dssdead-sea-scrolls
E — Wisdom Literature
Part 6
Two fragmentary scrolls preserve a Wisdom composition describing the inner posture and outward conduct of the righteous man: patient in hearing, deliberate in speech, persistent in seeking truth, humble in bearing, faithful to the ways of righteousness, and ultimately redeemed through righteousness itself. The second fragment draws this universal ethical portrait into an explicitly communal frame — the righteous man brings his wisdom, knowledge, and understanding into the Community of God and submits to its ordering by lot. Righteousness here is not merely moral; it is covenantal alignment lived out within a gathered, ordered assembly.
1
Two badly fragmented copies of a Wisdom composition portray the behaviour of the righteous man in universal terms. However, since the vocabulary of 4Q421 i echoes the terminology of the Community Rule, the whole work may be classified as sectarian. For the editio princeps, see T. Elgvin, DJD, XX, 173-202. 4Q420, fr. to practise righteousness in the ways of God.. he shall not reply before he has heard, nor shall he speak before he has gained understanding. He shall patiently respond and.. shall issue a word. He shall seek truth judgement and by searching righteousness he shall find its outcome. A humble and modest man shall not turn back until.. A faithful man shall not depart from the ways of righteousness and he shall set his heart on.. and the bones his hands on.. He shall be redeemed through righteousness; through understanding.. his fields. His territory.. to practise righteousness..
2
4Q421, fr. 1a i.. He shall bring all his wisdom, knowledge, understanding and good things into the Community of God.. to regulate all one before another.. the first lot will fall. And thus they shall set out..
