Jewish Apocalyptic Writings:
The "Dead Sea Scrolls"
OF THE JERUSALEM TEMPLE, ZEALOTS & PELLA-BOUND CHRISTIANS

Pesher Nahum
Dead Sea Scroll 4Q169

"Kittim" As Romans

1:1-4

Where the lion went, a lion's cub to come there [with none to disturb] (Nahum 2:11)

[Its pesher refers to Deme]trius king of Greece who sought to enter Jerusalem on the counsel of the seekers-of-smooth-things. [And he did not enter, for God did not give Jerusalem] into the hand of the kings of Greece, from Antiochus until the appearance of the rulers of the Kittim. And afterwards the city shall be trampled …

"Ephraim" As Jerusalem

2:1-2

Woe to the city of blood, all full of [treachery and plunder] (Nahum 3:1)

Its pesher refers to the city of Ephraim, the seekers-of-smooth-things for the Afterwards of Days, who walk in treachery and deceit.

 

WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID

Ronald L. Troxel
"Also similar to what we witnessed in the Pesher on Habakkuk is the mention of the "congregation of traitors" who have strayed from the path under the influence of one who "spread lies."  As in the Pesher, the group affected by the liar is designated as "the last generation," but also as Israel, whom the "scoffer" has led astray.

The description of this group as "seeking easy interpretations" - literally, "they inquired about smooth things" [dareshu bechalaqoth] - is significant, because this language appears frequently in another of the Pesharim, the Pesher on Nahum.  For instance, column 2 of that work contains commentary on Nahum 3.1, which is cited first:  "'Alas, the bloody city, all of it [treachery,] stuffed with loot!'  Its interpretation:  it is the city of Ephraim, those looking for easy interpretations [doreshey hachalaqoth] in the final days, since they walk in treachery and lies." (4Q169 fragments 3-4, 2.1-2)  As in the Damascus Document the wicked are those seeking "smooth things" or "easy interpretations."  Notice, also, that their behavior is also characterized as "walking in treachery and lies."

Just a few lines later, following another condemnation of those "looking for easy interpretations," we find a comment on Nahum 3.4, which is cited first:  "'On account of the many fornications of the prostitute, full of elegance and mistress of enchantment, who misleads nations with her sorceries.  [Its] interpretation concerns those who misdirect Ephraim, who with their fraudulent teaching and lying tongue and perfidious lip misdirect many." (4Q169 fragments 3-4, 2.7-8)  Once again the notion of those who mislead others with lies surfaces." (source: MMT)