Texts in Conversation
The Dead Sea Scroll 4Q521 and the Psalms of Solomon include resurrection in their hopes for messianic renewal, shaped by Isaiah. Both link the resurrection to justice and healing, describing a future where the righteous are upheld and the poor restored.
Share:
4Q521 1
A Messianic Apocalypse
Dead Sea Scrolls
... [the hea]vens and the earth will listen to His Messiah, and none therein will stray from the commandments of the holy ones. Seekers of the Lord, strengthen yourselves in His service! All you hopeful in (your) heart, will you not find the Lord in this? For the Lord will consider the pious (hasidim) and call the righteous by name. Over the poor His spirit will hover and will renew the faithful with His power. And He will glorify the pious on the throne of the eternal Kingdom. He who liberates the captives, restores sight to the blind, straightens the b[ent] (Ps. cxlvi, 7-8). And f[or] ever I will clea[ve to the h]opeful and in His mercy ... And the fr[uit ... ] will not be delayed for anyone And the Lord will accomplish glorious things which have never been as [He ... ] For He will heal the wounded, and revive the dead and bring good news to the poor (Isa. lxi, 1). ... He will lead the uprooted and make the hungry rich ... ... [the ear]th and all that is on it; and the sea [and all that is in it] and all the ponds of water and rivers who are doing good before the Lor[d] ... ... like those who curse and are (destined) for death [when] the Life- giver will raise the dead of His people. And we will thank and proclaim to you the righteousness of the Lord, who ...
Date: 100 B.C.E. - 50 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Psalms of Solomon 3:12
Pseudepigrapha
9 The sinners stumble and curse their life, the day of their birth and their mother's labor pain. 10 They sin repeatedly in their life: They fall, and are seriously hurt, they will never get up again. 11 The destruction of sinners is forever, and they will not be remembered when God looks after the righteous. 12 This is the fate of sinners forever; but those who fear the Lord shall rise up to eternal life, and their life shall be in the Lord's light and it shall never end.
Date: 80-30 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Search:
Notes and References
"... On the resurrection of Israel or the 'righteous' on the last day, see Daniel 12:1-2; 2 Maccabees 7; 4Q521 2.11; 1 Enoch 92:3-4; Psalms of Solomon 3:12; Testament of Judah 25:1 ..."
Bird, Michael F.
An Anomalous Jew: Paul among Jews, Greeks, and Romans
(p. 126) William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2016
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.