dssdead-sea-scrolls
G — Biblically Based Apocryphal Works
Chapter 14
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An Aramaic document surviving in five or six fragmentary copies from Cave contains an admonition by Amram, the father of Moses, to his children. The context is that of the Book of Exodus, but the visions and teachings are the author's free compositions. Amram's age at his death is borrowed from Exod. vi, 20, but its dating to the 152nd year of the captivity reflects the tradition according to which the Israelites remained in Egypt, not for years, nor years, but years. Cf. J. Heinemann, '210 Years of Egyptian Exile', JJS, 19—30. The dating of the script varies between the second half of the second century BCE, the first half of the first century BCE and the second half of the first century BCE. In the gravely damaged text of a vision, Amram sees the chief Angel of Darkness, Melkiresha', already mentioned. He also addresses the leader of the Army of Light, whose name has disappeared in one of the many lacunae. But is is highly probable that one of his 'three names' is Melchizedek. For the editio princeps, see E. Puech, DJD, XXXI, 283—405. 4Q543, fr. I Copy of the book of the words of the vision of Amram, son of Kehat, son of Levi, al1 that he explained to his sons and enjoined on them on the day of his death, in his one-hundred-and-thirty-seventh year, which was the year of his death, in the one-hundred-and-fifty-second year of Israel's exile in Egypt.. to call Uzziel, his youngest brother, and he
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married to him Miriam, his daughter, and said, 'You are thirty years old.' And he gave a banquet lasting seven days. And he ate and drank and made merry during the banquet. Then, when the days of the banquet were completed, he sent to call Aaron, his son, and he was about twenty years old and said to him, 'Call, my son, the messengers, your brothers from the house of..' 4Q544, fr. Qahat there to stay and dwell and build.. many of the sons of my uncle together.. a man as our work was very great until the dead would be buried. vacat In the year of my beginning, when the news of a war became worrying, with my consent our company returned to the land of Egypt and I went to bury them and they did not build the tombs of our fathers. And my father Qahat and my wife Jochebed left me to stand and build and provide them with all their needs from the land of Canaan. And we stayed in Hebron while we were building. vacat A war broke out between the Philistines and the Egyptians and the Philistines and Canaanites defeated the Egyptians and they closed the frontiers of Egypt. And it was impossible for Jochebed, my wife, to go from Egypt to Canaan for forty-one years. And we could not return to Egypt. Therefore we could not.. the war between Egypt and Canaan and the Philistines. And during all this, Jochebed my wife, was away from me in the land of Egypt.. my post.. for she was not with me. And I did not take another wife. vacat Women.. all, that I would return to Egypt in peace and would see the face of my wife. I saw Watchers in my vision, a dream vision vacat And behold two argued about me and said.. and they were engaged in a great quarrel concerning me. I asked them: 'You, what are you.. thus.. about me?' They answered and said to me: 'We have been made masters and rule over all the sons of men.' And they said to me: 'Which of us do you choose..' I raised my eyes and saw one of them. His looks were frightening like those of a viper, and his garments were multi-coloured and he
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was extremely dark.. And afterwards I looked and behold.. by his appearance and his face was like that of an adder, and he was covered with.. together, and over his eyes.. Fr.. this Watcher: 'Who is he?' He said to me: 'This Watcher.. and his three names are Belial, Prince of Darkness and Melkiresha'.' vacat And I said: 'My Lord, what rule..' And he said to me.. and all his paths are darkness, and all his work is darkness, and he is.. in darkness.. you see. And he rules over all darkness.. and I rule over all light and al1.. 4Q545 Fr. ia i I Copy of the writing of the words of vision of Amram, son of Qahat, son of Levi, al1 that he has explained to his sons.. on the day of his death in the year one hundred and thirty-six - this is the year of his death - in the year one hundred and fifty-two of the exile of Israel in Egypt. Also it came to him.. and call Uzziel, his younger brother, and gave him Miriam, his thirty-year-old daughter for wife. He made her wedding feast last seven days and he ate and drank at her wedding feast and rejoiced. Then, when the days of the wedding feast came to an end, he sent out to call Aaron, his about twenty-year-old son, and said to him, 'My son, call to me the messengers, your brothers, from the house of..' Fr. 4
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VI.. and I will explain to you your names.. that he wrote for Moses. And also about Aaron.. I will explain to you the mystery of his worshipping. He is a holy priest to the Most High God. Also all his seed will be holy in all the generations of eternity.. The seventh of the men of good will he will be called and he will be said.. and will be chosen as a priest for ever.. vacat 4Q548.. I announce to you the firm path. I will indeed inform you.. For all the Sons of Light will shine, and all the Sons of Darkness will be dark. For all the Sons of Light.. and by all their knowledge they will.. and the Sons of Darkness will be.. And the Sons of Darkness will be removed.. For every fool and wicked will be dark and every sage and upright will shine. For all the Sons of Light will go to the light, to.. and all the Sons of Darkness go towards death and perdition.. The people shall have brightness.. and they will explain to them..
