are the beginnings of the years. In the first [year: Gamul, Eliashib, Moaziah, Huppah. In the second: Jedaiah, Bilgah, Seorim, Hezir. In the third: Mijamin, Petahiah, Abiah, Jachin. In the fourth: Shecaniah, Delaiah, Jakim, Joiarib. In the fifth: Jeshabeab, Harim, Immer, Malchiah. In the s[ixth: Hapizzez,.