Genesis Apocryphon

Genesis Apocryphon

▪ apocryphal work
      pseudepigraphal work (not accepted in any canon of scripture), one of the most important works of the Essene community of Jews, part of whose library was discovered in 1947 in caves at Qumrān, near the Dead Sea, in Palestine. The scroll, the last of seven scrolls discovered in Cave I, is also the least well preserved. Examination of the entire scroll showed it to be a collection of apocryphal embellishments on leading figures in Genesis and not, as was first suspected, the long lost “Apocalypse of Lamech.” The contents of the scroll comprise four major sections: the story of Lamech (columns 1–5), the story of Noah (columns 6–15), the table of the Peoples (columns 16–17), and the story of Abraham (columns 18–22).

      The work is a good example of Essene biblical exegesis and shows striking similarities to the pseudepigraphal Book of Jubilees (Jubilees, Book of), which also presents a highly imaginative version of Genesis. Though their calculations differ, the two books show a common interest in the calendar. Because the scroll also contains material related to that found in First Book of Enoch (Enoch, First Book of), the Genesis Apocryphon was possibly the source for both Jubilees and 1 Enoch.

      Written in Palestine in Aramaic, the scroll is the earliest example of a pseudepigraphal work in that language and is important for the study of its linguistic development. It dates from either the 1st century BC or AD. The date of the original text, however, is difficult to determine, since the scroll may be an Aramaic translation of a Hebrew original or an altered edition of an Aramaic original.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Apocryphon — ( secret writing ), plural apocrypha , was a Greek term for a genre of Jewish and Early Christian writings that were meant to impart secret teachings or gnosis (knowledge) that could not be publicly taught. Such private instruction to the… …   Wikipedia

  • Dead Sea Scrolls — Coordinates: 31°44′27″N 35°27′31″E / 31.74083°N 35.45861°E / 31.74083; 35.45861 …   Wikipedia

  • DEAD SEA SCROLLS — DEAD SEA SCROLLS, the popular designation given to collections of manuscript material found in 1947 and the following years in various caves west of the Dead Sea, notably at qumran , Murabbaʿāt , Khirbat Mird, together with en gedi and masada .… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Melchizedek — For other uses, see Melchizedek (disambiguation). Melchizedek Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek by Dieric Bouts the Elder, 1464–67 Priest, King of Salem …   Wikipedia

  • biblical literature — Introduction       four bodies of written works: the Old Testament writings according to the Hebrew canon; intertestamental works, including the Old Testament Apocrypha; the New Testament writings; and the New Testament Apocrypha.       The Old… …   Universalium

  • ANGELS AND ANGELOLOGY — ANGELS AND ANGELOLOGY. The entry is arranged according to the following outline: bible terminology angels as a group the angel of the lord in the hagiographa silence of the prophets ezekiel and zechariah daniel apocrypha among the jewish sects… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • ARAMAIC — ARAMAIC, an ancient northwestern semitic language spoken (to some extent) to this day. The entry is arranged according to the following outline: ancient aramaic and official aramaic sources syria and its neighboring countries iraq and iran egypt… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • ENOCH — (Heb. חֲנוֹךְ). (1) Son of Cain, father of Irad. The world s first city was named after Enoch (Gen. 4:17f.). It has been suggested that the writer is punning on the root ḥnk, to found, initiate. (2) Son of Jared, father of Methuselah, seventh… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Judaism — /jooh dee iz euhm, day , deuh /, n. 1. the monotheistic religion of the Jews, having its ethical, ceremonial, and legal foundation in the precepts of the Old Testament and in the teachings and commentaries of the rabbis as found chiefly in the… …   Universalium

  • SARAH — (Sarai; Heb. שָׂרַי ,שָׂרָה), the first of the four matriarchs; wife of abraham . Sarah is first mentioned in Genesis 11:29. Exceptionally, her genealogy is not given. According to Genesis 20:12, Sarah was Abraham s half sister, the daughter of… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”