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4Q213

Aramaic Levi a

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Fragment 1 i

1 […] 2 [And in the one hundred and eighteenth year of my life, the year when] there died 3 [Joseph my brother, I called my sons and their sons, and I began to instruct] them 4 [in all that was in my heart. I spoke up and said] to my sons, 5 [“Listen to the word of Levi your father, and pay attention to the instructions of the friend of God.] To you I 6 [give instruction, my sons, and I show you the truth, my beloved. Let the chief] of all your deeds 7 [be truth, and let it remain with] you [forever.] Righteousness and truth 8 [… you will bring in a blessed harvest.] Whoever sows good brings in good,⁠ 9 [and whoever sows evil, his seed returns upon] him. And now, reading and instruction and wisdom 10 [teach to your sons, and wisdom will be with you] as eternal honor. Whoever learns wisdom, honor⁠ 11 [is his; but whoever despises wisdom] is given over to contempt and scorn. Look, my sons, 12 [at Joseph my brother, who taught reading and the instruction of] wisdom, for honor and for greatness and for kings 13 […] do not be slack in learning wisdom. 14 […] … a man who learns wisdom, all 15 [… to] him; every land and province to which he goes, 16 [a brother …] … in it, and he is not like a stranger in it,⁠ and not 17 [like a scoundrel in it … for all of them] give him honor in it, since all wish 18 [to learn his wisdom. His friends] are many, and those who wish him well are great ones. 19 [And on a seat of honor they seat him,] to hear the words of his wisdom. 20 [Great wealth of honor is his wisdom for] those who know it, and a fine treasure⁠ 21 [for all who acquire it. If] mighty [kings come,] and a [great] people [and an army and horsemen]

Texts in conversation

Compare Sirach 6:19 and 4Q213 1:8

Deuterocanon · Dead Sea Scrolls, Biblical Retellings

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Summary

Sirach compares learning wisdom to sowing a crop and waiting for a good harvest. In 4Q213 from the Dead Sea Scrolls, Levi uses the same farming image to teach his sons that good conduct brings a good return.

Passages

Sirach 6:19

Deuterocanon · Ben Sira, Ecclesiasticus
18 My son, gather instruction from your youth up. Even when you have gray hair you will find wisdom. 19 Come to her as one who plows and sows and wait for her good fruit; for your toil will be little in her cultivation, and you will soon eat of her fruit. 20 How exceedingly harsh she is to the unlearned! He who is without understanding will not remain in her.
195–180 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Sirach

4Q213 1:8

Dead Sea Scrolls, Biblical Retellings · Aramaic Levi a
6 [give instruction, my sons, and I show you the truth, my beloved. Let the chief] of all your deeds 7 [be truth, and let it remain with] you [forever.] Righteousness and truth 8 [… you will bring in a blessed harvest.] Whoever sows good brings in good, 9 [and whoever sows evil, his seed returns upon] him. And now, reading and instruction and wisdom 10 [teach to your sons, and wisdom will be with you] as eternal honor. Whoever learns wisdom, honor 11 [is his; but whoever despises wisdom] is given over to contempt and scorn. Look, my sons,
160–60 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in 4Q213

References

“... The idea that wisdom has a good harvest is prominent in ben Sira 6:19–20, “Come to her like one who plows and sows, and wait for her good harvest. For when you cultivate her you will toil but little, and soon you will eat of her produce.” ...”
Jonas C. Greenfield, Michael E. Stone, and Esther Eshel, eds., The Aramaic Levi Document: Edition, Translation, Commentary, SVTP 19 (Leiden: Brill, 2004), 208.

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

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Sirach 6:19 and 4Q213 1:8

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