The Phases of the Moon

Qumran, Cave 4, fragment 4Q317

The information below is contained in A New Translation The Dead Sea Scrolls  by Micheal Wise, Martin Abegg Jr., and Edward Cook, pages 385-386

Synopsis

“Phases of the Moon” stands out among the Dead Sea calendrical texts because it focuses exclusively on the moon and its phases. The author does not reference priestly divisions, festival days, or Sabbaths; instead, he meticulously charts the lunar phases in a seemingly monotonous rhythm, aligning them with the solar calendar day after day. The method he employs to describe the moon may seem unusual to the reader, but it is less about peculiarity and more about theology—definitely ‘biblical’ from the perspective of its supporters.The most extensive remaining section of “Phases,” fragment 1, outlines days 4-25 of a specific month. However, the exact month—and indeed, the year within the six-year cycle—remains uncertain and subject to debate. The resolution of these questions hinges on the interpretation of the Hebrew term ‘duq.’

Fragment 1 Col. 2

1[On the fourth of the month, eleve]n parts [are obscured. And thus the moon enters the day.] 2[On the f]ifth of the month, [tw]elve [parts are obscured.] 3And thus [the moon enters the day. On the sixth of the month.] 4thir[teen] parts are obscured. [And thus the moon enters the day.] 5On the seventh of the month, [fourteen parts] are obscur[ed. And thus] 6the moonenters the day. […]

7On the eighth of the month, the moon [rules all the day in the midst] of the sky [, fourteen and one-half (?) parts being obscured. And when the sun sets,] its light [ceases] 9to be obscured, [and thus the moon begins to be revealed] 10on the first day of the week.

[On the ninth of the month,] 11 on[e] part [is revealed. And thus the moon enters the night.]

12On the tenth of the month, [two parts] are r[evealed. And thus the moon enters] 13the night.

On the ele[venth of the month, three parts are revealed.] 14And thus the moon enters the night […]

15On the twelfth of the month, [four parts] are reve[aled. And thus] 16the moon enters the night.

On the t[hirteenth of the month,] 17five parts are revealed. And thus the moon enters the night.]

18On the {thirteenth} <fourteenth> of the month, [six parts] are reveal[ed. And thus the moon enters the night.]

19[On the fi]fteenth [of the month, seven parts are revealed. And thus the moon enters] 20the night.

On the s[ixteenth of the month,] eight [parts are revealed.] 21And thus [the moon enters the night.]

22[On the s]ev[en]teenth [of the month, nine parts are revealed. And thus the moon enters the night.] 23[On the eighteenth of the month, ten parts are revealed. And thus the moon enters the night.] 23[On the eighteenth of the month, ten parts are revealed. And thus the moon enters the night.] 24On the {eighteenth} <ni[n]ete[enth> of the month, eleven parts are revealed. And thus the moon enters the night.] 25On the {nineteenth} <twentieth> [of the month, twelve parts are revealed. And thus the moon enters the night.] 26On the {twentieth} <twenty-first> of the month, [thirteen parts are revealed. And thus the moon enters the night.} 27On the {twenty-first} <twenty-second> [of the month, the moon rules all the night in the midst of the sky,] 28fourt[een and one-half (?) parts being revealed.] And when [the sun] sets, [its light ceases to be revealed,] 29and thus the moon begins to be [obscured on the first day of the week (the twenty-second of the month).]

30On the {twe[nty-seco]nd} <tw[enty]-third> [of the month, one part is obscured. And thus] 31the moon [en]ters the day. […]

32On the {twenty-third} <twenty-fourth> [of the month, two parts are obscured. And thus the moon enters the day.] 33On the twenty-fifth [of the month, three parts are obscured. And thus the moon enters the day.] — M.G.A.