Songs of the
Sabbath Sacrifice
Shirot `Olat ha-Shabbat
>
4Q403(ShirShabbd)
Parchment
Copied mid-first century B.C.E.
Height 18 cm (7 in.), length 19 cm (7 1/2 in.)
Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority (9)
The Songs of the
Sabbath Sacrifice, also known as the "Angelic Liturgy," is a
liturgical work composed of thirteen separate sections, one for each of the
first thirteen Sabbaths of the year. The songs evoke angelic praise and
elaborate on angelic priesthood, the heavenly temple, and the Sabbath worship
in that temple.
The headings of
the various songs may reflect the solar calendar. Although the songs bear no
explicit indication of their source, the phraseology and terminology of the
texts are very similar to those of other Qumran works.
Eight
manuscripts of this work were found in Qumran Cave 4 (4Q400 through 407) and
one in Cave 11, dating from the late Hasmonean and Herodian periods. One
manuscript of the Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice was found at Masada, a Zealot
fortress.
References
Newsom,
Carol. Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice: A Critical Edition. Atlanta, 1985. This
is the definitive translation and analysis of these distinctive hymns.
Strugnell,
J. "The Angelic Liturgy at Qumran--4QSerek Sirot `Olat Hassabbat." In
Congress Volume, Oxford 1959. Supplements to Vetus Testamentum, vol. 7, pp.
318-45. Leiden, 1960.
English
Translation of Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice (Shirot `Olat ha-Shabbat)
4Q403(ShirShabbd)
Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority (9)
30. By the
instructor. Song of the sacrifice of
the seventh
Sabbath on the
sixteenth of the month. Praise the God of
the lofty heights, O
you lofty ones among all the
31. elim of knowledge. Let
the holiest of the godlike ones
sanctify the King of
glory who sanctifies by holiness
all His holy ones. O
you chiefs of the praises of
32. all the godlike
beings, praise the splendidly
[pr]aiseworthy God.
For in the splendor of praise
is the glory of His
realm. From it (comes) the praises
of all
33. the godlike ones
together with the splendor of all [His]
maj[esty. And] exalt
his exaltedness to exalted heaven,
you most godlike ones
of the lofty elim,
and (exalt) His glorious divinity above
34. all the lofty heights.
For H[e is God of gods] of all
the chiefs of the
heights of heaven and King
of ki[ngs] of all the
eternal councils.
(by the intention of)
35. (His knowledge) At the
words of His mouth come into
being [all the lofty
angels]; at the utterance
of His lips all the
eternal spirits; [by the in]tention
of His knowledge all
His creatures
36. in their undertakings.
Sing with joy, you who rejoice
[in His knowledge
with] rejoicing among the wondrous
godlike beings. And
chant His glory with the
tongue of all who
chant with knowledge;
and (chant) His
wonderful songs of joy
37. with the mouth of all who
chant [of Him. For He is]
God of all who rejoice
{in knowledge}
forever and Judge in
His power of all the
spirits of
understanding.
Transcription
and translation by C. Newsom