covenant (תי ִרְ ) in daniel and the dead sea scrolls

383 Pages·2015·3.1 MB·English

COVENANT (תירִ בְּ ) IN DANIEL AND THE
DEAD SEA SCROLLS:

AN EXPOSITION OF DANIEL 9-12 AND SELECTED
SECTIONS OF THE DAMASCUS DOCUMENT (CD),
COMMUNITY RULE (1QS), HYMNS SCROLL (1QHA)
AND WAR SCROLL (1QM)

By
SILVIA ANNELIESE LININGTON

Submitted in Accordance with the Requirements for the Degree of
DOCTOR OF THEOLOGY
in the Subject
OLD TESTAMENT

at the
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA

PROMOTER: PROF WS BOSHOFF

NOVEMBER 2014

Table of Contents

Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. 3
Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... 7
Declaration ....................................................................................................................... 9
Summary ........................................................................................................................ 11
Key Words ...................................................................................................................... 11
Abbreviations ................................................................................................................. 13
A. Journals, Books, Electronic Resources & Publishers ............................................ 13
B. Biblical Books, Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha and Dead Sea Scrolls ..................... 14
C. Grammatical and General Abbreviations ............................................................ 15
1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 17
1.1 BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE FOR THIS RESEARCH ................................................. 17
1.2 RESEARCH PROBLEM(S) AND OBJECTIVES ............................................................... 17
1.3 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY ................................................................ 19
1.4 BRIEF SURVEY OF SOME OF THE LITERATURE USED ................................................... 20
2 Covenant in the Book of Daniel ........................................................................... 25
2.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 25
2.2 SOME REMARKS ON THE GENRE(S), LANGUAGES, DATING, UNITY AND PURPOSE OF
THE BOOK OF DANIEL ........................................................................................ 25
2.2.1 Literary Genre(s) of the Book .............................................................................. 26
2.2.2 The Languages of the Book (Linguistic Features) ................................................ 27
2.2.3 Historical Issues Related to the Dating of Daniel ................................................ 30
2.2.3.1 The Third Year of Jehoiakim and the First Year of Nebuchadnezzar ................................. 31
2.2.3.2 Darius the Mede ................................................................................................................ 32
2.2.4 Evidence from the DSS and Intertestamental Books ........................................... 35
2.2.5 Conclusion: Date, Unity, Purpose and Sitz im Leben of Daniel ............................ 38
2.3 EXPLANATORY NOTES ON DANIEL 9 WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO COVENANT
TERMINOLOGY ................................................................................................. 41
2.3.1 Preliminary Issues ................................................................................................ 41
2.3.1.1 The Place of Daniel 9 in the Book ...................................................................................... 41
2.3.1.2 Literary Analysis – Issues of Genre .................................................................................... 43
2.3.1.3 The Significance of the Prayer in Daniel 9 for the Chapter and the Book as a Whole ....... 44
2.3.2 Daniel’s Prayer (9:1-19) ....................................................................................... 46
2.3.2.1 Introduction to the Chapter (9:1-2) ................................................................................... 46
2.3.2.2 Daniel’s Prayer of Repentance (9:3-19) .............................................................................50
2.3.2.2.1 Introduction to the Prayer (9:3-4a) ...........................................................................50
2.3.2.2.2 Confession and Affirmation of God’s Justice in Judging His People (9:4b-15) ...........51
2.3.2.2.3 Daniel’s Plea for Mercy (9:16-19) .............................................................................70
2.3.2.2.4 Summary Remarks on תירִבְּ in Daniel’s Prayer (9:1-19) .............................................74
2.3.3 The Answer to the Prayer (9:20-27) .................................................................... 75
2.3.3.1 The Angel Gabriel Arrives (9:20) ........................................................................................75
2.3.3.2 Gabriel Speaks to Daniel – Words of Assurance (9:21-22) ................................................78
2.3.3.3 Explanation of Things to Come (9:24-27) ..........................................................................80
2.3.3.3.1 Daniel 9:24 ................................................................................................................81
2.3.3.3.2 Daniel 9:25 ................................................................................................................92
2.3.3.3.3 Daniel 9:26 ................................................................................................................97
2.3.3.3.4 Excursus: ץקֵ in the MT (with Special Reference to Daniel) and the DSS ..................100
2.3.3.3.5 Daniel 9:27 ..............................................................................................................104
2.3.3.4 Summary Remarks on Daniel 9:24-27 and Covenant Terminology in this Section ..........110
2.4 EXPLANATORY NOTES ON DANIEL 10-12 WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO
COVENANT TERMINOLOGY ................................................................................113
2.4.1 Introduction to Daniel 10-12 ............................................................................. 113
2.4.2 The Setting of the Vision/Audition (Daniel 10:1-19) ......................................... 114
2.4.3 The Angel’s Message to Daniel (Daniel 10:20-12:4) ......................................... 119
2.4.3.1 Introduction to the Message (10:20-11:1).......................................................................120
2.4.3.2 The End of the Persian Empire Is Near (11:2) ..................................................................121
2.4.3.3 The Short Rule of a Mighty King (11:3-4) .........................................................................123
2.4.3.4 Continual Strife between the Kings of the South and the Kings of the North (11:5-20) ..124
2.4.3.5 The Rise and Demise of the ‘Despicable Person’ (11:21-45) ...........................................130
2.4.3.5.1 The New Ruler’s Rise to Power by Stealth – Ignominious Start (11:21-23) .............131
2.4.3.5.2 War with the King of the South – Success (11:24-27) .............................................135
2.4.3.5.3 Excursus: The Expressions דעֵ וֹמ and ץקֵ in Daniel 11-12 ...........................................137
2.4.3.5.4 General Measures against Jewish Religion (11:28).................................................138
2.4.3.5.5 War with the King of the South – Failure Due to the Intervention of the ‘Kittim’
(11:29-30) ...............................................................................................................139
2.4.3.5.6 Measures against Religion in General (11:31-38) ...................................................145
2.4.3.5.7 War with Nations, Including the King of the South (11:39-44) ...............................155
2.4.3.5.8 The King’s Demise – Ignominious End (11:45) ........................................................159
2.4.3.6 Conclusion of the Vision Report: The ‘Time of the End’ and Daniel’s Task (12:1-4) ........160
2.4.3.7 Excursus: How Is the Resurrection in Daniel 12:1-3 to Be Understood? .........................164
2.4.4 Epilogue: The Last Conversation between the Angel and Daniel (12:5-13) ...... 166
2.4.5 Conclusion – The Covenant Theme in Daniel 10-12 .......................................... 171
3 COVENANT IN THE DAMASCUS DOCUMENT (CD), THE COMMUNITY RULE (1QS),
THE HYMNS SCROLL (1QHA) AND THE WAR SCROLL (1QM) ..........................................175
3.1 INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................175
3.1.1 Recent Developments in DSS Research ............................................................. 175
3.1.2 Use of Terminology ........................................................................................... 175
3.2 EXPLANATORY NOTES ON SELECTED SECTIONS OF THE DAMASCUS DOCUMENT (CD)
WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO COVENANT TERMINOLOGY ..........................................177
3.2.1 Introduction to the Damascus Document.......................................................... 177
3.2.1.1 The Nature of the Damascus Document ......................................................................... 177
3.2.1.2 The Purpose of the Damascus Document ....................................................................... 178
3.2.2 The occurrences of תירִבְּ in the Damascus Document ........................................ 178
3.2.2.1 CD 1:1-2:1 ........................................................................................................................ 178
3.2.2.2 CD 2:2 .............................................................................................................................. 183
3.2.2.3 Excursus: אוב in Connection with תירִבְּ in the HB and in CD .............................................. 183
3.2.2.4 CD 2:3-4:5 ........................................................................................................................ 188
3.2.2.5 CD 4:6b-19 ....................................................................................................................... 193
3.2.2.6 CD 5-8 .............................................................................................................................. 195
3.2.2.7 CD 15-16 .......................................................................................................................... 202
3.2.2.8 CD 9-11 ............................................................................................................................ 205
3.2.2.9 CD 12-13 .......................................................................................................................... 207
3.2.2.10 CD 19-20 .......................................................................................................................... 210
3.2.2.11 4Q269 9:4-8 ..................................................................................................................... 215
3.2.2.12 Excursus: The Expression ‘The New Covenant in the Land of Damascus’ ....................... 215
3.2.2.12.1 The ‘New Covenant’ in Jeremiah ............................................................................ 216
3.2.2.12.2 The Expression ‘In the Land of Damascus’ .............................................................. 217
3.2.2.12.3 The Use of the Expression ‘The New Covenant in the Land of Damascus’ in CD ..... 221
3.2.2.12.4 Concluding Remarks on the Expression ‘New Covenant in the Land of Damascus’ 229
3.2.3 Concluding Remarks on תירִבְּ in CD .................................................................... 233
3.3 EXPLANATORY NOTES ON SELECTED SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY RULE (1QS)
WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO COVENANT TERMINOLOGY .......................................... 235
3.3.1 Introduction – Nature and Organization of the Scroll ....................................... 235
3.3.2 The occurrences of תירִבְּ in 1QS .......................................................................... 236
3.3.2.1 1QS 1:1-3:12 .................................................................................................................... 236
3.3.2.2 1QS 3:13-4:26 .................................................................................................................. 246
3.3.2.3 1QS 5:1-6:22 .................................................................................................................... 248
3.3.2.4 1QS 8:1-9:11 .................................................................................................................... 260
3.3.2.5 1QS 9:12-11:22 ................................................................................................................ 265
3.3.3 Concluding Remarks on תירִבְּ in 1QS................................................................... 265
3.4 EXPLANATORY NOTES ON SELECTED SECTIONS OF THE HYMNS SCROLL (1QHA) WITH
SPECIAL REFERENCE TO COVENANT TERMINOLOGY ................................................. 267
3.4.1 Introduction: The Nature of the Scroll ............................................................... 267
3.4.2 The occurrences of תירִבְּ in 1QHa ........................................................................ 268
3.4.2.1 1QHa 4:27 ........................................................................................................................ 268
3.4.2.2 1QHa 6:22 ........................................................................................................................ 269
3.4.2.3 1QHa 7 ............................................................................................................................. 271
3.4.2.4 1QHa 8:16 ........................................................................................................................ 274
3.4.2.5 Excursus: A Survey of the Use of תמא in 1QHa .................................................................. 275
3.4.2.6 1QHa 8:17-28 ................................................................................................................... 277
3.4.2.7 1QHa 10:20-30 ................................................................................................................. 278
3.4.2.8 Excursus: דוס in the DSS and the MT ................................................................................ 282
3.4.2.9 1QHa 12:5-13:4 ................................................................................................................ 283
3.4.2.10 1QHa 13:5-19 ................................................................................................................... 289
3.4.2.11 1QHa 13:20-39 .................................................................................................................291
3.4.2.12 1QHa 15:6-25 ...................................................................................................................294
3.4.2.13 1QHa 18:14-19:2 ..............................................................................................................298
3.4.2.14 1QHa 21-22 ......................................................................................................................299
3.4.2.15 1QHa fr. 4:2-20 (=22:20-39) .............................................................................................302
3.4.2.16 1QHa 23............................................................................................................................303
3.4.2.17 1QHa 27............................................................................................................................303
3.4.3 Concluding Remarks on תירִבְּ in 1QHa ................................................................ 305
3.5 EXPLANATORY NOTES ON SELECTED SECTIONS OF THE WAR SCROLL (1QM) WITH
SPECIAL REFERENCE TO COVENANT TERMINOLOGY ..................................................308
3.5.1 The Unique Character, Genre, Unity and Date of the Scroll .............................. 308
3.5.1.1 Uniqueness and Genre ....................................................................................................308
3.5.1.2 The Unity and Date of the Scroll ......................................................................................309
3.5.2 The occurrences of תירִבְּ in 1QM ........................................................................ 311
3.5.2.1 1QM 1:1-2 ........................................................................................................................311
3.5.2.1.1 The Expression תירב יעישרמ in 1QM 1:2 ...................................................................315
3.5.2.1.2 Excursus: Who are the ‘Kittim of Asshur’? ..............................................................316
3.5.2.2 1QM 1:3-end ...................................................................................................................320
3.5.2.3 1QM 10 ............................................................................................................................323
3.5.2.4 1QM 12:1-5 ......................................................................................................................327
3.5.2.5 1QM 13 ............................................................................................................................331
3.5.2.6 1QM 14 ............................................................................................................................333
3.5.2.7 1QM 15-16 .......................................................................................................................335
3.5.2.8 1QM 17 ............................................................................................................................336
3.5.2.9 1QM 18 ............................................................................................................................342
3.5.3 Concluding Remarks on תירִבְּ in 1QM................................................................. 344
4 Conclusion: Review and Preview ....................................................................... 347
4.1 REVIEW – SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ......................................................................347
4.1.1 Comparison of Important Terminology Used in Connection with תירב in Daniel
and the DSS ....................................................................................................... 347
4.1.2 What Covenant(s) Do the Authors Mean When They Mention the Word תירב? 355
4.2 PREVIEW – WHERE HENCE? ..............................................................................359
Bibliography .................................................................................................................. 361
A. Articles and Books ............................................................................................. 361
B. Dictionaries, Encyclopaedias, Grammars and Lexicons .................................... 382
C. Bibles ................................................................................................................. 383
D. Ancient Sources ................................................................................................. 383
Acknowledgements
I am indebted to many people who made the research in this thesis and its completion
possible. First of all, I wish to thank my supervisor, Prof W Boshoff of UNISA, whose
encouragement, support and continuous critical-evaluative comments have been invaluable
over the years that it took to complete this work. The subject librarian at UNISA, Mrs E
Nell, has been a great help and was always willing to assist me in getting access to
resources. Without her assistance, much of this research would not have been possible. To
my colleagues at Harare Theological College (HTC) I also owe a great debt of gratitude.
They often provided the sounding board that I needed to check out ideas. Their prayers and
continuous support throughout the writing process have been much appreciated. Mrs A
Podmore, the HTC librarian, not only helped with a number of resources but also kindly
proofread part of the finished document. Two other people also helped proofread the
manuscript, namely Pastor J Bell of Central Baptist Church, Harare, and my husband, Mr
G Linington. I am grateful for their suggestions at language improvement, but all errors
remain my responsibility. Most important in the last stages of this research was the
principal of HTC, Mr S Doyle, who reduced my teaching load during 2014. Having been
able to work from home for most of the last year certainly enabled me to complete this
work in good time.
Moreover, I wish to thank the members of my family and church family,
especially my in-laws, for their continued support and prayers. The kind help by family
members in South Africa enabled me to get a much needed resource which was not
available elsewhere. With their continued inquiries about my progress and their dedicated
prayers the friends in my home Bible study group and my parents and brother in Germany
challenged me to keep going. Most of all my husband, Mr G Linington, exercised patience
and endurance with a sometimes less than amiable researcher in the house. For his
continued love, support, encouragement and coaxing I am very grateful. To him and to my
mother, Mrs I Sinning, I dedicate this thesis.
Finally, without the enabling grace of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, none
of this work would have been possible.

Declaration
I declare that Covenant (תירִבְּ ) in Daniel and the Dead Sea Scrolls: An exposition of
Daniel 9-12 and Selected Sections of the Damascus Document (CD), Community
Rule (1QS), Hymns Scroll (1QHa) and War Scroll (1QM) is my own work and that
all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged
by means of complete references.
I further declare that I have not previously submitted this work, or part of it, for
examination at UNISA for another qualification or at any other higher education
institution.

Signature: ………………………………………………………..
Silvia Linington

Date: …………………