Hosea
Commentary
Pesher Hoshe`a
4Q166 (4QpHosa)
Parchment
Copied late first century
B.C.E.
Height 17.5 cm (6 7/8 in.),
length 16.8 cm (6 5/8 in.)
Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities
Authority (6)
This text is a
commentary, or "pesher," on the prophetic biblical verses from the
book of Hosea (2:8-14). The verse presented here refers to the relation of God,
the husband, to Israel, the unfaithful wife. In the commentary, the unfaithful
ones have been led astray by "the man of the lie." The document
states that the affliction befalling those led astray is famine. Although this
famine could be a metaphor, it may well be a reference to an actual drought
cited in historical sources of that time.
The manuscript
shown here is the larger of two unrelated fragments of the Hosea Commentary
found in Cave 4. The script, which is identical to that of a commentary on
Psalms, belongs to the rustic, semiformal type of the Herodian era.
The Hosea
Commentary Scroll was first published by J. Allegro as the fifth volume of the
official publication series, "Discoveries in the Judaean Desert."
In 1979, M.
Horgan completed a work on all the "pesharim," or commentaries, which
included an extensive treatment of the Hosea Commentary fragments. The
"pesharim" interpreted the biblical text in light of events of the
late Second Temple Period--seeing within the text prophesies and messages
relevant to the community's beliefs and practices.
References
John
Marco Allegro Qumran Cave 4. DJD V (Oxford, 1968) Printed book. General
Collections, Library of Congress
Maurya
Horgan Pesharim: Qumran Interpretations of Biblical Books (Washington, D.C.,
1979) Printed book. General Collections, Library of Congress
English
Translation of Hosea Commentary (Pesher Hoshe`a)
4Q166 (4QpHosa)
Courtesy of the Israel
Antiquities Authority (6)
Hos. 2:10-14
(10)[SHE DID NOT KNOW THAT] I MYSELF HAD GIVEN HER THE
GRAIN [AND THE WINE]
[AND THE OIL, AND] (THAT) I HAD SUPPLIED [SILVER] AND GOLD
... (WHICH) THEY MADE [INTO BAAL. The interpretation of it is]
that [they] ate [and] were satisfied, and they forgot God
who [had fed them, and all]
his commandments they cast behind them, which he had sent
to them [by]
his servants the prophets. But to those who led them astray
they listened, and they honored them [ ]
and as if they were gods, they fear them in their
blindness.
vacat
(11)THEREFORE, I SHALL TAKE BACK MY GRAIN AGAIN IN ITS TIME
AND MY WINE [IN ITS SEASON,]
AND I SHALL WITHDRAW MY WOOL AND MY FLAX FROM COVERING [HER
NAKEDNESS.]
(12)I SHALL NOW UNCOVER HER PRIVATE PARTS IN THE SIGHT OF
[HER] LO[VERS AND]
NO [ONE] WILL WITHDRAW HER FROM MY HAND.
The interpretation of it is that he smote them with famine
and with nakedness so that they became a disgra[ce]
and a reproach in the sight of the nations on whom they had
leaned for support, but they
will not save them from their afflictions. (13)AND I SHALL
PUT AN END TO ALL HER JOY,
[HER] PIL[GRIMAGE,] HER [NEW] MOON, AND HER SABBATH, AND
ALL HER FEASTS. The interpretation of it is that
they make [the fe]asts go according to the appointed times
of the nation. And [all]
[joy] has been turned for them into mourning. (14)AND I
SHALL MAKE DESOLATE [HER VINE]
[AND HER FIG TREE,] OF WHICH SHE SAID, "THEY ARE THE
HIRE [THAT MY LOVERS HAVE GIVEN] ME."
AND I SHALL MAKE THEM A FOREST, AND THE W[ILD BEAST OF THE
FIELD] WILL DEVOUR THEM.
Transcription
and translation by M. Horgan
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