dssdead-sea-scrolls
G — Biblically Based Apocryphal Works
Part 31
Two fragmentary Aramaic manuscripts preserve a visionary sequence in which an angelic figure stands amid four trees, each tree bearing a name and ruling a domain — Babel named explicitly, a second empire partially preserved, a third questioned about its dominion. The four-tree schema maps directly onto Daniel's four-empire vision, restating in arboreal metaphor what Daniel saw as statue and beast. The angel as interpreter and the seer as questioner follow the established heavenly-court pattern of apocalyptic disclosure, where hidden governmental order is unveiled to a prepared witness.
1
Partly overlapping remains of two manuscripts of an Aramaic work further testify to the existence of a rich para-Danielic literature. These poorly preserved documents allude to the story of the four empires in the form of a metaphor of four trees. For the editio princeps, see E. Puech, DJD,XXXVII. 4Q552, fr. ii.. I saw an angel standing on whom light and four trees stood by him. And the trees rose and moved away from him. And he said to me: Do you see this shape? And I said: Yes. I see it and consider it. And I saw the tree.. placed. And I asked it: What is your name? And it said to me: Babel. And I said to it: Are you the one who rules over Persia? And I saw another tree.. and I asked it: What is your name? And it said to me:. And I said to it: Are you the one w[ho rules over all the powers of the sea and over the ports and over..? And I saw the third tree and I said to it: What is your name and why is your appearance..
