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1 […] … […] 2 […] and as for what it says, “In [this] year of jubilee [each of you shall return to his property,” and about it he said, “And] this 3 [is the manner of the release:] every creditor shall release what he has lent [to his neighbor. He shall not press his neighbor or his brother, for there has been proclaimed] a release 4 for God.” [Its interpretation] for the end of days concerns the captives, who […] and whose 5 teachers have been hidden and kept secret, and from the inheritance of Melchizedek, for […] … and they are the inheritance of Melchizedek, who 6 will bring them back to them. He will proclaim liberty to them,⁠ to release them from [the burden of] all their iniquities.⁠ And [thus] this thing will happen 7 in the first week of the jubilee that follows the nine jubilees.⁠ The Day of Atonement is the end of the tenth jubilee,⁠ 8 to atone on it for all the sons of [light]⁠ and the men of the lot of Melchizedek. […] … upon them … according to all their deeds, for 9 this is the time of the year of favor for Melchizedek⁠ and for his armies, the people of the holy ones of God, for a reign of judgment, as it is written 10 about him in the songs of David, who said, “God stands in the assembly [of El]; in the midst of the gods he judges.”⁠ And about him he said, “And above it 11 return to the heights; God will judge the peoples.”⁠ As for what he said, [“How long] will you judge unjustly and show favor to the wicked? Selah,” 12 its interpretation concerns Belial and the spirits of his lot,⁠ who […] … in their turning away from the statutes of God [to act wickedly]. 13 But Melchizedek will carry out the vengeance of the judgments of God, [and on that day he will] deliver them [from the hand of] Belial⁠ and from the hand of all the spirits [of his lot]. 14 To his aid come all the gods [of righteousness], and he is the one who […] all the sons of God, and the … 15 this … is the day [of peace], of which he spoke [… through] Isaiah the prophet, who said, [“How] lovely 16 on the mountains are the feet of the herald who proclaims peace, the herald [of good news who proclaims salvation], who says to Zion, ‘Your God [is king].’” 17 Its interpretation: the mountains [are] the prophets, they … […] … for all … […] 18 And the herald is the one anointed of the spirit,⁠ as Daniel said [about him, “Until an anointed one, a prince, there are seven weeks.” And the herald of] 19 good news who proclaims [salvation] is the one about whom it is written that […] 20 “to comfort the [mourners.” Its interpretation:] to instruct them in all the ages of the world […] 21 in truth … […] … […] 22 … […] was removed from Belial and will return […] … […] 23 […] by the judgments of God, as it is written about him, [“who says] to Zion, ‘Your God is king.’” Zion is 24 [the congregation of all the sons of righteousness, those] who uphold the covenant, who turn aside from walking in the way of the people. And “your God” is 25 [… Melchizedek, who will] deliver them from the hand of Belial. As for what he said, “You shall sound the horn throughout all the land,”

Texts in conversation

Compare 11Q13 2:13 and Hebrews 2:14

Dead Sea Scrolls, Biblical Interpretation · New Testament

Summary

In 11Q13 from the Dead Sea Scrolls, Melchizedek defeats Belial and releases his captives from sin. Hebrews gives Jesus a comparable role in defeating the devil and making atonement, but makes his shared humanity and death the means of deliverance.

Passages

11Q13 2:13

Dead Sea Scrolls, Biblical Interpretation · The Heavenly Prince Melchizedek

6 will bring them back to them. He will proclaim liberty to them, to release them from [the burden of] all their iniquities. And [thus] this thing will happen 7 in the first week of the jubilee that follows the nine jubilees. The Day of Atonement is the end of the tenth jubilee, 8 to atone on it for all the sons of [light] and the men of the lot of Melchizedek. […] … upon them … according to all their deeds, for 9 this is the time of the year of favor for Melchizedek and for his armies, the people of the holy ones of God, for a reign of judgment, as it is written 10 about him in the songs of David, who said, “God stands in the assembly [of El]; in the midst of the gods he judges.” And about him he said, “And above it 11 return to the heights; God will judge the peoples.” As for what he said, [“How long] will you judge unjustly and show favor to the wicked? Selah,” 12 its interpretation concerns Belial and the spirits of his lot, who […] … in their turning away from the statutes of God [to act wickedly]. 13 But Melchizedek will carry out the vengeance of the judgments of God, [and on that day he will] deliver them [from the hand of] Belial and from the hand of all the spirits [of his lot].

100–50 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in 11Q13

Hebrews 2:14

New Testament

14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil), 15 and set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death. 16 For surely his concern is not for angels, but he is concerned for Abraham’s descendants. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 For since he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

80–90 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Hebrews

References

“... Since I do not believe that Melchizedek in Hebrews is an angelic or heavenly figure as in the 11Q, Melchizedek, it is obvious that I would not posit a direct relationship between the two. That does not mean, however, that the 11Q Melchizedek should be considered irrelevant to Hebrews, but only that it is not a direct source for Hebrews. If there is no direct relationship between Melchizedek in the i iQ,Melchizedek and Melchizedek in Hebrews, there are some parallels between Melchizedek in the 11Q,Melchizedek and Christ in Hebrews which, in summary form, might be listed. 1 Both Christ and Melchizedek are eschatological, redemp- tive figures. 2 Both are exalted in the heavens. 3 Both make atonement for sin. 4 Both overcome the forces opposed to God. 5 Both bring the promise of a new age. [...] Initial excitement with this aspect of the relationship between the 11Q, Melchizedek and Hebrews might potentially mask more important areas of contact. Although this present work is not devoted to the topic of the relationship of Qumran to Hebrews, it would not be amiss to mention two areas in which further investigation is indicated, (i) The theme of the sabbath rest for the people of God (Heb. iv. 4, 9) is paralleled by the theme of the last jubilee in nQMelch. i. 2, 7, 9, this jubilee being reckoned as a sabbath of sabbath years (i.e. occurring every 49 years) and in Dan. ix. 24-7 the end of days being reckoned as the tenth such jubilee after the return from exile. In this time there will be a release for the captives (1 iQMelch. i. 4-6; Heb. ii. 15). The value here is that the 11Q, Melchizedek may make explicit what is only implicit in Hebrews. ...”

Fred L. Horton Jr., The Melchizedek Tradition: A Critical Examination of the Sources to the Fifth Century A.D. and in the Epistle to the Hebrews, SNTSMS 30 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1976), 167.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

Column 2

11Q1310 chapters

Compare 11Q13 2:13 and Hebrews 2:14

Summary

Passages

11Q13 2:13

Hebrews 2:14

References

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