RelSt 225 DSS Class Minutes #11 (10 Oct 1996)
by Tamar Lasson 

I.  Article distributed:  "Has Every Book of the Bible Been Found Among 
      the DSS?"  by Sidnie White Crawford (BIBLE REVIEW Oct '96)

II. Discussion on Orion List about Nahum Pesher (4QpNah)
	A.  Historical Background
		--discussion about Aristobulus II and Hyrcanus II  (Hasmonean 
		  kings in 1st century BCE) as to whether they're alluded 
		  to in the Pesher
		--Turmoil in Middle East/Transitional Period/Roman rule
		--Caesar dies in 44 BCE
		--Octavian Augustus rules from at least 31 BCE -14 CE
		--Rome assumes control over Egypt in 25 BCE  
	B.  Attempt to define term "Kittim"
		--identified with Romans
		--earlier scrolls might associate "Kittim" with Greeks
		--biblical references relating "Kittim" to a foreign, 
                  Western people 

III. Nahum Commentary Text (4QpNah = 4Q169)
	A.  Author sees Nahum as an authoritative work
	B.  "Pesher" (interpretation) reflects situation of the
            commentators own community and times
	C.  Sample passages [as time ran out]
		--"those looking for easy interpretations" ("those 
		  looking to smooth things over") = Pharisees?

We experiment in interpretation of the text based on what we think we know
about the history of the period (e.g. from Josephus); we attempt as
objectively as possible to reconstruct a picture of the relationships of
the different "known" sects of Judaism in the Second Temple period, and if
things don't seem to fit, we struggle to create new hypotheses to
accommodate the available information.

/end/