Early Judaism- A Comprehensive Overview

with the New Testament evidence. Criteria of varying strengths for canon

or scriptural status would be: (a) a title of the canon or its parts, or a list of

its books; (b) formulas that introduce explicit quotations of Scripture;

(c) books explicitly quoted as Scripture; (d) multiple copies of a book;

(e) books on which commentaries were written; and (f ) books that were

translated into the vernacular languages.

Unfortunately, the Dead Sea Scrolls provide no conclusive evidence

for determining the exact contents of the collection that the covenanters

considered the authoritative books of Scripture or whether they even dis-

cussed the question. But that they regarded the Law and the Prophets as di-

vinely revealed Scripture is clear from statements such as “[God] com-

manded through Moses and all his servants the prophets” (1QS 1:1-3), “As

you said through Moses” (1QM 10:6), and “As God said through Isaiah the

prophet” (CD 4:13). Thus, there is (a) no clear evidence for a canon of

Scripture, but (b) certitude regarding the Law and the Prophets as Scrip-

ture. (c) Isaiah and the Minor Prophets are quoted nine times each, the

Pentateuchal books (except for Genesis) and Ezekiel one to five times each;

the only others are Psalms and Daniel at two times each, and one each for

Jeremiah, Proverbs, andJubilees.The Former Prophets and the remainder

of the Writings are never quoted (except for the prophetic oracle in 2 Sam-

uel 7). (d) There are (including 4QPentateuch) thirty-six copies of Deuter-

onomy and Psalms, twenty-four of Genesis, twenty-two of Exodus,

twenty-one of Isaiah, eighteen of Leviticus, fourteen ofJubilees,twelve (or

twenty?) of1 Enoch,eleven of Numbers, eight of the Minor Prophets and

Daniel, six of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Job, and five of Tobit. The Former

Prophets and the Writings all have four or fewer copies — fewer than the

Community Rule,theDamascus Document,theHodayot,and theWa r

Scroll.(e) Exegetical commentaries treat only the Law and the Prophets

(Isaiah, the Minor Prophets, and Psalms). Finally, (f ) the Qumran texts

show only the Torah (and possibly1 Enoch) translated into Greek, while

Aramaic targums were rare: one for Leviticus and two for Job. The Greek

Minor Prophets scroll from NaFalμever, however, adds valuable evidence.

Since this scroll from the turn of the era is already in revised Greek form, it

indicates that the original Greek translation of the main prophetic books

had also been accomplished at least by the first centuryb.c.e.

Admittedly, the evidence for each criterion is only suggestive; but the

combination is quite persuasive. It is clear that the books of the Torah and

the Prophets (including Psalms and Daniel) were considered Scripture.Ju-

bileesand1 Enochhave a strong claim. Job and possibly Proverbs qualify.

146

eugene ulrich

EERDMANS -- Early Judaism (Collins and Harlow) final text
Tuesday, October 09, 2012 12:03:58 PM