4Q38 Deuteronomy^k1

Language: Hebrew

Date: 30 - 1 B.C.

Location: Qumran Cave 4

Contents: Deuteronomy 5:28-32; 11:6-13; 32:17-18, 22-23, 25-27

 

Deuteronomy 5

28 Yahweh heard the voice of your words, when you spoke to me; and Yahweh said to me, “I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They have well said all that they have spoken. 29 Oh that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!

30 “Go tell them, ‘Return to your tents.’ 31 But as for you, stand here by me, and I will tell you all the commandment, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.”

32 You shall observe to do therefore as Yahweh your God has commanded you. You shall not turn away to the right hand or to the left.

[..]

Deuteronomy 11

6 and what he did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben; how the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up, with their households, their tents, and every living thing that followed them, in the middle of all Israel; 7 but your eyes have seen all of Yahweh’s great work which he did for you. 8 Therefore you shall keep all the commandment, the statutes and the judgements which I command you today, that you may be strong and multiply, and go in and possess the land, where you go over the Jordan to possess it; 9 and that you may prolong your days in the land, which Yahweh swore to your fathers to give to them and to their offspring, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10 For the land, where you go in to possess, isn’t like the land of Egypt, that you came out of, where you sowed your seed, and watered it with your foot, as a garden of herbs; 11 but the land, where you go over to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys which drinks water from the rain of the sky, 12 a land which Yahweh your God cares for. Yahweh your God’s eyes are always on it, from the beginning of the year even to the end of the year. 13 It shall happen, if you shall listen diligently to my commandments which I command you today, to love Yahweh your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,

[..]

Deuteronomy 32

17 They sacrificed to demons, not God,

to gods that they didn’t know,

to new gods that came up recently,

which your fathers didn’t dread.

18 Of the Rock who became your father, you are unmindful,

and have forgotten God who gave you birth.

[..]

22 For a fire is kindled in my anger,

that burns to the lowest Sheol,

devours the earth with its increase,

and sets the foundations of the mountains on fire.

 

23 “I will heap evils on them.

I will spend my arrows on them.

[..]

25 Outside the sword will bereave,

and in the rooms, terror;

on both young man and virgin,

the nursing infant with the gray-haired man.

26 I said that I would scatter them afar.

I would make their memory to cease from among men;

27 were it not that I feared the provocation of the enemy,

lest their adversaries should judge wrongly,

lest they should say, ‘Our hand is exalted,

Yahweh has not done all this.’ ”