Some Torah
Precepts
Miqsat Ma`ase
ha-Torah
Fragment A: height 8 cm (3 1/8 in.)
length 12.9 cm
(5 in.)
Fragment B: height 4.3 cm (1 11/16 in.)
length 7 cm (2
3/4 in.)
Fragment C: height 9.1 cm (3 9/16 in.)
length 17.4 cm
(6 7/8in.)
4Q396(MMTc)
Parchment Copied late first century B.C.E.-early first century C.E. Courtesy of
the Israel Antiquities Authority (8)
This scroll,
apparently in the form of a letter, is unique in language, style, and content.
Using linguistic and theological analysis, the original text has been dated as
one of the earliest works of the Qumran sect. This sectarian polemical
document, of which six incomplete manuscripts have been discovered, is commonly
referred to as MMT, an abbreviation of its Hebrew name, Miqsat Ma`ase ha-Torah.
Together the six fragments provide a composite text of about 130 lines, which
probably cover about two-thirds of the original. The initial part of the text
is completely missing.
Apparently it
consisted of four sections: (1) the opening formula, now lost; (2) a calendar
of 364 days; (3) a list of more than twenty rulings in religious law
(Halakhot), most of which are peculiar to the sect; and (4) an epilogue that
deals with the separation of the sect from the multitude of the people and
attempts to persuade the addressee to adopt the sect's legal views. The
"halakhot," or religious laws, form the core of the letter; the
remainder of the text is merely the framework. The calendar, although a
separate section, was probably also related to the sphere of
"halakhah." These "halakhot" deal chiefly with the Temple
and its ritual. The author states that disagreement on these matters caused the
sect to secede from Israel.
References
Strugnell,
J., and E. Qimron. Discoveries in the Judaean Desert, X. Oxford, forthcoming.
Sussman,
Y. "The History of 'Halakha' and the Dead Sea Scrolls -- Preliminary
Observations on Miqsat Ma`ase Ha-Torah (4QMMT)" (in Hebrew), Tarbiz 59
(1990):11-76.
English
Translation of Some Torah Precepts (Miqsat Ma'ase ha-Torah)
4Q396(MMTc)
Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority (8)
until sunset on the eighth day. And concerning [the
impurity] of
the [dead] person we are of the opinion that every bone,
whether it
has its flesh on it or not--should be (treated) according
to the law of the dead or the slain.
And concerning the mixed marriages that are being performed
among the people, and they are sons of holy [seed],
as is written, Israel is holy. And concerning his
(Israel's) [clean] animal
it is written that one must not let it mate with another
species, and concerning his clothes [it is written that they should not]
be of mixed stuff; and one must not sow his field and
vineyard with mixed species.
Because they (Israel) are holy, and the sons of Aaron are
[most holy.]
But you know that some of the priests and [the laity
intermingle]
[And they] adhere to each other and pollute the holy seed
as well as their (i.e. the priests') own [seed] with
corrupt women. Since [the sons of Aaron should...]
Transcription
and translation by J. Strugnell and E. Qimron