Words
of Michael
4Qmich=4Q529, 6Qunidar=6Q23
Paraphrase
and comments by Pete Garczynski
Introduction
The Archangel
Michael is the "protector of Israel"; he plays a prominent role in
Jewish literature. Michael is considered as the leader of the angels and for
this reason is considered the Chief messenger of God. In The Words of the
Archangel Michael, he is portrayed as talking to other angels. Also he is seen
in the text as being a given a vision from Gabriel. It is this vision that
causes speculation of to what city they are actually referring to within the
text. It at first looks like the author is starting to talk about the tower of
Babel, but after further consideration it looks as if he is talking about
Jerusalem and the building of the temple. If this assumption is right, then
Michael may be asking why there is an angelic force stationed on the mountains.
Gabriel vision may be an explanation to why they are there and a premonition to
the great city that is to be built there.
Paraphrase
4Q529, 6Q23
1 Wording of
text which Michael addressed the angels of God[...]2 Michael said, "I have
located there an army of angels[1][...]3[...] nine big hills: two to the
Eas[t...]4[and two to the] South. It was at this place Michael met with the
Angel Gabriel [...][2] 5... During their meeting Michael translated a
dream of Gabriel'. Gabriel then said to Michael:[...]6 It was written in his
text that God, the all powerful,[...]7 the boys of Ham to the boys of Shem. And
see my Supreme being, the god of the earth[...]8 When it rains freely[...]9
view a city Made to worship the Supreme being, Lo[rd Eternal...]10Anything that
is bad will be performed before God[3], the Almighty Lo[rd Eternal...]11
God will remember his people[...]12 the Supreme being; to him the prizes and
praises and to him[...]13 in a far away place there will be a man[...]14 the
man will say to him: 'Observe this[...]15 bring to me silver and gold[...]...
[...]16 the good man[4]
Footnotes
[1] The original
text reads, "troops of fire". In certain texts the existance of fire
has been understood to mean a Godly or angelic presence. [2] The Angel Gabriel
is considered to serve as a guide in the Highest Heaven [3] A hint that the
city that may be refered to is Jerusalem [4] From 13 to 16 Cook suggests a
possible parallel to 4Q522 in which the nations bring things to Jerusalem for
the Temple (WAC, 427).
Bibliography
Eiserman, Robert. Dead Sea Scrolls Uncovered; The First Complete Translation and Interpretation of 50 Key Documents Withheld for Over 35 Years,Penquin Press, New York, 1992. Martinez, Florentino. The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated; The Qumran Texts in English, E.J.Brill & Leiden, New York, 1996. Vermes, Geza. The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English, Penguin Press, New York, 1997. Wise, Abess, and Cook. The Dead Sea Scrolls; A New Translation, Harper Collins Publishers, Inc., New York, 1996
12/98
prepared
for Intro. to the Hebrew Bible
<http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~humm/Courses/HebBib>
by
Pete Garczynski
Garczynski@albnet.alb.edu mailto:@albnet.alb.edu