dssdead-sea-scrolls
G — Biblically Based Apocryphal Works
Part 23
A fragmentary paraphrase of the Books of Kings presents an unidentified suppliant addressing Jehovah directly, rehearsing the covenant pattern: Israel was to be His and He theirs, with Jehovah standing as father and righteous lord over them, giver of inheritance. The speaker acknowledges that Israel's failure brought divine discipline — delivered to the hand of their kings, made to stumble among the nations. The Law given through Moses is invoked, alongside appeals to Jehovah's patience and multitude of mercies, framing iniquity's weight against covenant fidelity. The Father-to-them language anchors squarely on Jehovah as covenant Father.
1
154 papyrus fragments, palaeographically dated to the first half of the first century BCE, belong to a kind of paraphrase of the Books of Kings as various personal names clearly indicate. Only one fragment is extensive enough to allow intelligible translation. An unidentified speaker recounts events pertaining to the history of Israel in the form of an address to God. For the editio princeps, see S. Olyan, DJD, XIII, 363—416. Fr.. from Thy word and to rely on Thy covenant and their heart be.. to sanctify Him/it.. hands so that they might be Thine, and Thou theirs and Thou be righteous.. For Thou wilt be a giver of an inheritance.. and lord over them and Thou wilt be a father to them and not.. Thou hast forsaken them to the hand of their kings and hast made them stumble among the peoples.. not.. Thy life. Didst Thou give them the Law? by the hand of Moses.. Thy judgements and lifting the iniquity of Thy people to the heights.. Thy patience and the multitude of mercies?..
