Priestly Service As The Seasons Change

Qumran, Cave 4, fragment 4Q328

The information below is contained in A New Translation The Dead Sea Scrolls by Wise, Abegg, and Cook, page 405

Synopsis

According to authors Wise, Abegg, and Cook, the first line of scroll fragment 4Q328 lists the priestly families (courses) that start each year of the six year cycles. Lines 2-6 list the family that starts each quarter of the year. 

Note the connection to Jubilees that the year consists of four, 3-month seasons, each which begins with a sort of New Year’s Day.

Fragment 

1[At the beginning of the first year Gamul is serving; in the second is Jedaiah, in the third is Mijamin, in the fourth is Shecaniah, in the fifth is Jeshebe]ab, and in the sixth is Happizzea. These are the heads of the years: 

2[In] the first [year,] Gamul, Eliashi[ib,] Maaziah, 3[and Huppah. In the] second, Jedaiah, bilgah, Se[o]rim, and He[zir.] 4In[in the third, Mija]m[in,] and Jeh[oiarib. In the fifth,] 6[Jeshebeab, Harim, Immer,] and Malchijah. In the si[xth, Happizzez, Hakkoz, Jehezkel, and Jeshua.] — M.G.A.