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4Q213a

Aramaic Levi b

About this book

Fragment 1

5 […] this 6 […] I 7 [… I washed,] and all 8 […] I lifted to heaven 9 […] and the fingers of my palms and my hands 10 […] I said, “My Lord, you 11 [… you] alone know 12 […] the ways of truth. Put far 13 […] evil, and fornication drive away 14 […] wisdom and knowledge and strength 15 […] to find your mercy before you 16 […] what is beautiful and what is good before you. 17 [… and] do not let any satan rule over me⁠ 18 [… upon] me, my Lord, and bring me near to be yours.”

Texts in conversation

Compare Psalm 119:133 and 4Q213a 1 17

Hebrew Bible · Dead Sea Scrolls, Biblical Retellings

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Summary

In Psalm 119, the psalmist asks God not to let any sin rule over him. In 4Q213a, a Dead Sea Scrolls copy of the Aramaic Levi Document, Levi prays a paraphrase of this request in which a satan, or adversary, takes the place of sin.

Passages

Psalm 119:133

Hebrew Bible
132 Turn toward me and extend mercy to me, as you typically do to your loyal followers. 133 Direct my steps by your word. Do not let any sin dominate me. 134 Deliver me from oppressive men, so that I can keep your precepts. 135 Smile on your servant. Teach me your statutes!
600–201 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Psalms

4Q213a 1 17

Dead Sea Scrolls, Biblical Retellings · Aramaic Levi b
10 […] I said, “My Lord, you 11 [… you] alone know 12 […] the ways of truth. Put far 13 […] evil, and fornication drive away 14 […] wisdom and knowledge and strength 15 […] to find your mercy before you 16 […] what is beautiful and what is good before you. 17 [… and] do not let any satan rule over me 18 [… upon] me, my Lord, and bring me near to be yours.”
160–60 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in 4Q213a

References

“... In Aramaic Levi, for example, the prayer of Levi contains this intriguing petition: “And do not allow any satan to have dominion over me, to lead me from your path” (Ar. Levi supp 10). David Flusser first noted that this line was a “midrashic paraphrase” of Psalm 119:133b (LXX 118:133b). The most significant alteration of the biblical text is that where the psalm reads “Let all iniquity not rule over me,” Ar. Levi supp 10 reads “Let all satan not rule over me,” replacing “inquity” with “satan.” Flusser notes several additional references to “all satan” in other texts found at Qumran. 11Q Psa Plea 15, 16 (=11QPlea for Deliverance 15–16) is likewise a paraphrase of Ps 119:133b: “Let not a satan have power over me” ...”
Bryan J. Whitfield, Joshua Traditions and the Argument of Hebrews 3 and 4 (Berlin: de Gruyter, 2013), 182–183.

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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Psalm 119:133 and 4Q213a 1 17

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