G — Biblically Based Apocryphal Works

Pseudo-Ezekiela-d (4Q385, 386, 385b, 388, 385c)

1An apocryphal work, modelled on the Book of Ezekiel, has survived in five Cave 4 manuscripts. It consists of exchanges between God and the prophet, who is several times named. The eschatological material of 4Q385 includes, among others, Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones and the Chariot passage. On the basis of its script, 4Q385 is dated to the late Hasmonaean or early Herodian era, i.e. roughly to mid-first century BCE. There is nothing obviously sectarian in the document. 4Q386 also deals with the vision of the dry bones (Ezek. xxxvii) and the future of the land of Israel. 4Q385b is built on Ezekiel's prophecy against Egypt (Ezek. xxx, 1-3) and 4Q388 alludes once more to the dry bones and the final battle. 4Q385c consists of seven unidentified scraps. For the editio princeps, see D. Dimant, DJD, XXX, 7-88. For 4Q391, unsuitable for translation, see M. Smith, DJD, XIX, 152-93. 4Q385, fr. 2 (=4Q386, fr. 1 i, 4Q388, fr. 7) ['And they will know that I am the Lord] who redeems My people, giving them the Covenant.' vacat [And I said, 'Lord,] I have seen many from Israel who have loved Thy name and walked [in] the ways [of righteousness (?), and] when will [these] things come to pass? And how will their piety be rewarded?' And the Lord said to me, 'I will make the sons of Israel see and they will know that I am the Lord.' vacat [And He said,] 'Son of man, Prophesy concerning the bones, and say, ["Come together, a bone to its bone, and a bit [to its bit." ' And] s[o it

2came to pas]s. And He said a second time, 'Prophesy, and let sinews come on them, and let skin spread over them above.' [And] s[o it came to pas]s. And He said again, 'Prophesy concerning the four winds of heaven and let the win[ds of heaven] blow [on them and they shall live].' And a great crowd of men revived and blessed the Lord of hosts wh[o made them live.] And I said, 'Lord, when will these things come to pass?' And the Lord said to me, '... a tree will bend and stand up ...' Fr. 3 ... Lord. And all the people stood up ... [prais]ing the Lord of hosts. I also s[pok]e with them ... vacat And the Lord spoke to me: 'Son of [man, Sa]y to them ... [in] their [graves] they shall lie until ... [from] their [tom]bs and from the land ... Fr.4 ... instead of my grief rejoice my soul. And the days will hasten quickly until men will say, 'Are not the days quickening so that the sons of Israel may inherit?' And the Lord said to me, 'I will not tur[n aw]ay your face, Ezekiel. Be[hold,] I will shorten the days and the year[s] ... a little, as you have said to [Me] ... [For] the mouth of the Lord has spoken these (words).' ... Fr. 6 ... the vision that Ezek[iel] saw ... the brightness of the chariot. And four living creatures ... [and when advancing they do not turn] back. Every living creature walks on two (legs) and [its] two legs ... there was breath and their faces are parallel (?). [And the likeness] of the fa[ces: one is

3a lion, on]e an eagle, one a calf and one a man. There was [a hand (?)] of a man attached to the back of the living creatures and stuck to ... and the wh[ee]l[s]. A wheel was attached to another when they advanced and from both sides of the wh[eels there were coals of fire] and there were in the midst of the coals living creatures like coals of fire ... and the wheels and the living creatures and the wheels... 4Q386, fr. 1 ii-iii II ... [the ear]th and they will know that I am the Lord. vacat And He said to me: Consider, son of man, the land of Israel. And I said: I have seen it, Lord, and behold it is dry. When wilt Thou gather them? The Lord said: A son of Belial is planning to oppress my people but I will not permit him. His residue will not persist, and from the impure no seed shall remain. From the caper no wine will come nor will a wasp (?) make any honey. And I will slay the wicked in Memphis and I will bring my sons out of Memphis and turn favourably towards their remnant. As they say: There is peace and (quiet?); they also say: The earth is as it was in the days of ... [in the days] of old. Then I will stir up hea[t] against them from [the fo]ur directions of heaven ... devouring fire ... III He will have no mercy on the poor and will bring them to Babylon. Babylon is like a cup in the hand of the Lord, in time He will cast it away.... 4Q385b [And these are the wor]ds of Ezekiel. And the word of the Lord came to me, sa[ying: 'Son of man, Prophe]sy and say, Behold the day of perdition of the nations is coming ... [Egy]pt and anguish will be in Put and the sword in E[gypt] ... will shake itself and Ethiopia and [Pu]t and the powerful of Arabia ... of Arabia will fall at the gate[s] of Egypt ...