Demonic Deuteronomy?: The Ending of Deuteronomy and the Sectarian Debate

Jonathan Ben-Dov

doi:10.1163/9789004511705_009

Demonic Deuteronomy? The Ending of Deuteronomy and the Sectarian Debate

Jonathan Ben-Dov

Tel Aviv University, University of Haifa

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

The article discusses the reception of Deuteronomy at the height of the Second Temple period, especially poetic sections in chapters 32 and 33 that depict YHWH and multiplicity in the divine realm. Some of these multiple minor divinities are considered as gods and others as demons. Apocalyptic circles like the Qumran yaḥad endorsed such multiplicity as part of their faith, and hence preferred the biblical variants that promote it. They conceived the end of Deuteronomy as an angelological proof text. In contrast, Sadducean objection to this worldview is expressed in a passage from the Book of Acts. The article thus contextualizes textual criticism in the social history of the Second Temple period.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The Textual History of the Bible from the Dead Sea Scrolls to the Biblical Manuscripts of the Vienna Papyrus Collection
Subtitle of host publication	Proceedings of the Fifteenth International Symposium of the Orion Center for the Study of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Associated Literature, Cosponsored by the University of Vienna Institute for Jewish Studies and the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies
Editors	Ruth A. Clements, Russell Fuller, Armin Lange, Paul D. Mandel
Place of Publication	Leiden, The Netherlands
Publisher	Brill Academic Publishers
Chapter	8
Pages	253-284
Number of pages	32
ISBN (Electronic)	9789004511705
ISBN (Print)	9789004504622
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004511705_009
State	Published - 2023

Publication series

Name	Studies on the Texts of the Desert of Judah
Volume	137

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Cultural Studies
Language and Linguistics
History
Religious studies
Linguistics and Language

RAMBI publications

rambi
Angels in the Bible
Bible -- Deuteronomy -- Appreciation
Bible -- Deuteronomy -- XXXII-XXXIII -- Criticism, interpretation, etc
Dead Sea scrolls -- Criticism, interpretation, etc

Access to Document

10.1163/9789004511705_009

Cite this

Ben-Dov, J. (2023). Demonic Deuteronomy? The Ending of Deuteronomy and the Sectarian Debate. In R. A. Clements, R. Fuller, A. Lange, & P. D. Mandel (Eds.), The Textual History of the Bible from the Dead Sea Scrolls to the Biblical Manuscripts of the Vienna Papyrus Collection: Proceedings of the Fifteenth International Symposium of the Orion Center for the Study of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Associated Literature, Cosponsored by the University of Vienna Institute for Jewish Studies and the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies (pp. 253-284). (Studies on the Texts of the Desert of Judah; Vol. 137). Brill Academic Publishers. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004511705_009

Ben-Dov, Jonathan. / Demonic Deuteronomy? The Ending of Deuteronomy and the Sectarian Debate. The Textual History of the Bible from the Dead Sea Scrolls to the Biblical Manuscripts of the Vienna Papyrus Collection: Proceedings of the Fifteenth International Symposium of the Orion Center for the Study of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Associated Literature, Cosponsored by the University of Vienna Institute for Jewish Studies and the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies. editor / Ruth A. Clements ; Russell Fuller ; Armin Lange ; Paul D. Mandel. Leiden, The Netherlands : Brill Academic Publishers, 2023. pp. 253-284 (Studies on the Texts of the Desert of Judah).

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Ben-Dov, J 2023, Demonic Deuteronomy? The Ending of Deuteronomy and the Sectarian Debate. in RA Clements, R Fuller, A Lange & PD Mandel (eds), The Textual History of the Bible from the Dead Sea Scrolls to the Biblical Manuscripts of the Vienna Papyrus Collection: Proceedings of the Fifteenth International Symposium of the Orion Center for the Study of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Associated Literature, Cosponsored by the University of Vienna Institute for Jewish Studies and the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies. Studies on the Texts of the Desert of Judah, vol. 137, Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands, pp. 253-284. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004511705_009

Demonic Deuteronomy? The Ending of Deuteronomy and the Sectarian Debate. / Ben-Dov, Jonathan.
The Textual History of the Bible from the Dead Sea Scrolls to the Biblical Manuscripts of the Vienna Papyrus Collection: Proceedings of the Fifteenth International Symposium of the Orion Center for the Study of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Associated Literature, Cosponsored by the University of Vienna Institute for Jewish Studies and the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies. ed. / Ruth A. Clements; Russell Fuller; Armin Lange; Paul D. Mandel. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill Academic Publishers, 2023. p. 253-284 (Studies on the Texts of the Desert of Judah; Vol. 137).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

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Ben-Dov J. Demonic Deuteronomy? The Ending of Deuteronomy and the Sectarian Debate. In Clements RA, Fuller R, Lange A, Mandel PD, editors, The Textual History of the Bible from the Dead Sea Scrolls to the Biblical Manuscripts of the Vienna Papyrus Collection: Proceedings of the Fifteenth International Symposium of the Orion Center for the Study of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Associated Literature, Cosponsored by the University of Vienna Institute for Jewish Studies and the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill Academic Publishers. 2023. p. 253-284. (Studies on the Texts of the Desert of Judah). doi: 10.1163/9789004511705_009