G — Biblically Based Apocryphal Works

Words of the Archangel Michael (4Q529, 6Q23)

1In this poorly preserved Aramaic fragment the speaker, Michael, addresses the angels in general and the archangel Gabriel in line 4 about a vision. The subject is unclear, but since he refers to the sons of Noah, Shem and Ham, and to the construction of a city filled with wickedness, it is possible that the author alludes to the building of the tower of Babel. If there are two mountains in each direction (east, west, north, south), the ninth indicated in the text must be special: Zion or Sinai? For the editio princeps, see E. Puech, DJD, XXXI, 1-8. Fr. 1 Words of the book which Michael addressed to the angels... He said: I found there divisions of fire ... [and I saw there] nine mountains: two to the eas[t, and two to the west, and two to the north and two to the so]uth. I saw there the angel Gabriel... like a vision. [Then] I showed him the vision. And he said to me: ... in the books of my Master, the Lord of the world, it is written: Behold, ... [between] the sons of Ham and the sons of Shem. And behold my Master, the Lord of the world... when they ... the tear from... And behold a city was built to the name of my Master, [the Lord of the world, and there] everything that is evil will be done before my Master, the Lor[d of the world] ... And my Master, the Lord of the world, will remember his creation... [and] my Master, the Lord of the world, [will be] merciful to him and to him... the man will be in the faraway province... he, and he will say to him: Behold this... for me silver and gold... And he will say: ... [and] the righteous man...