Phinehas, the Sons of Zadok, and Melchizedek: Priestly Covenant in Late Second Temple Texts (The Library of Second Temple Studies, 90)

Dongshin Don Chang examines 1 and 2 Maccabees, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Hebrews to see how the combined concepts of covenant and priesthood are defined and interlinked within various biblical and extra-biblical traditions. The three studies show the interesting and varying dynamics of the use of combined concepts of covenant and priesthood. The articulations of the two entities are shown to reflect, in part, the concern of the Second Temple Jewish authors; how significant the priestly institutions and priesthood were, not only in cultic matters, but also in relation to political and authoritative concerns. Chang's analysis makes clear that some of the Second Temple compositions have pursued ideas of the legitimacy of priestly identities by juxtaposing the concepts of covenant and priesthood from various traditions. Interpretation and representation of certain traditions becomes a way in which some Second Temple Jews, and some members of the early Jewish Christian communities, developed their priestly covenantal identities. It is with an understanding of this, Chang argues, that we can better understand these Second Temple texts. No extract of this content is available for preview Cover HalfTitle Title Copyright Contents Abbreviations Acknowledgments Chapter 1 Introduction 1. Preamble 2. Absence of Priestly Interest in the Studies on the Concept of Covenant 2.1. Hebrew Bible/Old Testament 2.2. Studies on the Covenant in the Second Temple Period 3. Priesthood in the Second Temple Period and the Covenantal Aspect 3.1. Transition from Ancient Israel to Second Temple Judaism 3.2. Significance of the Priesthood in Second Temple Judaism 3.3. Studies on Priesthood in the Second Temple Period 4. An Agenda for the Present Study 4.1. The Combined Concepts of the Covenant and Priesthood 4.2. Overview of the Chapters Part I 1 and 2 Maccabees Chapter 2 Priestly Covenant in 1 and 2 Maccabees 1. The Concept of the Priestly Related Covenant in 1 Maccabees 1.1. Texts, Dates, and Structure of 1 Maccabees 1.2. Overall Structural Outline and the Main Theme of 1 Maccabees 1.3. Structural Usage of the Concept of Covenant in 1 Maccabees 1–2 1.4. Development of Priestly Covenant Based on Phinehas 2. The Concept of the Priestly Related Covenant in 2 Maccabees 2.1. The Structure of 2 Maccabees 1:1–10a 2.2. Priestly Features of the Covenant in 2 Maccabees 1:2 3. Summary and Conclusion Part II Dead Sea Scrolls Chapter 3 Pre-Sectarian Priestly Covenant Traditions 1. Priestly Ideologies in the Third Century B.C.E. 1.1. Levitical Priestly Traditions 1.2. Zadokite Priestly Traditions 1.3. Aaronic Priestly Traditions 1.4. Summaries 2. Ben Sira and Aaronic Priestly Covenant Tradition 2.1. The Text, Structure, and Purpose of the Praise of the Fathers of Ben Sira 2.2. Account of Aaron and Phinehas (Sirach 45:6–22 and 23–25) 2.3. Summaries and Implications 3. Levitical Priestly Covenant Traditions in Aramaic Levi Document and Jubilees 3.1. Aramaic Levi Document and the Testament of Levi 3.2. Jubilees 4. Conclusion Chapter 4 Sectarian Priestly Covenant Traditions 1. Priestly Covenant Traditions in Some Quasi-Sectarian Documents 1.1. Temple Scroll 1.2. 4QMMT 2. Priestly Covenant Traditions in Some Sectarian Documents 2.1. Damascus Document 2.2. The Serek Texts (1QS, 1QSa, 1QSb, and 4QS) 2.3. Some Implications of the Damascus Document and the Serek Texts 3. Conclusion Part III Hebrews Chapter 5 Priestly Covenant in Hebrews 1. Introduction 1.1. Priesthood and Covenant in Hebrews 1.2. Date and Recipients of Hebrews 1.3. The Priestly Melchizedek Tradition and Hebrews 1.4. Covenant and Hebrews 1.5. Combination of the Two Concepts 2. Priesthood 2.1. Priesthood 2.2. Priest 2.3. High Priest 2.4. The Nature of Jesus’ High Priesthood 3. Covenant 3.1. Covenant in Hebrews 7–8 3.2. Covenant in Hebrews 9 3.3. Covenant in Hebrews 10, 12, 13 3.4. Law, Oath, and Covenant in Hebrews 4. Bridge Between the Priesthood and Covenant 4.1. Blood of the Covenant as the Link of Priesthood and the New Covenant 4.2. Relevance of This Argument 5. Conclusion and Further Implications 5.1. Priestly Covenant and Its Nature in Hebrews 5.2. Further Implications Chapter 6 Priestly Covenant and Melchizedek Traditions in Hebrews 7 1. A History of Melchizedek Traditions 1.1. Melchizedek Traditions in Biblical Accounts 1.2. Melchizedek Traditions in Other Second Temple Compositions 2. Melchizedek Traditions in Hebrews 7 2.1. Hebrews’ Use of Genesis 14 in Hebrews 7:1–3 2.2. Hebrews’ Use of Psalm 110:4 2.3. Melchizedek and the Anticipation of a Better Covenant in Hebrews 7 3. Issues to Be Answered in Relation to Melchizedek in Hebrews 3.1. Melchizedek in Hebrews: An Antitype of Jesus? 3.2. The Origin of Melchizedek in Hebrews: Heavenly or Earthly Being? 3.3. Melchizedek in 11QMelchizedek and Its Relation to Hebrews 7 3.4. Melchizedek in Relation to the Covenantal Motif 4. Conclusion Conclusions Chapter 7 Conclusion Bibliography Index of References Index of Authors "Chang investigates the articulation of the concepts of priesthood and covenant in late Second Temple period Jewish and Jewish-Christian texts."-- Dongshin Don Chang examines 1 and 2 Maccabees, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Hebrews to see how the combined concepts of covenant and priesthood are defined and interlinked within various biblical and extra-biblical traditions. The three studies show the interesting and varying dynamics of the use of combined concepts of covenant and priesthood. The articulations of the two entities are shown to reflect, in part, the concern of the Second Temple Jewish authors; how significant the priestly institutions and priesthood were, not only in cultic matters, but also in relation to political and authoritative concerns. Chang's analysis makes clear that some of the Second Temple compositions have pursued ideas of the legitimacy of priestly identities by juxtaposing the concepts of covenant and priesthood from various traditions. Interpretation and representation of certain traditions becomes a way in which some Second Temple Jews, and some members of the early Jewish Christian communities, developed their priestly covenantal identities. It is with an understanding of this, Chang argues, that we can better understand these Second Temple texts