The literary structure of 1QM

Abstract

Previous research on the Qumran scrolls, and in particular, IQM, has only recently involved the use of the most stringent literary - and form - critical techniques. These are of great value to Qumran studies; the history of the sect and its ideas can be learnt only when the texts are properly understood. IQM has been recognised by most scholars as a composite work, and XV-XIX has long been regarded as a unit. To this must be added II-IX which also comprises a single document. Both these documents are themselves composite. II-IX is a war-rule written in the Hasmonean period, and drawing on sources which originated in the Maccabean and immediate post Maccabean period. XV-XIX is a dualistic war-rule, which has developed from an earlier non-dualistic rule, of which col. XIV, 2-16a represents a small fragment. Cols. X-XII consist of a collection of liturgical pieces which have been found to reflect a Maccabean context in many cases. Col. XIII represent a fragment of liturgy probably associated with a covenant ceremony. Cols. II-IX, X-XII, XIII, XIV, and XV-XIX were collected and probably copied together; XV, 4-6a seems to refer to two documents which were independent at the time of writing, but have subsequently been incorporated into IQM - these are identified as II-IX and X-XII. XIII and XIV existed as fragments when they were brought together with the rest of the material from cols. II-IX, X-XII and XV-XIX. XV-XIX probably attained its present form in the second half of the first century B.C. In the first half of the first century A.D. a compiler produced from the collected documents a war-rule which included an introduction (col. I) written by the compiler. The final result is the War Scroll, the manuscript of which was written soon after the composition (= IQM). Its purpose is to prepare for the imminent war against the Romans.