“... (3) The pesher on Hab 1:13 refers to a power struggle involving the Teacher of Righteousness. O traitors, why do you stare and keep silence when an evil person swallows someone more righteous than himself? (Hab 1:13b). Interpreted, this concerns the House of Absalom and the mem- bers of its council who were silent at the time of the chastise- ment of the Teacher of Righteousness and gave him no help against the Liar who flouted the Law in the midst of their whole [congregation]. (1QpHab V 8–12) Absalom was a beloved son of David who rose in rebellion against him, which is why the traitors are nicknamed “House of Absalom.” They are criticized for not aiding the Teacher of Righteousness when he was harassed by “the Liar.” We do not know who this bad guy was, but he was evidently someone with power and influence who made trouble for the Teacher. An interesting and important feature of this passage is how the pesher misquotes Habakkuk. In the original, this verse is addressed to God: “Why do you look on the treacherous, and stay silent when the wicked swallow those more righteous than themselves?” The pesher alters the verse’s word- ing so that it rebukes traitors instead of questioning God. The pesher also transforms Habakkuk’s plural “wicked” and “righteous” into singular nouns referring to specific individuals (the Liar and the Teacher of Righteousness). This kind of textual manipulation is a standard pesher technique. (More on this below.) ...”