An Introduction to the Theology of the Hodayot
Scroll”
Jane Doe
BOTB: 685A The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Apocrypha
April 20, 2012
Introduction
When the first set of Dead Sea Scrolls was discovered in 1947, the collection contained several never before seen non-biblical scrolls. Among these unknown scrolls, was the scroll given the Hebrew name Hodayot or the Thanksgiving Hymns. The scroll received this name based on the presence of the phrases “I thank the, Lord” and “Blessed art thou,” which preceded the “psalm-like compositions.” Cave 1 contained one large and rather well persevered version and one smaller poorly preserved version of the scroll. Cave …show more content…
While thanksgiving is a key component in all the hymns, Puech identifies two major areas of theological discussion that inspire thanksgiving to God: “the salvation of the just, and the final doom of the godless.” Menahem Mansoor provides the more detailed themes of God and creation, knowledge, salvation through election, humanity’s frailty and sinfulness, and dualism and predestination.
Others have divided the theological themes by the two categories of the teacher hymns and the community hymns. Esther G. Chazon identifies the teacher hymns’ main themes as persecution, suffering, mockery of enemies, “reliance on divine salvation,” justice, and the destruction of evil; then, she identifies “the human condition, communal affiliation, congregational praise and communion with angels” as the main themes of the community …show more content…
According to Eugene Merrill, the Hodayot’s author accepted “Creation as a direct act of God” that did not need to be questioned or explained. The text shows that because God created the world his rule and authority over it cannot be questioned. It also reveals that God has an established law to which all creation, including its established order and pending events, is subject. Furthermore, creation’s primary function is to bear witness of God’s greatness. Mansoor has observed the progression in describing God that clearly took place between the Old Testament and the Hodayot; whereas the Old Testament primarily referred to God in anthropomorphic terms, the Hodayot speaks specifically of “God’s absolute word, his absolute will.” Included in God’s absolute control of creation is his absolute control of humanity. The text speaks of ordering the destinies and lots of all individuals, both righteous and wicked. Many see this order of destinies as a dualistic theme, stating that God created some with evil dispositions and others with good. This naturally results in the author, as one receiving the lot of righteousness and the spirit of God, expressing praise and thanksgiving to God for his place in creation. According to David Flusser, the Hodayot contrasts the flesh and the spirit very similarly to the New Testament where the Holy Spirit that God gives to his elect enables them to overcome the flesh
Scroll”
Jane Doe
BOTB: 685A The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Apocrypha
April 20, 2012
Introduction
When the first set of Dead Sea Scrolls was discovered in 1947, the collection contained several never before seen non-biblical scrolls. Among these unknown scrolls, was the scroll given the Hebrew name Hodayot or the Thanksgiving Hymns. The scroll received this name based on the presence of the phrases “I thank the, Lord” and “Blessed art thou,” which preceded the “psalm-like compositions.” Cave 1 contained one large and rather well persevered version and one smaller poorly preserved version of the scroll. Cave …show more content…
While thanksgiving is a key component in all the hymns, Puech identifies two major areas of theological discussion that inspire thanksgiving to God: “the salvation of the just, and the final doom of the godless.” Menahem Mansoor provides the more detailed themes of God and creation, knowledge, salvation through election, humanity’s frailty and sinfulness, and dualism and predestination.
Others have divided the theological themes by the two categories of the teacher hymns and the community hymns. Esther G. Chazon identifies the teacher hymns’ main themes as persecution, suffering, mockery of enemies, “reliance on divine salvation,” justice, and the destruction of evil; then, she identifies “the human condition, communal affiliation, congregational praise and communion with angels” as the main themes of the community …show more content…
According to Eugene Merrill, the Hodayot’s author accepted “Creation as a direct act of God” that did not need to be questioned or explained. The text shows that because God created the world his rule and authority over it cannot be questioned. It also reveals that God has an established law to which all creation, including its established order and pending events, is subject. Furthermore, creation’s primary function is to bear witness of God’s greatness. Mansoor has observed the progression in describing God that clearly took place between the Old Testament and the Hodayot; whereas the Old Testament primarily referred to God in anthropomorphic terms, the Hodayot speaks specifically of “God’s absolute word, his absolute will.” Included in God’s absolute control of creation is his absolute control of humanity. The text speaks of ordering the destinies and lots of all individuals, both righteous and wicked. Many see this order of destinies as a dualistic theme, stating that God created some with evil dispositions and others with good. This naturally results in the author, as one receiving the lot of righteousness and the spirit of God, expressing praise and thanksgiving to God for his place in creation. According to David Flusser, the Hodayot contrasts the flesh and the spirit very similarly to the New Testament where the Holy Spirit that God gives to his elect enables them to overcome the flesh