Priestly Service Sabbath Entrance

Qumran, Cave 4, fragments 4Q322-324a

The information below is contained in A New Translation The Dead Sea Scrolls by Wise, Abegg, and Cook, pages 398 and 399

Overview

Initially, these fragments were believed to be components of an annalistic calendar that recorded historical events according to the 364-day calendar, in alignment with the priestly rotation. If the current arrangement is accurate, these four manuscripts focus exclusively on determining the dates for the commencement of the 24 priestly courses as they began their week of Temple service on the Sabbath..

Fragment 4Q322

1[…of the eigh]th; on the nint[h of the eighth month is the entrance] 2[of the course of Shecaniah.] On […in] the course of Shecaniah, which is 2aon the second day in the course of Jakim (?) 3[On the twenty-thi]rd of the month is the entrance of the course of Jakim, and on the fo[urth day of Jakim …] 3a…] second [da]y of the course of Huppa, which is [the second day of the ninth month …]

This fragment refers to the eighth and the beginning of the ninth months of year two in the six-year cycle of the courses 

Fragment 4Q323

1[…the fou]rth [day] of Hez[i]r is the [fi]rst day of the t[enth month …] 2[on the fourth of the month is the entrance of the course of Pi]zzez. On the ele[v]enth of the month is [the entrance of the priestly course of Pethahiah.] 3[On the eighteenth of the month is the entran]ce of the course of Jehezkel. On the twent[y-fifth of the month is the entrance] 4[of the course of Jachin …] 5[…On the second of the eleventh month] is the entrance of [the course of Gamul …]

This fragment presents portions concerning the tenth and eleventh months of year two in the cyle of courses.

Fragment 4Q324 Frag. 1

1[the entrance of Shecaniah. On the twenty-third of the fifth month is the entrance of the course of Eliashib. On the thirtieth of the fifthe month] 2[is the entrance of the course of Jakim. The first day of Jakim is the fir]st day of the si[xth month. On the seventh of the sixth month is the entrance of the course of Huppah.] 3[… On the four]teenth of the fifth monthis [the entrance of the course of Jeshebeab:] a covenant (?). Onthe tw[enty-] 4[first of the fifth month is the entrance of the course of Bilga]h. On the twenty-[eighth of the fifth mo]nth is the entrance of the course of Imm[er.] 5[The fourth day of the course of Immer is the fir]st dayof the seventh month. On the fo[u]rth of the seventh month is the entrance of the course of H[ezir.] 6[The sixth day of] the course of Hezir, which is the tenth day of the seventh month, is the Day 7[of Atonement, it is] as a covenant (?). On the eleventh of the seventh month is the entrance of [the course of Pizzez…]

The cycle of priestly courses in the fifth through seventh months of the fifth year. The reference to covenants in ll. 3 and 7 remains unexplained.

Fragment 4Q324a Frag. 1 Col. 2

1 day […] On the fou[rteenth of the ninth month is the entrance of the course of Ha]r[im. On the] twe[nty-first day] 2 [of the mon]th is the entrance of the course of S[eor]im. On the twenty-eighth of the month is the entrance of the course of Malchi[jah.] 3The fourth day [of] Malchijah is the first day of the tenth month.

4On the fourth day of the tenth month is the entrance of the course of Mija[m]in. On the eleventh of the month is the entrance of the course of K[oz.] — M.O.W.

The cycle of the middle of the ninth to the middle of the tenth month of the fifth year.