C — Calendars, Liturgies and Prayers

Calendric Signs (Otot) (4Q319)

1The so-called Otot or 'Signs' document was copied as the continuation of 4QSe (4Q259). Whether it was part of the original composition is as debatable as the attachment of a calendar to MMT at 4Q394 1-2 (cf. above, pp. 222-3). 4Q319 represents a calendrical system based on the weekly rotation of the twenty-four priestly courses during a six-year period and constructed into six consecutive Jubilees, i.e. 294 years. The 'sign' which recurs in every three years probably identifies the years in which the shorter lunar year of 354 days is supplemented by means of the intercalation of an extra month of 30 days (3×354+30=1,092) to equal the length of three 'solar' years of 364 days each (3×364=1,092). Palaeographically the manuscript is dated to the first half of the first century BCE. For the editio princeps, see J. Ben-Dov, DJD, XXI, 199-244. Frs. 1-3 IV ... ... on the fourth (day) of the wee[k] ... its light on the fourth (day) of the wee[k] of the creation in (the week of) G[amul. The sign of Shecaniah: in the fourth (year). The sign of Gamul: in the (year) of Release (i.e. the first sabbatical year).

2(Second sabbatical cycle): [The sign of Shecaniah: in the thi]rd (year). The sign of [G]amul: in the sixth (year).

3(Third sabbatical cycle): The sign [of Shecaniah: in the second (year). The sign of G]amul: [in the fifth (year).

4(Fourth sabbatical cycle): The sig]n of Shecaniah: after the (year of) Release. The sign of Gamu[l: in the fourth (year). The sign of Shec]an[i]ah: [in the (year of) Release.

5(Fifth sabbatical cycle): The sig]n of Gamul: in the third (year). The sign of Shecaniah: [in the sixth (year).

6(Sixth sabbatical cycle): The sign of Gam]ul: [in the second (year). The si]gn of She[caniah]: in the fifth (year).

7(Seventh sabbatical cycle): The sign of Gam[ul: after the (year of) Release. The sign of Shecaniah: in the fou]rth (year). The sign of Gamul: in the (year of) Release (which is) the sign of the en[d of the Jubilee. The signs of the second J]ubilee: 17 signs. Of this in the (year of) Release: [2] signs.

8...of the creation... [The si]gn of Shecaniah: in the second (year). [The sign of Ga]mul: in the fifth (year). The sign of Shecaniah: after the (year of) Release. [The sign of Ga]mul: Frs. 2—5, 9, 23

9V [in the fourth (year). The sign of Shecaniah: in the (year of) Release.

10The sign of Gamul: in the third (year). The sign of Shecaniah: in the sixth (year).

11The sign of Gamul: in the second (year). The sign of Shecaniah: in the fifth (year). The sign of Gamul: after the (year of) Releas]e. The sign of Shecaniah: in the fo[urth (year). The sign of Gamul: in the (year of) Release.

12The sign of Shecaniah: in the thi]rd (year). The sign of Gamul: in the si[xth (year) The sign] of Shec[aniah (which is) the sign] of the end of the third Jubilee.

13The signs of the third Jubilee: 17 signs]. Of this in the (year of) Release: 2 signs.

14[The sign] of Shecaniah: in the second year. [The sign of Gam]ul: in the fifth (year). The sign of Shecaniah: after the (year of) Release.

15The sig[n of Gamul: in the fourth (year). The sig]n of Shecaniah: in the (year of) Release.

16The sign of Gamul: in the third (year). The sign [of Shecaniah: in the sixth (year).

17The sign of G]amul: in the second (year). The sign of Shecaniah: in the fifth (year). The sign [of Gamul: after the (year of)] Release.

18The sign of Shecaniah:

19in the fourth (year). The sign of Gamul: [in the (year of) Release.

20The sign] of Shecaniah: in the third (year). The sign of Gamul: in the sixth (year).

21The sign of Shec[aniah: in the second (year). The sign] of Gamul: in the fifth (year). The sign of Shecaniah: after the (year of) Release [(which is) the sign of the end of the Jubilee.

22The signs of the] fourth [Jubi]lee: 17 signs. Of this in the (year of) Release: 2 signs.

23[The sign of Gamul]: in the fourth year. The sign of Shecaniah: [in the (year of) Rel]ease.

24The sign of Gamul: in [the third (year). The sign of Shecaniah: in the sixth (year). The sign of Gamul]: in the second (year). The sign of Shecaniah: in the fi[fth (year). The sign of Gamul: after the (year of) Release.

25The sign of Shecaniah]: in the fourth (year). The sign of [Gamul]: in the (year of) Release.

26The sign of She[caniah: in the second (year). The sign of Gamul: in the fifth (year). The sign of Shecaniah]: after the [(year of)] Release.

27The sign of Ga[mul: in the fourth (year). The sign of Shecaniah: in the (year of) Release (which is) the sign of the end of the fifth Jubilee in Jeshebab.

28The signs of the fifth Jubilee: 16 signs. Of this in the (year of) Release:

29VI 3 signs. [The sign of Gamul: in the third year. The sign of Shecaniah: in the sixth (year).

30The sign of Gamul: in] the second (year). The sign of Shecaniah: in [the fifth year]. The sign of Gamul: after the (year of) Rel]ease.

31[The si]gn of Shecaniah: in the fourth (year). The sign of Ga[mul: in the (year of) Release.

32The sign of Shecaniah]: in the third (year). The sign of Gamul: in the sixth (year).

33The sign of Shecaniah: [in the second (year). The sign] of Gamul: in the f[if]th (year). The sign of Shecaniah: after [the (year of) Release.

34The si]gn of Gamul: in [the four]th (year). The sign of Shecaniah: in the (year of) Relea[se.

35The sign of Gamul: in] the third (year). The si[gn of Shecaniah: in the s]ixth (year) (which is) the sign of the end of the sixth Ju[bilee.

36The signs of the sixth] Jubilee: 1[6 signs]. Of this in [the (year of) Release]: 2 signs ... and for the Jubi[lee].

37[The sign of Gamul: in the second (year). The sign of Shecaniah: in the fifth (year).

38The sign of Gamul: after] the (year of) Relea[se.

39The sign of Shecaniah: in the four]th (year). The sign of Gamu[l: in] the (year of) Relea[se.

40The sign of Shecaniah: in the third (year). The sign] of Gamul: in the sixth (year).

41The sig[n of Shecaniah: in] the second (year). The si[gn of Gamul]: in the fifth (year). The sign of Shecaniah: [after] the (year of) Relea[se.

42The sign of G]amul: in the fourth (year). The sign of Shecaniah: in the (year of) Re[lease.

43The sign] of Gamul: [in the thir]d (year). The sign of Shecaniah: in the sixth (year).

44The sign [of Gamul]: in the sec[ond (year). The sign of Shecaniah]: in the fifth (year) (which is) the sign of the end of the Jubi[lee.

45The signs of the] seventh [Jubilee] 16 signs. Of this in the (year of) Release: [2 signs].

46Sign of the J[ubilees, ye]ar of Jubilees according to [holy] day[s]. [In Gamul the first (Jubilee), in Jedaiah the] sec[ond], in Mijamin the third, [in Shecaniah the fourth]

47'Horoscopes' or Astrological Physiognomies (4Q186, 4Q534, 4Q561) Three documents from Cave 4, one in Hebrew and two in Aramaic, all dating probably to the end of the first century BCE, contain fragments of 'horoscopes' or, more precisely, astrological physiognomies claiming a correspondence between the features and destiny of a person and the configuration of the stars at the time of his birth. The Hebrew text, published by J. M. Allegro (4Q186), is written in a childish cipher. The text runs from left to right instead of the normal right to left and uses, in addition to the current 'square' Hebrew alphabet, letters borrowed from the archaic Hebrew (or Phoenician) and Greek scripts. The spiritual qualities of three individuals described in the work are reflected in their share of Light and Darkness. The first man is very wicked: eight parts of Darkness to a single part of Light. The second man is largely good: six parts of Light against three parts of Darkness. The last is almost perfect: eight portions of Light and only one of Darkness. As far as physical characteristics are concerned, shortness, fatness and irregularity of features are associated with wickedness, their opposites reflect virtue. In the astrological terminology of the document, the 'second Column' doubtless means the 'second House'; and a birthday 'in the foot of the Bull' should probably be interpreted as the presence, at that moment, of the sun in the lower part of the constellation Taurus. The first Aramaic 'horoscope' (4Q534) is, according to J. Starcky, that of the final Prince of the Congregation, or Royal Messiah. It is just as likely, however, that the text alludes to the miraculous birth of Noah and it has therefore been placed together with the other remains of Noah literature (cf. pp. 554-5below). 4Q561, also in Aramaic, is too short to allow an identification but it is unlikely to refer to Noah as the

48qualities seem to be in some middle position between good and evil. Whether the sectaries forecast the future by means of astrology, or merely used horoscope-like compositions as literary devices, is impossible to decide at present, though I am inclined towards the latter alternative. That such texts are found among the Scrolls should not, however, surprise anyone. For if many Jews frowned on astrology, others, such as the Hellenistic Jewish writer Eupolemus, credited its invention to Abraham! (Cf. G. Vermes, Scripture and Tradition in Judaism,Leiden, 1973, 80-82.) For the texts see J. M. Allegro and A. A. Anderson, DJD, V, 88-91; J. Strugnell, RQ 7 (1970), 274-6; P. S. Alexander, in E. Schürer, G. Vermes, F. Millar and M. Goodman, The History of the JewishPeople in the Age of Jesus Christ, III, Edinburgh, 1986, 364-6. 4Q 186, fr. 1 II ... and his thighs are long and lean, and his toes are thin and long. He is of the second Column. His spirit consists of six (parts) in the House of Light and three in the Pit of Darkness. And this is his birthday on which he (is to be/was?) born: in the foot of the Bull. He will be meek. And his animal is the bull. III ... and his head ... [and his cheeks are] fat. His teeth are of uneven length (?). His fingers are thick, and his thighs are thick and very hairy, each one. His toes are thick and short. His spirit consists of eight (parts) in the House of Darkness and one from the House of Light... Fr. 2 I ... order. His eyes are black and glowing. His beard is ... and it is ... His voice is gentle. His teeth are fine and well aligned. He is neither tall, nor short. And he ... And his fingers are thin and long. And his thighs are smooth. And the soles of his feet... [And his toes] are well aligned. His spirit consists of eight (parts) [in the House of Light, of] the

49second Column, and one [in the House of Darkness. And this is] his birthday on which he (is to be/was) born: ... And his animal is... 4Q561 ... mixed but not too much. His eyes will be between white and black. His nose will be long and beautiful. His teeth will be even. His beard will be thin but not too much so. His limbs will be smoot[h and] be[tween re]duced and thick ...