An Overview of the Scrolls

• 11 caves, discovered 1947-1956

• Cave 4: contains two thirds of the scrolls

• 900 documents in all; of which approximately 220 are Bible Scrolls

• Most date to the first century BC

• Most made from leather (from a bovine species, now extinct); some
from papyrus

• Date from 300 BC to AD 50

 An Overview of the Scrolls
• No Christian documents; Jesus, John, James etc.. None are mentioned
in the DSS

• The Scrolls cohere with other Jewish writings from the

intertestamental period of time

• Although the Scrolls don’t refer to Jesus or his followers but it shows
what the Jews understood about the Messiah BC and in fact it is a
prediction of Jesus.
 Messianic Expectation in the
Serek (“Rule”) Scrolls

• 1QS
• 1QSa
• 1QSb
 1QS: The Anointed of Israel

• “. . . Until there come the Prophet and the Messiahs of Aaron and
Israel (1QS 9:11)

• Two Messiahs?

• Zech 4:14: “These are the two anointed who stand by the Lord of the
whole earth.” (lit. “two sons of oil”)
 1QSa and the
begotten Messiah
1QSa
• “(This is) the procedure for the meeting
of the men of repute [when they are
called] to the banquet held by the
Council of the Yahad, when God has
begotten the Messiah among them”
‫( המשיח יוליד يلد אל את‬1QSa column 2: line
11-12).
 The Begotten Messiah

• Psalm 2:2, 7: The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers
take counsel together, against the Lord and his anointed [‫]המשיח‬. . . .
7 I will tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, “You are today my
son, today I have begotten you [ ‫] ילדּתיך‬.”

• The ‫ משיח‬and ‫ ילד‬of 1QSa 2:11-12 allude to the language of Psalm 2:2
and 7.
1QSb and a Blessing for the Messiah
 1QSb and the Messianic blessing
• 20 Words of blessing belonging to the instructor, by which to bless the Prince of
the Congregation whom God chose . . .21 . . .And He shall renew for him the
covenant of the congregation, so as to establish the kingdom of his people
forever, that “with righteousness he may judge the poor, 22 and decide with
equity for the meek of the earth” [Isaiah 11:4]. Walk before him blameless in all
the ways of his heart, 23 and establish His covenant as holy in distress for those
who seek Him, May the Lord lift you up to an eternal height, a mighty tower in a
wall 24 securely set on high! Thus may you be righteous by the might of your
mouth, lay waste the earth with you rod! With the breath of your lips 25 be the
belt around your waist, and faithfulness the belt around your loins” [Isaiah 11:5]
(1QSb 5:20-26). ~~~ Given the allusions to Isaiah 11 , is the “Prince of the
Congregation” the “Branch of David” (of Isaiah 11) ?
 Aramaic 4Q246 and the
coming of the “Son of God”

• “And he shall be called

‘Son of God’ . . .

‘Son of the Most Hight’ “

(4Q246 Column 2 line 1)

 Seems like the
Annunciation by the
Archangel Gabriel to the
Blessed Virgin Mary?

• Column 2:1 parallels the gospel of Luke 1

when the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary
and informed her she will give birth to
Jesus "He will be great, and will be called
the Son of the Most High" (Luke 1:32) and
he "will be called the Son of God" (v.35)

• So the titles “Son of God” and “Son of the Most High” were
not a Christian invention influenced by the Greco-Roman
religion but it were in the writings of the Jewish texts long
before Jesus comes in that’s why they knew that these titles
would be given to the promised Messiah
(High priest asking Jesus Are you the Son of God? Matt. 26:63).
 Column 2 Column 1
1. He will be called the Son of God, they will call 1. [. . .] [a spirit from God] rested upon him, he fell before
the throne.
him the Son of the Most High. But like the
meteors 2. [. . . O ki]ng, wrath is coming to the world, and your
• Here is the full 2. that you saw in your vision, so will be their kingdom.
They will reign only a few years over
years
3. [shall be shortened . . . such] is your vision, and all of it
text of the   is about to come unto the world.
3. the land, while people tramples people and nation
“Son of God” tramples nation.
4. Until the people of God arise; then all will have rest
4. [. . . Amid] great [signs], tribulation is coming upon the
land.

Aramaic from warfare. 5. [. . . After much killing] and slaughter, a prince of

nations
5. Their kingdom will be an eternal kingdom,
4Q246 and all their paths will be righteous. They will judge
6. the land justly, and all nations will make peace.
6. [will arise . . .] the king of Assyria and Egypt
7. [. . .] he will be ruler over the land
Warfare will cease from the land,
7. and all the nations shall do obeisance to them. The 8. [ . . .] will be subject to him and all will obey
great God will be their help,
9. [him.] [Also his son] will be called The Great, and be
8. He Himself will fight for them, putting peoples into designated his name.
their power,
 
 
9. overthrowing them all before them. God's rule will be
an eternal rule and all the depths of
10. [the earth are His].
 11QMelchizedek and the
Divine identity of Coming one
 The identity of
Melchizedek
Malḵi-ṣedeq ‫ מלכי־צדק‬meleky "my king" and ṣedeq,
which means "righteousness“ (H4428 and 6666) so it
would be King of Righteousness (divine title)

Abraham met Melchizedek King and Priest of

Salem (before first King (David) or Priest
(Aaron) even existed (Gen. 14) Paul in Hebrew
7 gives him Divine description him as King of
Righteousness , King of Peace without father,
Mother, Genealogy he has neither beginning of
days nor end of life but is like the Son of God
and he remains priest for all time.
 The identity of
Melchizedek
“it is the time for the « year of grace » of
Melchizedek, and of [his] arm[ies, the nat]ion of
the holy ones of God, of the rule of judgment,
as is written about him in the songs of David,
who said: Ps 82:1 « Elohim will [st]and in the
assem[bly of God,] in the midst of the gods he
judges ». And about him he sai[d: Ps 7:8-
9 « And] above [it,] (11Q13 2:9-11a)

•Melchizedek is a Person of the Trinity?

•Melchizedek’s favor? Isn’t it supposed to be

the Lord’s favor?
 The identity of
Melchizedek
• Liberate his inheritance and free them from the debt
of all their iniquities

“… and they are the inherita[nce of Melchize]dek, who

6 will make them return. And liberty will be proclaimed for
them, to free them from [the debt of] all their iniquities.
And this [wil]l [happen]..”
(11QMelch 13 Column ll 5,6)

• Defeat Satan [Belial] and free his people from him

“13 But, Melchizedek will carry out the vengeance of
Go[d’s] judgments, [and on that day he will fr]e[e them
from the hand of] Belial and from the hand of all the
sp[irits of his lot.]” (11Q 13 Column ll 13)
 • Full text of 11Q 13 (11QMelch) Col. II  Highlights in the translation indicate the
parts of the Old Testament verses.
1 […] … […]
2 […] And as for what he said: Lev 25:13 « In [this] year of jubilee, [you shall return, each one, to his respective property », concerning it he
said: Deut 15:2 « Th]is is
3 [the manner of the release:] every creditor shall release what he lent [to his neighbour. He shall not coerce his neighbour or his brother, for it
has been proclaimed] a release
4 for G[od ». Its interpretation] for the last days refers to the captives, who […] and whose
5 teachers have been hidden and kept secret, and from the inheritance of Melchizedek, fo[r …] … and they are the inherita[nce of Melchize]dek,
who
6 will make them return. And liberty will be proclaimed for them, to free them from [the debt of] all their iniquities. And this [wil]l [happen]
7 in the first week of the jubilee which follows the ni[ne] jubilees. And the d[ay of aton]ement is the e[nd of] the tenth [ju]bilee
8 in which atonement shall be made for all the sons of [light and] for the men [of] the lot of Mel[chi]zedek. […] … over [the]m … […] accor[ding to]
a[ll] their [wor]ks, for
9 it is the time for the « year of grace » of Melchizedek, and of [his] arm[ies, the nat]ion of the holy ones of God, of the rule of judgment, as is
written
10 about him in the songs of David, who said: Ps 82:1 « Elohim will [st]and in the assem[bly of God,] in the midst of the gods he judges ». And
about him he sai[d: Ps 7:8-9 « And] above [it,]
11 to the heights, return: God will judge the peoples ». As for what he sa[id: Ps 82:2 « How long will you] judge unjustly and show partia[lity] to
the wicked? [Se]lah. »
12 Its interpretation concerns Belial and the spirits of his lot, wh[o …] turn[ing aside] from the commandments of God to [commit evil.]
13 But, Melchizedek will carry out the vengeance of Go[d’s] judgments, [and on that day he will fr]e[e them from the hand of] Belial and from the
hand of all the sp[irits of his lot.]
14 To his aid (shall come) all « the gods of [justice »; and h]e is the one w[ho …] all the sons of God, and … […]
15 This […] is the day of [peace about whi]ch he said [… through Isa]iah the prophet, who said: [Isa 52:7 « How]
beautiful
16 upon the mountains are the feet [of] the messen[ger who] announces peace, the mess[enger of good who
announces salvati]on, [sa]ying to Zion: your God [reigns. »]
17 Its interpretation: The mountains [are] the prophet[s …] … […] for all … […]
18 And the messenger i[s] the anointed of the spir[it] as Dan[iel] said [about him: Dan 9:25 « Until an anointed, a prince,
it is seven weeks. » And the messenger of]
19 good who announ[ces salvation] is the one about whom it is written that […]
20 « To comfo[rt] the [afflicted », its interpretation:] to instruct them in all the ages of the wo[rld …]
21 in truth … […] … […]
22 […] has turned away from Belial and will re[turn …] … […]
23 […] in the judgment[s of] God, as is written about him: [Isa 52:7 « Saying to Zi]on: your God rules. » [« Zi]on » i[s]
24 [the congregation of all the sons of justice, those] who establish the covenant, those who avoid walking [on the pa]th
of the people. And « your God » is
25 [… Melchizedek, who will fr]e[e them from the ha]nd of Belial. And as for what he said: Lev 25:9 « You shall blow the
hor[n in] all the [l]and of
• The translation is taken from Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition (eds.García Martinez and Eibert J. C. Tigchelaar, 1209).
Highlights in the translation indicate the parts of the Old Testament verses.
Mayim wa hartz yasma’o ‫[כי הס]מים והארץ ישמעו למשיחו‬
lemashekho

Frag. 2 , Col. 2.

“Heaven and earth will obey his Messiah”

4Q521 and the •4Q521 comprises two larger fragments. Both the
Hebrew transcription and the English translation

Messiah follow those of Florentino García Martínez, 

The Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition, pages 1044-1047.
Fragment 2, Column 2. [...for the heav]ens and the earth will listen to his anointed

one, [and all] that is in them will not turn away from the precepts of the holy ones.

Strengthen yourselves, you who are seeking the Lord, in his service! Will you not in

this encounter the Lord, all those who hope in their heart? For the Lord will consider

the pious and call the righteous by name, and his spirit will hover upon the poor, and

he will renew the faithful with his strength. For he will honor the pious upon the

throne of an eternal kingdom, freeing prisoners, giving sight to the blind,

straightening out the twis[ted.] And for[e]ver shall I cling to [those who] hope, and in

his mercy [...] and the fru[it of ...] not be delayed. And the Lord will perform

marvellous acts such as have not existed, just as he sa[id, for] he will heal the badly

wounded and will make the dead live; he will proclaim good news to the poor and

[...] he will lead the [...] and enrich the hungry. [...] and all [....]
 Parallelism of 4Q521 with Matt.11:5=Luke 7:20
Luke 7:20-22
 
When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the
Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who
is to come, or should we expect someone else’”
21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had
diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight
to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the
messengers, “Go back and report to John what you
have seen and heard:
“. . . freeing prisoners (Isa. 61:1),
• The blind receive sight,
• giving sight to the blind. . .
• the lame walk, those who have leprosy are
• he will heal the badly wounded
cleansed, the deaf hear,
• and will make the dead live;
• the dead are raised, and the
• good news is proclaimed to the poor. • he will proclaim good news to the poor. .”

(Luke 7:22) (4Q521 frag. 2 Col.2) (miracles arranged by itself acc. to the texts)