Priests, Commandments, and Cosmic Mysteries in the Qumran Composition Instruction

What is it about?

This paper offers new reconstructions of two passages from an ancient Jewish collection of wisdom sayings known as Instruction, which was found in the caves of Qumran. The reconstructed passages allow for better understanding of the role of priests and ritual law in the composition, and of the relationship between Torah commandments and "raz nihyeh" or "the mystery of all that exists," an obscure term which stands at the heart of the composition's world view. It is suggested that the alignment of Torah with this cosmic mystery reflects broader philosophic discussions concerning the Law of Nature.

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Why is it important?

The paper underscores the importance of cultic law and of the Torah in this composition, as well as its indebtedness to popular Hellenistic ideas, thus highliting aspects of its worldview which are not readily apparent and which have often been underestimated.