G — Biblically Based Apocryphal Works

Chapter 25

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Three badly damaged fragments of an early Herodian manuscript speak in favourable terms of the last Judaean king Zedekiah. He is depicted as conversing with the archangel Michael who promises to make a covenant with him. The Bible is less kind towards this evil-doer, but 4Q470 prefigures Josephus, who praises Zedekiah's 'goodness and sense of justice', and the Talmud. For the editio princeps of 4Q470, see Erik Larson, Lawrence H. Schiffinan and John Strugnell, DJD, XIX, 235—44. Fr.. Michael.. Zedekiah shall enter into a covenant on that day.. to practise and to cause all the Torah to be practised. At that time Michael shall say to Zedekiah.. I will make with you a covenant before the assembly to practise.. Fr.. their cry towards heaven.. to restore them to health and help them by the spirit of his might... and by the pillar of fire many times.. And Moses wrote when he spoke according to all.. Kadesh Barnea..

A Historico-theological Narrative based on Genesis and Exodus Palaeographically dated to the mid-first century BCE, the two joined fragments of 4Q462 represent the only meaningful part of a historical narrative told from a theological point of view. Both the beginning and the end of each of the nineteen lines are missing, but the general tenor of the story can be guessed: after repeated oppression and humiliation, God is to remember Jerusalem. The Tetragram is twice replaced by four dots as in the Community Rule VIII, 15. There are six further small fragments. For the editio princeps of 4Q462, see M. Smith, DJD, XIX, 195— 209. 4Q463, or Narrative D, contains only a few broken lines, starting with 'And God remembered his word which he said', followed by the quotation of Lev. xxvi, 44. Apparently the fragment has vanished and the text edited by M. Smith is based on J. Strugnell's transcription. The poorly preserved 4Q464 refers to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and apparently to Joseph. Fr. ii, contains the word pesher, suggesting that an exegetical comment followed in the lacuna. 4Q462.. Shem and Ham and Japhet.. for Jacob.. for Israel... And he will give to the multitude as a heritage.. who rules.. his glory which.. will fill the waters and the earth.. They seized his people. The light was with them and darkness was on

us.. The period of darkness passed away and the period of light came and they were to rule for ever. Therefore he will say,. to Israel, for in our midst was the people of the beloved, Jacob.. And they slaved, and they were safeguarded and they cried to.... And behold they were handed over to Egypt for the second time in the period of the kingship, and they were safeguarded.. and the inhabitants of Philistia and Egypt will become a booty and a ruin. And he will make it stand... the fierceness of her face will be changed to brightness and her soiled garments to.. And he will remember Jerusalem..

Tobit and one Hebrew manuscripts, of which two scrolls, the papyrus Toba and the leather Tobb, have yielded copious extracts. They all basically represent the Semitic original from which the longer Greek recension, attested by the fourth- century CE Codex Sinaiticus, and the Old Latin version were made. Toba, Tobc and Tobd are palaeographically dated to the first century BCE and Tobb, as well as the Hebrew Tobe, to the turn of the era. The translation of a composite Aramaic text is followed separately by that of the Hebrew fragments. The Aramaic and the Hebrew overlap only in Tob. xiv, 1—2. Of the two, the Aramaic, represented by older and more numerous manuscripts, is likely to be the original language of the composition. The following illustrate some of the differences between the Aramaic, and the Greek Tobit: i, He was the son of my brother, of my father's house and of my family. He was my brother's son and of my kindred. ii, On the day of the Festival of Weeks At the feast of Pentecost which is the sacred festival of the seven weeks vi, Also he salted the rest for the journey. Both of them were going together and left part of it salted. And they journeyed both of them together vi, and her father loves her and her father is an honourable man xiv, He was fifty-eight years old when he lost his sight and

afterward he lived fifty-four years He was sixty-two years old when he was maimed in his eyes He was fifty-eight years old when he lost his sight and after eight years he regained it For the editio princeps of 4Q196-200, see J. A. Fitzmyer, DJD, XIX, 1- 79. 4Q196, Fr. Tob. i, 19—ii, one of the men of Nineveh, and he informed the king about me, that I was burying them and I hid myself. When I learned that he knew of me and sought to kil1 me, I was frightened and fled.. al1 that I possessed and nothing was left to me.. apart from Hannah my wife and Tobiah my son. But not forty days passed before two of his sons killed him and they fled to the mountains of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon became king and he appointed Ahikar, the son of my brother Anael, over all the accounts of the kingdom. And he was in charge of all the royal treasury accounts. And Ahikar intervened for me.. And Ahikar my brother was the cupbearer, the guardian of the signet ring and the accountant under Sennacherib, king of Assyria, and Esarhaddon reappointed him. Now he was the son of my brother, of my father's house and of my family. And in the days of king Esarhaddon, when I returned to my home and Hannah my wife and Tobiah my son were restored to me, on the day of the Festival of Weeks, I had an excellent meal and I reclined to eat. And they put a table in front of me and I saw the many delicacies placed on it, and I said to Tobiah my son, My son, go and bring all those among our brothers whom you can find.. my son, go and bring. Let him be brought and eat together with me. And behold I..

Fr. Tob. iii, 9—15.. Go after them and let us not see a son or a daughter of yours ever.. and she cried and went up to the upper room of her father's house.. may I not hear again such a disgraceful thing in my life. And.. against.. May thy holy and glorious name be blessed for all eternity. And may all thy works bless thee. And now I have turned my face towards thee and I have lifted my eyes. Say that I should depart from the earth.. Thou, O Lord, knowest that I myself am pure of all impurity of man. And I have not defiled my name and the name of my father in all the land of our captivity. I am the only child of my father and he has no other son who would inherit from him. Neither has he a brother or a relation for whom I should keep myself, or a son for whom I should be a wife. Already seven of my husbands have perished.. 4Q197, fr. + 4Q196, fr. Tob. v, 19—vi, vi, 6-8 I.. Let my son not cleave to money and like.. And he said to her, Do not be afraid. My son will go in peace.. in peace. Do not be afraid. And do not worry about him, my sister.. his journey.. Once again she fell silent and cried no more. vacat.. and the angel was with him and.. and they went together. And night came and they reached the Tigris. And the young man went down.. and a big fish jumped out of the water to swallow the foot of the young man... Catch the fish! And the young man seized the fish and brought it to the dry land. And the angel said to him, Cut it open and remove its gall and its heart and its liver. Keep them, but throw away its entrails. Its gall, its heart and its liver are medicament. And he cut out its gall and its heart and [its

liver.. the f]ish and he ate. Also. Both of them were going together until they reached Media. vacat and said to him, Azariah my brother, what kind of medicament is in the heart of the fish and in its liver and in its gall? If you smoke it in front of a man or a woman smitten by a demon or an evil spirit.. they will never come by again. The gall is for applying to the eyes of a man.. white film and he will recover. And when they entered Media and he was already nearing Ecbatana, Raphael said to the young man, Tobiah my brother. And he said to him, Here am I. And he said to him, In the house of Raguel we shall stay. And the man is from the house of our father. And he has a beautiful daughter.. And he has no other except Sarah alone. And you are related to her.. And this young girl 4Q197, fr. + 4Q196, fr. i Tob. vi, 12—18 vi, 13—18 wise, strong and very beautiful, and her father loves her.. her father. And a just decision has been made concerning you to marry her.. You will speak about this young girl tonight. You will retain her and take her to be your wife.. And, [we shall make for her a wedding-feast. And I know that Raguel cannot refuse her to you for he knows.. and to marry his daughter than any man. For he knows that if he were to give her to another man this would be against the law in the Book of Moses. And now let us speak about this young gir1 tonight and let us retain her for you.. Then Tobiah replied and said to Raphael, Azariah my brother, I have heard.. when they went in to her.. And now I am afraid of this demon who.. my father and my mother to the grave.. They have no other son to bury them. {Do you not remember the commands

of your father} who commanded you.. {And now listen to me, my brother. Do not this demon and marry {tonight.. take from the heart of the fish... the demon will smell it and will.. to be with her, rise up.. And do not be afraid for she has been allotted to you and for you.. you will save her. And I suppose that you will have children by her and.. And when Tobiah heard the words of Raphael that she was his sister and of.. 4Q197, fr. + 4Q196, fr. ii Tob. vi, 18—vii, vi, 18-vii, the house of his father's family he fell in love with her greatly and his heart to her. And when they entered Ecbatana, Tobiah said to him, Azariah my brother, lead me straight away to the house of Raguel our brother. He led him there and they went to the house of Raguel and they found Rague1 sitting in front of the gate of his home. And first they greeted him and he said to them, In peace you have come. Enter in peace, my brothers. And he brought them into his house. Then he said to Edna his wife, How much this young man resembles Tobit, the son of my uncle. And Edna asked them and said to them, Where are you from, my brothers? and they said to her, From among the children of Naphtali who are captives in Niniveh. And she said to them, Do you know Tobit our brother? And they said to her, We know him. Is he well? And they said, He is well. And Tobiah said, He is my father. And Raguel jumped to his feet and kissed him and cried.. A blessing on you my son. You are the son of a just man.. the neck of Tobiah.. he slaughtered a ram from the flock.. to eat and to drink.. my sister. And Raguel heard.. 4Q]197, fr. Tob. viii, 21—ix, 2

.. my son. I am your father and Edna is your mother.. Do not be afraid, my son. vacat Then Tobiah called Raphael and said to him, Azariah my brother, take with you from here four slaves... and you will come to the house of Gabael and give him the document and take the money.. 4Q196, fr. Tob. xiii, 6—12.. with all your heart and with all your soul to do righteousness. Then he will turn to you, and will no longer hide his face from you. Give him thanks with all your mouth and bless the Lord of righteousness and exalt him. In the land of captivity I give him thanks and I declare his might and his greatness before a people of sin. According to your heart do righteousness before him. Who knows if there will be forgiveness for you. And I exalt my God and my soul the king of heaven.. all the days of my life.. and let them all praise his greatness. Let them speak with psalms.. Jerusalem the holy city, he will afflict you concerning... with righteousness give thanks... from generation to generation they will give.. and his great name will be for everlasting generations. Cursed be all who despise and all who are against you. And cursed be all who hate you and all who speak against you.

Cursed be.. 4Q196, fr. + 4Q198, fr. Tob. xiii, 12—xiv,. will say, Halleluiah.. Blessed be for ever and ever for in you they will bless his holy name.. The words of thanksgivings of Tobit ended and he died in peace at the age of one hundred and twelve years and he was buried. He was fifty-eight years old.. his eyes. He lived a good life and in all.. sons and commanded him and said to him.. 4Q200, fr. Tob. iv, 3—9... and she carried you in her womb.. vacat My son, remember] God in all your days.. his word. vacat Do what is true all the days of your life, and do not walk in the ways of lies. For when you do what is true.. will be with you.. My son, with a generous hand give alms, and do not hide your face from any poor. Then the face of God will not be hid]den from you. If you have much, [my son,. give alms from it. If you have little, according to the little.. Fr. Tob. x, 7—9 And when the fourteen days of the wedding were completed for them which Raguel had sworn to make for Sarah his daughter, Tobiah came to him and said to him, Send me away I already

know that my father does not believe, nor does my mother believe that she will see me again. And now I request you, my father, that you send me away that I may go to my father. Already I have recounted to you how I left them. And Raguel said to Tobiah, My son, remain with me and I will send messengers to Tobit your father and they.. Fr. Tob. xii, 20—xiii,. Record in writing all this story. And he ascended.. and they saw him no more. And they were blessing and extolling God and giving him thanks for his great deed and wondered how an angel of God had appeared to them. Then Tobit spoke and wrote a psalm of praise, and said, Blessed be the living God whose kingdom is for all eternity: He who strikes and who is merciful; He who causes to descend to the nethermost hell, and he who brings up from the great abyss. And who is there who can escape from his hand? Give him thanks, children of Isra Recite there his greatness and extol him before all the living. For he is your Lord, and he is your God.. for all eternity. Fr. Tob. xiii, 18—xiv,. And Tobit's words of praise were completed, and he died in peace aged one hundred and twelve years. He was fifty-eight years old his sight and afterward he lived fifty-four years.