
<i>The Figure of Belial in the Dead Sea Scrolls</>
by Lance Allred, May 1995

<0.1>
The Dead Sea Scrolls have proven to be a fantastic challenge to 
scholars since their discovery in 1947. Indeed, the "greatest 
manuscript discovery of modern times" is shrouded in mystery. 
Scholars of Christianity and Judaism in the ancient Near East 
find particular problems in many aspects of the scrolls, from 
authorship to archaeology. The references to certain strange 
characters are also problematic for those studying the texts. 
Such men as the "Teacher of Righteousness", the "Instructor", and 
the "Wicked Priest" are constantly debated by scholars as to who 
they may have been.  Another such character is that of Belial.  
While mentioned over 75 times in the scrolls, little is known 
about this Dead Sea Scrolls figure. One problem in researching  
Belial references in the scrolls is that the texts' treatment of 
him varies from genre to genre. The first section of this paper 
will target this problem, as I will discuss various portrayals of 
Belial in the texts. After this initial analysis, I will compare 
and contrast the different ways in which Belial is depicted in 
the texts. In conclusion, I will offer some of my own comments in 
hopes of providing a better idea of who Belial was to the scroll 
community. 

<1.0>
One genre of text that frequently mentions Belial is in the 
scrolls' eschatological literature. Many of these texts describe 
an "end time" which the Qumran community thought was fast 
approaching. It was during this "end time" that a final battle 
was to be waged between the "sons of light" and the various 
enemies of Israel. [[or perhaps, and their various enemies.]]
In all the texts where such a war is described, Belial is listed 
as the leader of these enemies, often called the "sons of 
darkness." 

<1.1>
This is best seen in 1QM, the War Scroll, and the fragments 
associated with it. In all, they include 21 references to Belial. 
In the initial nine columns of text, the war is described. The 
participants in the this war are given in 1.1-2\1/: 

  For the Instructor: The Rule of the War. The first
  attack by the sons of light will be launched against
  the lot of the sons of darkness, against the army of
  Belial, against the company of Edom and of Moab and 
  the sons of Ammon and the company of [broken text] and
  of Philistia, and against the companies of the Kittim of 
  Ashur.

-----
\1/ All translations in this paper come from Martinez <t>The Dead 
Sea Scrolls Translated</> (Brill, 1994). For citing purposes, 
columns are marked by Arabic numbers followed by period (full 
stop) and then line number(s), as here. 

=====

<1.2>
In column ten begins the first of four songs of praise to God. 
Throughout these songs, Belial is mentioned as either being 
defeated by God or in the form of a curse on Belial. An example 
of this is found in 13.4-5. 

<1.3>
4QFlorilegium, another eschatological text, makes similar mention 
of Belial. According to the text, God "shall obtain for you 
[Israel] rest from all your enemies..rest from all the sons of 
Belial" [1.7ff.]. Several other fragments of 4QFlorilegium make 
mention of Belial, however, none is so complete as to understand 
fully the context of the reference. 

<1.4>
11QMelchizedek continues the eschatological theme of an "end 
time," and in doing so, refers to Belial several times. 
Interestingly, it is Melchizedek who, acting as an agent of God, 
defeats the spirits of Belial's lot [2.12, 13, 25ff.]. Belial is 
named twice more in 3.7 and 8, but the text is too poorly 
preserved to read much more than his name. 

<1.5>
Belial's name is also frequently mentioned in those texts 
categorized as "rules", the two largest of which are the Rule of 
the Community (1QS), and the Damascus Document. 1QS is, as the 
name implies, a series of rules laid out in order for the 
community to "seek God with all one's heart and all one's soul" 
[1.1]. Belial is mentioned seven times in the Rule of the 
Community fragments, with two being particularly interesting. The 
two passages refer to the children of Israel as sinning during 
"the dominion of Belial" [1.18, 24]. A later passage makes a 
reference to "all the days of Belial's dominion" [2.18]. 

<1.6>
Belial is named eleven times in the Damascus Document fragments. 
The most interesting of these is in CD-A 4.12-18, where "during 
these years Belial will be sent against Israel." During this 
time, the texts says, Belial will tempt the people of Israel with 
fornication and wealth. Other references to Belial in the 
Damascus Document are in the context of Belial's destruction of 
those that break Israel's covenant with God [CD-B 19.13ff., 
4Q267 4.11ff., etc..]. 

<1.7>
The references to Belial in the exegetical literature are limited 
almost exclusively to 4QCatena. But while exegetical works are 
categorized as such because they interpret biblical text and 
rules, 4QCatena's references to Belial tend to be more 
eschatological in nature: "And these are ones about whom it is 
written for the last days [broken text] rules over the lot of the 
light which is in mourning during the reign of Belial, and the 
one who rules over the lot of darkness" [iii 7ff.]. 

<1.8>
4Q171 [Psalms Pesher], another exegetical text, also mentions 
Belial. Like 4QCatena, the reference is in the context of the 
"end days" prophecies: "[Psalms 37:11] And the poor shall inherit 
the land and enjoy peace in plenty. It's interpretation concerns 
the congregation if the poor who will tolerate the period of 
distress and will be rescued from all the snares of Belial" 
[2.9ff.]. 

<1.9>
Poetic texts from Qumran contain numerous references to Belial. 
1QH [Hodayot], in a lengthy hymn of praise to God, describes a 
great calamity caused by "the torrents of Belial" [11.29ff.]. 
Later in the text, the author thanks God "because [he] did not 
desert the orphan..." when "they plot[ed] evil in their heart, 
the men of Belial" [13.20, 26]. 

<1.10>
Some works of poetry speak directly against Belial. 11Q11 
[Apocryphal Psalms] is clearly an exorcism hymn, "concerning the 
words of the spell in the name of YHWH...to set him free from 
every affliction...there are the devils and the prince of enmity 
is Belial who rules the abyss of darkness" [1.2ff.]. 

<1.11>
In the works classified as para-biblical, Belial is mentioned 
three times. Two of the references are similar to the texts shown 
above as they again describe the "end times." 4Q390 [Pseudo-Moses 
Apocalypse] prophesies "then will come the dominion of Belial 
upon them" [1.3ff.]. 4Q386 [Pseudo Ezikiel] similarly claims that 
"a son of Belial will plot to oppress my people" [2.3]. The 
third Belial reference in the para-biblical texts, from 4Q379 
[Psalms of Joshua], curses the agents of Belial, saying: "the man 
of Belial who rises to be a bird-trap for his people" [2.3]. 

<1.12>
A final passage worthy of noting comes from the famous (or 
infamous?) halakhic text called 4QMMT. In fragment 4Q398, the 
text reads: "Reflect on all these matters and seek from him so 
that he may support your counsel and keep far from you the evil 
scheming and the counsel of Belial, so that at the end of time, 
you may rejoice" [2.4ff.]. 

<2.0>
Having discussed the scroll categories which include references 
to Belial, I think it is important now to examine briefly those 
genres and representatives which make little or no mention of 
him. One category with little mention of Belial is the para-
biblical literature. Aside from the works discussed above in 
1.11, no text gives him mention. This is surprising considering 
the vast size and diversity of such works. 

<2.1>
Those texts classified as liturgical make but one reference to 
Belial: a single curse found in 4Q287 2.6. Similarly, outside 
the already mentioned 4QMMT, halakhic texts are void of Belial 
references. Astronomical, calendar and horoscope texts make no 
mention of Belial, either. 

<3.0>
At first glance, one can find no logic behind Belial references 
and scroll genre or classification. However, this is not the 
case. To understand this fully, a closer examination of Belial 
passages is in order. In the Dead Sea Scroll texts studied above, 
there seem to be three distinct categories to which a Belial 
reference can be assigned. The first and most common is that 
which includes Belial in an eschatological context. 1QM 1.1 and 
following is a perfect example. However, as we have seen, "end 
time" passages in the scrolls are not limited to and specifically 
eschatological texts. Indeed, both 1QS and the Damascus Document, 
the major "rule" texts, have eschatological passages with Belial 
as an adversary. Similarly, exegetical and para-biblical texts 
also mention Belial in an eschatological setting. 

<3.1>
The second category of Belial passages are those texts that curse 
Belial. 4Q268, a liturgical text, provides and excellent example: 
"And cursed be the wicked...and damn be all the sons of 
Belial...forever. Amen. Amen" [2.5ff.]. Like the eschatological 
references, Belial cursings are not limited to any one genre. 
1QM, the principle eschatological text, contains several curses 
directed towards Belial [13.4, 11]. 1QS, the Rule of the 
Community, curses "all the men of the lot of Belial" [2.5]. 
Exegetic and poetic texts have similar passages. 

<3.2>
The last category is simply a miscellaneous group, either of 
fragments too small to ascertain the context of the passage, or 
of other references to Belial that do not fit into the two main 
groups. An example of this kind can be seen in the Damascus 
Document 12.2: "every man over whom the spirit of Belial 
dominates." Another example can be found in 1QS, where the author 
states that "I [the author] shall not retain Belial in my heart" 
[10.21]. 

<3.3>
With the primary focus of Belial in the scrolls as either 
eschatological prophecy or curses, it seems clear why Belial is 
mentioned in some scroll genres and ignored in others. Why, in a 
text describing astronomical observation, would an "end time" 
prophecy ever need to be included? Similarly, except for an 
occasional text, most para-biblical scrolls concern matters other 
than blessings or curses. Even some eschatological texts have no 
need to include Belial. 2Q24, the Description of the New 
Jerusalem, while clearly foretelling an event of the future, is 
not concerned with the final war [[or perhaps, confrontation?]] 
and thus, is not concerned with Belial and his armies 
[[forces?]]. 

<4.0>
Some interesting conclusions can thus be drawn from these 
observations. Clearly, to these people, Belial is a timeless 
adversary. In many of the passages where he appears, Belial is 
cursed for having done past deeds of evil. The War Scroll asks 
that "he be damned for his wicked rule" [12.4], as though he had 
once ruled wickedly. 1QS curses him for his "wicked deeds" [2.4], 
seemingly done long ago. In the end, though, the members of the 
community aren't strong enough to destroy Belial. Instead, their 
prophecies of the "end times" have God and his agents end 
Belial's reign. 

<4.1>
In addition, the texts indicate that to the community, Belial was 
not simply an adversary to be defeated, but rather, a 
supernatural force opposite from and nearly equal to God. The 
concept of Belial being a supernatural being is almost without 
question. In numerous eschatological texts, Belial is described 
as having "angels of destruction" [1QM 13.10ff.] as well as 
being in command of spirits. 

<4.2>
The notion that Belial was/is a being that was/is the opposite of 
God is slightly more subtle. Notice, however, that while God is 
blessed, Belial is cursed. God leads the sons of light, while 
Belial leads the sons of darkness. Even their names can be 
interpreted as being opposite each other. [ <b>A Hebrew and 
English Lexicon of the Old Testament</> by E Robinson gives some 
possible definitions for the Hebrew B-L-Y-{ayin}-L as 
"worthlessness" or "ruin" or "destruction". If Y-H-V-H stems from 
the Hebrew verb H-Y-H "to be" or "to exist", the name YHVH could 
be an early corruption of a statement YHYH "he is", an opposite 
of something that has been destroyed {BLY(Ayin)L} and is thus no 
longer existing. For further reading on the meaning of YHVH, see 
<b>The JPS Torah Commentary: Exodus</> by N. M. Sarna.]. 

<4.3>
In conclusion, the figure of Belial in the Dead Seas Scrolls is 
still a great enigma. In fact, this paper probably created more 
questions than answers. However, some mysteries have been solved. 
First, references to Belial in the scrolls were shown to fall 
into one of several categories, the largest of which are 
eschatological texts. In addition, many passages cursed Belial 
for actions that were [[seem to be represented as having been -- 
the texts could also be read as looking to the future in a 
timeless knowledge]] done some time in the past. I have 
demonstrated how the authors of the scrolls saw Belial, and how 
they saw his demise. It is my hope that this preliminary work 
will help others in their studies of this figure in the Dead Sea 
Scrolls. 

[[An additional note, or perhaps a second appendix, would be 
valuable in which a list of other known references to "Belial" or 
"Beliar" in presumably Jewish literature is provided -- Gaster's 
Index has a note to this effect that could be verified and 
presented. Similarly, it would be interesting to know what other 
names are used for similarly functioning figures in the scrolls 
-- again, Gaster gives some, and I've gathered some others, but 
rather haphazardly. Still, any such leads would be valuable.]] 


APPENDIX: BELIAL REFERENCES IN THE SCROLLS

The following is a (hopefully) complete list of every reference 
to Belial in the GM translation of the scrolls. They are 
cataloged by column and line location in each individual text or 
fragment. 

1QS 
  1.24 
  1.28
  2.5
  2.18
 10.21

4Q256
  1.3
4Q260
  5.2

Damascus Document CD-A
  4.13
  4.14
 12.2

Damascus Document CD-B
 19.14

4Q267
  2.14
  4.13

4Q268
  1.18

4Q269
  1.2

6Q15
  1.1

5Q13
  1.2

4Q398
  2.5

1QM
  1.1
  1.5
  1.13
  1.15
  4.2
 11.8
 13.2
 13.4
 13.11
 14.9
 16.11
 18.1
 18.3

4Q491
  1.6

4Q491
  2.8

4Q491
  2.18

4Q496
  1.3
  1.5 (x2)
  1.7
  5.6

4Q174
  1.8 (x2)
  1.9
  2.2
  ?.3

4Q175
  ?.23

11Q13
  2.12
  2.13
  2.22
  2.25
  3.7(x2)

4Q171
  2.11

4Q177
  3.8
  3.10
  4.9(x2)
  4.11
  4.12
  4.14
  4.16
  5.5
  5.10

4Q253
  ?.5

4Q390
  1.4

4Q378
  2.9

4Q385
  2.3

4Q88
 10.10

1QH
 11.28
 11.29
 11.32
 12.12
 12.13
 13.26
 13.39
 15.3

4Q429
  3.8

11Q11
  1.6
  5.3

4Q287
  2.6