Coming April 15, 2025, but now available for pre-order! www.mqup.ca/authentic-pa... @mcgillqueensup.bsky.social

This week I’m learning so much at the NoChange training school on spectral imaging and advanced digitization of cultural heritage objects at #NTNU in Gjøvik, Norway. #manuscripts #imaging

Another important database has been developed by my colleagues @arsteinjustnes.bsky.social, Ludvik A. Kjeldsberg, and Hilda Deborah. The Post-2002 Dead Sea Scrolls-like fragments database: lyingpendatabases.streamlit.app/Post2002

Here is the list of the Dead Sea Scrolls dated to the Early Hellenistic by the editors. You can make customizable lists like this, compare scribal and material features of the scrolls, and get information about individual scrolls through our new database: lyingpendatabases.streamlit.app/DSSscribal

The last ms dated to the Early Hellenistic Period in DJD is 6Q2 (6QPaleoLeviticus), a single fragment with text from Lv. 8:12–13. It is also written in the paleo-Hebrew script. There is a nice big lower margin visible, but other than that we know very little about this mansucript.

If you want to hear about all the ways the names of wives of the patriarchs (nameless in Genesis, named in Jubilees) get received in new contexts, join us in the Pseudepigrapha section this afternoon from 4-6:30 in CC33B

Wondering where I get the data for my posts on the Dead Sea Scrolls? Come to the #Qumran session this morning (9-11:30 CC2) at #AARSBL24 and hear about my work on a Dead Sea Scrolls Physical and Scribal Features Database

The 8th ms from Qumran dated to the Early Hellenistic Period is 6Q1 (6QPaleoGenesis). Also written in the Paleo-Hebrew script, the remains of this scroll are a single composite fragment with text from Gen. 6, making it the oldest ms with text from the Hebrew flood story (as far as I know anyway)

The 7th ms from Qumran dated to the Early Hellenistic Period is 5Q1 (5QDeuteronomy a). It contains text from Dt. 7–9 and Milik in DJD 3 says the text is "closer to the Samaritan Pent." He dates the scroll to the early 2nd century BCE, but pre-Hasomean, later than 4Q52 but earlier than 4Q70.

Overheard at #aarsbl24 “You OWN a couple of megillot!? Of course you do…”

The 6th ms from Qumran dated to the Early Hellenistic Period is 4Q208 (Enoch, Astronomical Book a). Aramaic text, exclusively from the synchronistic calendar that is related to 1 En. 72-75. It is the only MS on my list of early scrolls that is in Aramaic and the only one not in the Hebrew Bible.

The fifth ms from Qumran dated to the Early Hellenistic Period in DJD is 4Q101 (4QPaleoJob c). It is written in the paleo-Hebrew script, DJD 9 dates it to 225-150 BCE. The paleo-Hebrew script was only used for mss from the Torah and Job (because Moses?). 3 fragments remain with text from Job 13-14

The fourth scroll dated to the Early Hellenistic period in DJD is 4Q70 (4QJeremiah a). Dated variously to the late 3rd or early 2nd century BCE, this ms contains text from the first half of Jeremiah and good evidence of scribal corrections

The third manuscript dated to the Early Hellenistic Period in DJD is 4Q52 (4QSamuel b), which is also dated to c. 250 BCE or possibly slightly later in DJD 17. 23 fragments remain of this scroll, containing text from 1 Samuel 12–23.

The second Early Hellenistic manuscript in my list is 4Q46 (4QPaleoDeuteronomy S). Also dated to the mid-second century BCE, only a single fragment remains of this ms. It is written in the paleo-Hebrew script and has some words from Dt. 26:14-15.

As far as I can tell, only 9 manuscripts from Qumran have been dated to the Early Hellenistic Period (pre-Hasmonean). Leading up to #SBLAAR24 I'll let you know what these are

Riddle 20: Who does not stand, does not walk, and does not sit?

Riddle 19: 3 went before the judge and 4 left justified.

Riddle 18: Who/what praised the Lord, but did not praise on the Earth and not in heaven?

Riddle 17: A father of wood and a mother of stone bore a son who was not of the father’s blood, and not of the mother’s.

16: What was a pot of flesh, meat of silver, and a fork of linen?

Who/What died three times, lived three times but was not resurrected?

Riddle 14: She was fertile, conceived, grew, and gave birth. And the child that she gave birth to killed her killer and saved the people.

Riddle 13: Who swore and did not break his oath, but if he had broken his oath would not have sinned, but in breaking his oath, committed a great sin?

Riddle 12: When it was alive it did not eat, and after it died, it ate. But when it ate, it did not digest.

Riddle 11: There were three witnesses that did not have souls, did not have hearts, but witnessed in truth and they were accepted.

Riddle 10: Who was the mother of two and the wife of two, and there was one father for all four of them?

Riddle 9: Everyone has tasted it except for two. #Syriac #Riddles #AdventCalendar #Bible

Riddle 8: What was said by God that didn’t happen - but Satan said and it did?

Riddle 7: Who/what is this riddle? Flesh in the wool, and the wool in the flesh, and flesh in the water?

Riddle 6: Who used to eat straw and drink water but after his death ate flesh and drank blood?

Day 4: A locked house. A plundered treasure. An unborn man weds takes a virgin wife.

Riddle #3: Two appeared before the judge, yet three left condemned.

Who/what died three times and lived three times but was never resurrection?

Day 2: Who/what did not walk while living, but walked after death; but not on Earth or in Heaven?

Who was not born but died? And who was born but never died? And who died but didn't rot? (BL Add 12,154 and at least 8 other mss)

25 Syriac Biblical Riddles for Advent. 1 per day - riddles posted AM (Oslo time), Solutions posted PM (Oslo time). Test your knowledge in the comments!