RelSt 225, DSS Class Minutes #5 (September 19, 1996)
by Michael Singer, with David Hiltzik

Assignments: Continue to read the "Sectarian" materials; also read Josephus 
and Philo on Essenes in Vanderkam

In tandem with the most recent discussions on the ORION list, the subject 
of the calendar in the DSS was raised. Some of the writings show that 
they followed a strictly solar calendar of 364 days, divided into 12 
months of 30 days each, with 4 days left over, one for each of the 4 
seasons (thus 30 + 30 + 30 + 1 = 91 times 4 = 364), and exactly 52 weeks.
This is a symmetrical and predictable calendar in which annual holidays 
will always fall on the same day of the week (usually Wednesday) from 
year to year. 
-some scrolls contain polemics against the lunar-based calendar of the 
 accepted Jewish tradition (consists of 354 days, adjusted to the solar 
 cycle every 3 years). 
-some of the newer finds show that some scroll fragments recorded 
 equivalences between a solar and a luni-solar calendar.
-it is not clear how the DSS solar calendar of 364 days was adjusted to 
 the actual solar cycle of 365.25 days. Some relation to the "Jubilee" 
 year cycle (every 49th or 50th year) is possible.

For definitional clarity, a distinction is made between "ancient Israel"
which produced most of the Tanach (Jewish Bible) and "Judaism" which 
resulted from the "Babylonian captivity" (about 586 - 516 bce) and the 
restoration activities associated with Ezra and Nehemiah.
-Judaism retained many traditional elements of the religion of ancient 
 Israel, filtered through the southern kingdom of Judah, such as the 
 centrality of Jerusalem and its Temple (and the Temple priestly system) 
 -- the 1st (or Solomonic) Temple from about 960- 586 BCE, and
    the 2nd from about 516 BCE- 70 CE.
-When the Temple is destroyed there is a fall of the priestly hierarchy 
 and the complimentary cult surrounding it. The priestly authority is 
 replaced with Rabbis and the local synagogues as the focal point of  
 post-70 Judaism.
-the cultic practices (such as sacrifices) are now seen to be represented  
 symbolically in other actions (such as prayer, philanthropy, etc.)

With the destruction of the 1st Temple (586 BCE) the Jews are exiled to 
the Babylonian area in the Persian Gulf. After approx. 2 generations the 
Jews are given permission by the new Persian government to return to 
Jerusalem and to rebuild the Temple around 520 BCE.
-the people are led by people such as Ezra and Nehemiah in their 
 return to Palestine. This period is often called Early Judaism, 
 which preceeded Rabbinic ("classical") Judaism.  
There were surely events in the time between the 1st and 2nd temples that 
would have caused dissension among various Jewish groups -- such 
dissension is surely reflected in the DSS.

Masada - overtaken by the Romans in 73 CE. Who were these people?
-Some think that they were radical Jewish "Zealots" and/or "Sicarii." 
 Sicarii were a terrorist group fighting against the Roman occupation.
-Possibly there was some connection between DSS and Masada since some of the 
 same "unusual" documents were found in both places.

The DSS may reflect a rift in Judaism between the leadership in Jerusalem
and the Dead Sea people who also considered themselves the "sons of
Zadok." They thought that the Temple authorities (often Sadducees) had
gone off the proper path and they (DSS people) were on the true, proper 
path. 

2nd century BCE included conflicts in Judaism with "hellenizers," 
who wanted to make adjustments in the direction of Greek culture. 
-this included many in the elite priesthood.
-others (including some in the same group) were against this hellenization. 
 ->Seleucid king Antiochus 4th (Epiphanes) tired of negotiating with 
   Jerusalem and imposed some anti-traditional edicts on them.
-this incites a rebellion by the "Hasidim" who eventually have problems 
 due to their refusal to fight at all on the Sabbath.
-Hasmoneans/Maccabeans also start a successful rebellion against such 
 provocations as: prohibition of Sabbath and circumcision, forced 
 sacrifice of pigs in the Temple.

The DSS show anger about what was occuring (and had occurred) in
Jerusalem.  The DSS people were apparently dissidents who once had some
connection to the priesthood -- or at least a high respect for it. 
Apparently they felt they needed to separate themselves from the 
perceived corruption in order to maintain true religion. 

/end/