Dead Sea Scrolls: Dead Sea Scrolls: MIQSAT MA'ASEY HATORAH (ABD) 5/19/09 9:56 AM

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MIQS¸AT MA{ASE HATORAH (4QMMT) [IV, 843–45] . A sectarian polemical

document, six incomplete manuscripts of which (4Q394–99) were discovered in Qumran
cave 4. Taken together, they provide a composite text of about 120 lines. The preserved text,
which apparently covers about two-thirds of the original scroll, derives from the middle and
the end of the document. The beginning is completely lost.
The document is in the form of a letter (having a sender and an addressee) and is
unique in language, style, and contents. The title miqs!at ma{ase® hattora®, meaning “some of the
precepts of the Torah,” has been taken from the concluding passage, reading: “we are
sending you some of the precepts of the Torah.”

A. Contents, Structure, and Historical Setting

It appears that MMT consisted originally of four sections: (1) an opening formula,
now completely lost; (2) a calendar of the sect (with a 364-day year); (3) a list of more than 20
halakhot ( = precepts), all of which are peculiar to this group; and (4) an epilogue which
discusses the separation of the group from normative Pharisaic Judaism and attempts to
persuade the addressee to adopt their halakhic views. The halakhot represent the heart of the
letter, with the other sections as their framework (the calendar, although a separate section,
belongs to the halakhic domain). Most of these halakhot concern the Temple, dealing with its
purity, sacrifices, and festivals. The author states that disagreement over these halakhot is
what caused the sect to secede (Heb paœras¥) from the rest of the people (the verb paras¥ relates
to the same root as the name of the Pharisees).
There are three parties in MMT, referred to as we, you (sometimes singular,
sometimes plural), and they. Who were these parties? Clearly the we-party is the author, who
generally uses the expression “we maintain” (Heb }nh!nw hws¥bym) expressing the sect’s
halakhic views. The you-party is the addressee; the prevailing second person expression in
this case is “and you know.” The addressee may be the leader of Israel, being compared to
David and addressed as follows: “for the welfare of you and your people,” and “for the
welfare of you and Israel.” The they-party is a group about whom it is said that “they do
such-and-such,” where the reference in each case is to some specific halakhic practice. A
study of the halakhic views of this group shows that they should be identified with the
Pharisees.
It appears that MMT, which discusses the invalidity of the halakhot of the they-party
(i.e., the Pharisees), was written by the Teacher of Righteousness and addressed to the
Wicked Priest and his colleagues. This is inferred both from the contents of MMT and from
Pesher Psalms 37 (= 4Q171 3–10 iv 7–9) which states that the Wicked Priest tried to kill the
Teacher of Righteousness “because of the precepts and the law which he [ = the teacher] had
sent him.” (Note the similar passage from MMT quoted above.) Assuming that the Wicked
Priest is Jonathan the Prince, MMT was composed at about 150 B.C. It stands to reason that
the schism mentioned in MMT occurred a short time before the composition of the
document. The paleography may also imply such an early date, as does the contrast of MMT
with the prohibition of disputes with opponents found in 1QS 9:16–17.

B. The Halakhot
The halakhot of MMT concern the Temple cult, and most are related to biblical laws as Page 1 of 2
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understood by the sect. The following halakhot are extant (in the order of their appearance in
the text):
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