dssdead-sea-scrolls
C — Calendars, Liturgies and Prayers
Chapter 12
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Five fragmentary copies of a text containing liturgical blessings and curses, each unit ending with 'Amen, amen', have survived in Cave 4. Of these 4QBerakhota, preserved on three photographic plates, provides continuous passages. They parallel Community Rule and War Rule XIII, and the style of 4Q286 I also recalls the Songs of the Holocaust for the Sabbath. I agree with Bilhah Nitzan that 4QBerakhot is probably an independent version of part of the ceremony of the renewal of the covenant included in 1QS 11, 3-17. 4Q280 depends mainly on Community Rule ii, but reveals Satan's specific name, Melkiresha', the counterpart of Melchizedek, chief of the Army of Light. For the editio princeps, see B. Nitzan, DJD, XI, 1-74, and DJD, XXIX, 1-8. 4Q286=4QBerakhota Blessings Fr. 1a ii The seat of Thy splendour and the footstool of Thy glory in the heights of Thy standing and Thy holy stepping-place. And Thy glorious chariots, their cherubim and their wheels and all their companies; foundations of fire and flames of brightness and shinings of majesty
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and streams of fire and wonderful luminaries; majesty and splendour and glorious height, holy foundation and source of majesty and height of glory, marvel of thanksgivings and reservoir of might, splendour of praises and great in wonderful things and healings and miraculous deeds, foundation of wisdom and pattern of knowledge and source of understanding, source of prudence and holy counsel and true foundation, treasure-house of intelligence, building of righteousness and place of uprightness, great in loving-kindness and in meekness and true loving-kindness and everlasting mercies and mysteries of marvels in their revelations and holy weeks in their appointed time and squads of months... of years in their circuits and glorious festive seasons in their.. fixed moments.. and the sabbatical years of the land in their divisions, appointed times for liberty.. eternity.. [light and darkness.. Fr.. their.. in the strength of their majesty and all the spirits of those who bring to the Sanctuary.. in their companies and in their dominions, the mighty of the 'gods' with power. vacat.. zeal for judgement with strength. vacat.. they shall all bless in community Thy holy name.. Holy of Holies they will curse.. knowledge of understanding.. vacat.. joyous cry.. Fr.. ruling angels.. in (a]ll their services.. sparks and lightnings.. the angels of rain clouds, and heavy clouds and thick clouds and dew- drops.. and all the spirits of dominations.. when they were created.. succeed one another.. Fr. 5
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.. the earth and everything on it, and the world and all its inhabitants. The ground and all its devices; the earth and all that exist on it. The mountains and all the hills; the valleys and all the ravines; the dry land.. its cedars; the low-lying woods and all the deserts of desolation.. and its voids; and the foundations of its structure. The jackals and... the tall trees, their fruit and all the cedars of Lebanon.. Grain, wine and oil and all the produce.. and all the wave-offerings of the world in twelve months... Thy words. Amen, amen. Fr. 7a i I.. and all their elect... and all who know the song of.. and the blessings of truth in the festive times.. and the kingdom shall be lifted up among the peoples.. the assembly of the pure 'gods' and all who possess everlasting knowledge to praise and to bless Thy glorious name in all the everlasting ages. Amen, amen. Frs. 20+13+4Q288 Every one should rebuke his fellow in truth, and virtuous humility and with righteous intention in the Community of God. And whoever has erred when returning to the truth, they shall rebuke him according to their commandments. They shall rebuke him and have mercy on him if he transgresses. Let no man bear gru[dge against his fellow from
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one day] to another. Let him not hate him in his heart so as not to bear guilt because of him. And whatever is revealed to the men of the Community let him instruct him with his merciful love and with the spirit of humility he shall distance him from the deeds of deceitfulness. The Guardian of the Congregation shall admonish him regarding all the regulations perfecting his deeds from all sin through rebuking him before witnesses. Let no man take revenge on his own behalf in any matter for he will be punished for six months/one year.. Let no one take the law in his own hand, disobeying the order of his fellow. Let him not speak to him in anger or out of envy prompted by the spirit of wickedness, disregarding the dignity of his colleague with heated anger, standing up against him without justification. 4Q287 fr.. and they shall bless Thy holy name with benedictions of.. the Holy of Holies. And all the creatures of flesh shall bless Thee, all of them that Thou has created.. the beasts and the birds and the worms and the fish of the sea and all.. Thou hast created them all renewing.. Fr.. against the anointed ones of His holy spirit.. 4Q286 =4QBerakhotb Curses of Belial Fr. ii
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II council of the Community shall all say together, Amen, amen. Afterwards they shall damn Belial and all his guilty lot. They shall answer and say, Cursed be Belial in his hostile design, and damned in his guilty dominion. Cursed be all the spirits of his lot in their wicked design, and damned in their thoughts of unclean impurity. For they are the lot of darkness and their visitation is for eternal destruction. Amen, amen. Cursed be the Wicked One in all the ages of his dominions, and may all the sons of Belial be damned in all the works of their service until their annihilation for ever, Amen, amen. And they shall continue to say: Be cursed, Angel of Perdition and Spirit of Destruction, in all the thoughts of your guilty inclination and all your abominable plots and your wicked design, and may you be damned.. Amen, amen. Cursed be all those who practise their wicked designs and establish in their heart their devices, plotting against God's Covenant.. to exchange the judgements of truth for folly. 4Q280=4QBenedictionsf Curses of Melkiresha' Fr. May God set him apart for evil from the midst of the Sons of Light because he has turned away from following Him. And they shall continue saying: Be cursed, Melkiresha', in all the thoughts of your guilty inclination. May God deliver you up for torture at the hands of the vengeful Avengers. May God not heed when you call on Him. May He raise His angry face towards you. May there be no 'Peace' for you in the mouth of all those who hold fast to the Fathers. May you be cursed with no remnant, and damned
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without escape. Cursed be those who practise their wicked designs and establish in their heart your devices, plotting against the Covenant of God.. seers of His truth. Whoever refuses to enter His Covenant, walking in the stubbornness of his heart..
