ASSESSING THE GENRE OF THE MASKIL THANKSGIVING-PRAYER (1QHa XX 7–XXI 39[?]) A NEW SUPERSCRIPTION-ORIENTED APPROACH by MICHAEL BROOKS JOHNSON A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES BIBLICAL STUDIES PROGRAM We accept this thesis as conforming to the required standard ................................................................................. Peter Flint, Ph.D.; Thesis Supervisor ................................................................................. Martin Abegg, Jr., Ph.D.; Second Reader TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY August 28, 2013 © Michael Brooks Johnson To Stanley C. Johnson, a gardener, carpenter, and father. Memory Eternal CONTENTS Table of Contents i Acknowledgements iii Sigla, Terms, and Abbreviations iv Abstract vii Chapter 1: Introduction: Thesis Question, Plan of Study, and Definitions of Key Terms 1 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Thesis Question 1.2 The Problem and Solution for the Thesis Question 1.3 The Contents of the Maskil Thanksgiving-Prayer 1.4 Plan of Study 1.5 Definitions of Key Terms Chapter 2: Review of Scholarship on the Maskil Thanksgiving-Prayer 26 2.0 Introduction 2.1 Review of Hodayot Scholarship: From E. L. Sukenik to A. K. Harkins 2.2 Editions of Hodayot Manuscripts 2.3 Dating the Hodayot Manuscripts 2.4 Observations, Proposals, and Conclusions Chapter 3: Genre Criticism: A Method and a Model for Maskil Superscriptions 53 3.0 Introduction 3.1 A Working Definition of “Genre” and “Genre Criticism” 3.2 Three Phases of Biblical Genre Criticism 3.3 Additional Concepts from Cognitive Science 3.4 Genre Criticism for Superscriptions: A “Multi-Axial” Approach Chapter 4: The Form and Function of Generic Superscriptions in the Hebrew Bible 86 4.0 Introduction to Generic Superscriptions in the Hebrew Bible 4.1 Form and Function of Type I and Type II Generic Superscriptions Form of Type I Generic Superscriptions Form of Type II Generic Superscriptions Function of Type I and Type II Generic Superscriptions 4.2 Form and Function of Type III Generic Superscriptions Form of Type III Generic Superscriptions Function of Type III Generic Superscriptions 4.3 Excursus: On the Development of Biblical Psalms Superscriptions 4.4 Overview of Generic Superscriptions in the Hebrew Bible i ii Chapter 5: The Sectarian System of Genre 114 5.0 Introduction 5.1 Superscriptions in the Serekh-ha-Ya!ad Tradition 5.2 Superscriptions in Words of the Maskil to the Sons of Dawn 5.3 Superscriptions in the Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice 5.4 Superscriptions in the Hodayot Tradition 5.5 “Sectarian” Axes for the Multi-Axial Approach Chapter 6: The Genre of the Maskil Thanksgiving-Prayer 135 6.0 Introduction 6.1 The Text of the Maskil Thanksgiving-Prayer 6.2 The Structure of the Maskil Thanksgiving-Prayer Superscription 6.3 The Literary Context of the Maskil Thanksgiving-Prayer 6.4 The Generic Axes of the Maskil Thanksgiving-Prayer 6.5 Conclusion: The Genre of the Maskil Thanksgiving-Prayer Chapter 7: Overview of the Thesis 174 7.0 Introduction 7.1 Overview and Thesis Statement 7.2 Concluding Comments Bibliography 177 Acknowledgements The question raised in this thesis arises from a course paper written while I was an M.Div. student at Candler School of Theology. I was enrolled in Professor Carol Newsom’s course, titled ‘The Apocalyptic Imagination,’ which examined aspects of Jewish and Christian apocalypticism from its origins in Hellenistic Judaism into the early Christian period. The semi- nar addressed apocalyptic elements in sectarian Dead Sea Scrolls compositions as well as other Second Temple Period writings. After discussing several topics for the class paper, Professor Newsom suggested that I write on the Hodayot (= H). Taking up her recommendation, I began to read this remarkable collection of compositions. One aspect of the H tradition that especially caught my interest was the figure called the Maskil—an office that features prominently in sec- tarian traditions. It was exciting to find that the figure who played such a central role in the com- munity was given such a candid voice in H. I was surprised to discover that while most scholarly treatments of H did associate a sec- tarian figure with H, it was not that of the Maskil’s. Instead many identified the Teacher of Right- eousness as the “I” of H. This founding figure, found in 1QpHab 2:2, is not explicitly mentioned in the scroll, and is only hypothesized to be the first person voice of the block of compositions called the “Teacher Hymns.” As a first time reader, I found it odd that there was not greater focus on the Maskil, a key figure in the community who is also mentioned several times (5:12?, 7:21?, 20:7, 20:14, 25:34), and is explicitly identified as the first person voice of at least one of the compositions. As a result, I began to investigate what the office of the Maskil is and how the fig- ure is related to H. This thesis is my point of entry into the topic, and I hope to continue the dis- cussion in subsequent work as I begin doctoral studies at McMaster in the fall of 2013. Trinity Western University has provided the opportunity to pursue this topic under the ad- visement of two senior Dead Sea Scrolls scholars who were well-situated to guide my project: Professors Peter W. Flint and Martin Abegg, Jr. I thank Professor Flint, who not only served as the first reader for this thesis, but also endeavored to make my research assistantship intersect with my thesis topic at every opportunity. He also lent his invaluable expertise in Qumran Psalter as I evaluated generic similarities between the Psalms and H. I am also grateful to Professor Abegg, my second reader. He provided many opportunities for learning how to use the Accordance Bible application as a research tool, and offered helpful feedback in the early and final stages of the thesis. I am also thankful for both his and Professor Tony Cummins’ support as Directors of the M.A. in Biblical Studies program at Trinity Western University. These and many other members of the Religious Studies department have made TWU a generative environment for writing this thesis, and I am most grateful. Michael Brooks Johnson Langley, British Columbia August 28, 2013 iii SIGLA, TERMS, AND ABBREVIATIONS Sigla !" damaged letter: a certain or uncertain letter (the marking !" is not used) ["] reconstructed letter ° ink traces of an unidentified letter 10:2a, 10:2b first part, second part of verse 2 in chapter 10 2:23 chapter and verse (biblical, apocryphal, pseudepigraphical texts) 2:4–5 Dead Sea Scrolls: second extant column, lines 4–5 2.5 Dead Sea Scrolls: fragment 2, line 5 23 ii.7–9 fragment 23, column 2, lines 7–9 (e.g., 4Q405 23 ii.7–9) 20 ii.21–22.8 fragment 20 column 2, line 21 to fragment 22, line 8 1Q, 4Q, etc. Cave 1 at Qumran, Cave 4, etc. 4QNumb Second Numbers scroll from Cave 1 at Qumran 5/6#ev Caves 5 and 6 at Na$al #ever Terms and Abbreviations b. Babylonian Talmud B.C.E. Before the Common Era, equivalent to B.C. ca. circa, about CD abbreviation for the Damascus Document fragments discovered by Solomon Schechter in the Cairo Geniza. C.E. Common Era, equivalent to A.D. cf. confer, compare CH Community Hymns/Hymns of the Community CH I First block of Community Hymns: Cols. 1–8 CH II Second block of Community Hymns: Cols. 18–28 col(s). column(s) D abbreviation for the Damascus Document DSS Dead Sea Scrolls e.g. exempli gratia, for example et al. et alii, and others frg(s). fragment(s) iv v H An abbreviation for Hodayot, or Thanksgiving Hymns, compositions that appear multiple editions from Caves 1 and 4. ms(s) manuscript(s) MT Masoretic Text, text of the Hebrew Bible produced by the Masoretes MTP Maskil Thanksgiving-Prayer, or the H composition in 1QHa 20:7–21:39(?) Otot Hebrew for Signs (4Q319) S Rule of the Community Second Temple Period from its building (516 B.C.E.) to destruction by the Romans (70 C.E.) Serekh ha-Ya!ad Hebrew name for the Rule of the Community TH Teacher Hymns/Hymns of the Teacher: cols. 9–17 Teacher Book Michael Douglas’ term for the Teacher Hymns block in 1QHa (9:1– 20:6 with ‘appendices’) Ya!ad Hebrew for “Oneness” or “Community,” the name for “sectarians” or “Essenes” in some scrolls Journals, Books, and Series1 ABD Anchor Bible Dictionary BBS Bulletin of Biblical Studies Bib Biblica CBQ Catholic Biblical Quarterly DJD Discoveries in the Judaean Desert DSD Dead Sea Discoveries DSSHU The Dead Sea Scrolls of the Hebrew University EDSS Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Edited by Lawrence H. Schiffman and James C. VanderKam. 2 vols. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. HALOT Koehler, L., W. Baumgartner, and J. J. Stamm. Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. Translated and edited under the supervision of M. E. J. Richardson. 5 vols. Leiden: Brill, 1994–2000 JBL Journal of Biblical Literature JJS Journal of Jewish Studies 1. See bibliography for complete publication details of journals and series. vi JSS Journal of Semitic Studies OTL Old Testament Library RevQ Revue de Qumrân SBLEJL Society of Biblical Literature Early Judaism and Its Literature Semeia Semeia TCHB Tov, E. Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible. Third edition. Assen/Maastricht: Van Gorcum; Minneapolis: Fortress, 2012 ABSTRACT Determining the genre of sectarian compositions from the Dead Sea Scrolls is a task beset with many obstacles, the most formidable being the lack of defined and complete texts. Our already limited understanding of sectarian genre is obscured by damage to many manuscripts, impeding methods such as form, rhetorical, and literary criticism.