“The Harlot of the pleasing appearance”. Approaches to Interpretation of the Hymn 4Q184 from Qumran
https://doi.org/10.28995/2658-4158-2020-1-29-42
Abstract
The article examines the central female image of the 4Q184 Hymn from Qumran. It is tracked out as the archetype of a demonic woman who lives in the Sheol what helps the author of the Hymn to refer to the specific historical events in a metaphorical form using literary allusions to the book of Proverbs. The artcle also developes I.D. Amusin’s approach which focuses on the Hymn in the context of the Qumran commentary on the book of Nahum (4Q169) where Pharisee’s teaching is criticized. It is suggested that the possible prototype of the antagonist in the Hymn was Queen Salome (Shelomzion) Alexandra (76-67 BC) for during her reign the Pharisee teaching became the leading one.
Supporting agencies: Materials for publication were collected thanks to the «Sefer» Center’s program for supporting research in the field of Judaica ( grant of Genesis Philanthropy Group). The author also expresses deep appreciation to Zoia Kopelman, A.I. Shmaina-Velikanova and Svetlana Babkina for their help in preparing the article
About the Author
N. M. Kireeva
Russian State University for the Humanities
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Natalya M. Kireeva, Cand. of Sci. (History), associate professor.
Bld. 6, Miusskaya Sq., MoscowReferences
1. Allegro, J. (1964), “Wiles of the Wicked Woman: A Sapiential Work from Qumran’s Fourth Cave”, Palestine Exploration Quarterly, no. 96, pp. 53-55.
2. Allegro, J.M. (1968), Discoveries in the Judaean Desert (DJD), vol. V, pp. 82-85 (Pl. XXVIII).
3. Amusin, I.D. (1986), “Kumranskii antifariseiskii pamphlet” [Anti-Pharisaic pamphlet from Qumran], Vestnik drevnei istorii, no. 3, pp. 133-140.
4. Aubin, M. (2011), “‘She is the beginning of all the ways of perversity’: Femininity and Metaphor in 4Q184”, Women in Judaism, no. 2, pp. 1-23.
5. Baumgarten, J.M. (1991-1992), “On the Nature of the Seductress in 4Q184”, Revue de Qumran, no. 15, pp. 133-143.
6. Broshi, M. (1983), “Beware of the Wiles of the Wanton Woman”, Biblical Archaeology Review, no. 9, pp. 54-56.
7. Burgmann, H. (1967), “The Wicked Woman: Der Makkabaer Simon?”, Revue de Qumran, no. 8, pp. 323-359.
8. Carmignac, J. (1965), “Poeme allegorique sur la secte rivale”, Revue de Qumran, no. 5, pp. 361-374.
9. Gazov-Ginzberg, A.M. (1967), “Double-Meaning in a Qumran Work: The Wiles of the Wicked Woman”, Revue de Qumran, no. 6, pp. 279-285.
10. Groff, M. (2007), “Discerning Wisdom: The Sapiential Literature of the Dead Sea Scrolls”, Supplements to Vetus Testamentum, vol. 116, Brill, Leiden, pp. 106-111.
11. Hauptman, J. (1991), “Maternal Dissent: Women and Procreation in the Mishna”, Tik-kun, no. 6/6, pp. 80-81, 94-95.
12. Ilan, T. (2001), Integrating Women into Second Temple History, Hendrickson Publishers, pp. 21-23.
13. Ilan, T. (2006), Silencing the Queen: The Literary Histories of Shelamzion and Other Jewish Women, Mohr Siebeck, pp. 73-110.
14. Jones, S.C. (2003), “Wisdom’s Pedagogy: A Comparison of Proverbs VII and 4Q184”, Vetus Testamentum, no. 53, pp. 65-81.
15. Moore, R.D. (1981), “Personification of the Seduction of Evil: ‘The Wiles of the Wicked Woman’ ”, Revue de Qumran, no. 10, pp. 505-519.
16. Strugnell, J. (1970), “Notes en marge du volume V des ‘Discoveries in the Judaean Desert of Jordan”, Revue de Qumran, no. 1, pp. 163-276.
Review
For citations:
Kireeva N.M. “The Harlot of the pleasing appearance”. Approaches to Interpretation of the Hymn 4Q184 from Qumran. Studia Religiosa Rossica: Russian Journal of Religion. 2020;(1):29-42. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.28995/2658-4158-2020-1-29-42
Views:
285
Email this article 