Priestly Service: Sabbath, Month, and Festival — Year One

Qumran, Cave 4, fragments 4Q325

The information below is contained in A New Translation The Dead Sea Scrolls by Wise, Abegg, and Cook, pages 403 and 404

Overview

This work documents the Sabbaths, the first days of the months, and the festivals organized by priestly division and following the solar calendar. What remains of the composition consists of a portion of the record for the first year of the six-year cycle. The Festival of Wood Offering mentioned in fragment 2 has been a subject of debate. Wise, Abegg, and Cook note that not all supporters of the solar calendar agreed on the necessity of such a festival. In fact, most calendars discovered in the Qumran caves do not include it. Josephus, writing in his time, indicated that there was no established week for bringing wood; instead, individuals would provide wood to the temple at regular intervals throughout the year.

Fragment 1

1[…the Passover is on the fourteenth of the month on the thi]rd [day.] On the eighteenth of the month is the Sabbath o[f Jehoiarib. Passover ends] 2[on the third day] in the evening. On the twenty-fifth of the month is the Sabbath of Jedaiah, its responsibility [includes] 3the Barley[Festiva]l on the twenty-sixth of the month, on the day after the Sabbath. The beginning of the se[cond month is] 4[on the si]xth [day of the week] of Jedaiah. On the second of the month is the Sabbath of Harim. On the ninth of the month is the Sabbath of 5[Seorim.] On the sixteenth of the month is the Sabbath of Malchijah. On the twenty-third of the [month] 6[is the Sabbath of Mija]min. On the thirtieth of the month is the Sabbath of Hakkoz.

The beginning of the third month 7 the day after the Sabbath […]

Sabbaths, solar months, and festivals of the first year (months one through three). The Barley Festival, mentioned in l.3 is elsewhere called the Waving of the Omer.

Fragment 2

1[The beginning of the fifth month is on the sixth day of the week of Bilgah. On the second of the month is the sabbath of I]mmer. On the th[i]rd of the month 2[is the Wine Festival, the day after the Sabbath of Immer. On the]ninth of the month is the Sabbath of Hezir. 3[On the sixteenth of the month is the Sabbath of Happizzez. On the twent]y-third of the monthis the Sabbath of 4[Pethahiah. On the thirtieth of the month is the Sabbath of Jehezkel. On the seventh of the month is the Sabbath of Jachin. On the fou]rteenth 6[of the month is the Sabbath of Gamul. On the twenty-first of the month is the Sabbath of Delaiah. On the twenty]-second 7[of the month, is the Oil Festival, on the day after the Sabbath of Delaiah. On the following day is the Wo]od [Offering.] — M.G.A

Sabbaths, solar months, and festivals of the first year (months five and six). In addition to the wood offering, two firstfruits festivals — wine and oil — are dated here. Each of them falls seven weeks (fifthy days counted inclusive of the start) after the previous, echoing the pentecostal count to the Feast of Weeks.