The Four Kingdoms

Synopsis
The Four Kingdoms is a fragmented text, describing a vision of some person. The vision is of four trees. These four trees are apparently a parallel to the four beasts seen by Daniel rising from the sea. These beasts and tree stand for four great kingdoms, being Babylon, Persia, Alexander’s Empire, and Rome. This can be assumed to be a vision of Daniel, because of the similar prophecy.

Canonicity
Only Essenes were known to have seen this work as divine.

Dating
400-300 BC?

Frag. 1 col. i
1-4 [...] ... 5 [... the l]ight of the angels who were 6 [...] he told them: « It all Blank shall happen 7 [...] it is the ... of seas. Blank This 8 [...] Blank And he said to me: «Oh King, because of Blank this 9 [...] you, how was everything made? » They arose 10 [... what] he spoke, will be. And their end is in plain sight 11 [...] their lords. And ... one of them 12 [...] ...

Frag. 1 col. ii (cf. 4Q553 6 ii)
1 the dawn rose. And four trees [... him.] 2 And a tree rose up and they turned away from it. And he said [to me: «...] 3 the species?» And I said: «How will I see and under[sta]nd [this?» And I saw] 4 a tree to [which] ... was attached [...] 5 And I asked him: «What is your name? » And he answered me: « Babel. » [And I said to him:] 6 « You are the one who rules over Persia.» And [I saw another tree] 7 Blank [...] ... to the West, to [...] 8 ... And I asked him: « What is [your] name? » [And he said to me «...»] 9 And I said to him: «You are the one who [rules over ... and over] 10 the powers of the sea, and over the harbour [... And I saw] 11 a third tree, [and] I said to [him: «What is your name?» And he said to me ...] 12 your appearance [...]

Frag. 2
1 [...] ... And I said to him: « He is the one from [...] 2 [...] ... [...] And [I] saw [...] 3 [...] ... [...] 4 [...] power [...] 5 [...] ... [...]

Frag. 3
1 [...] ... 2 [...] they will rejoice 3 [...] the vision 4 [...] ... the word 5 [...] ... which will escape

Frag. 4
1 [...] the lord [...] 2 [...] ... God Most High ... [...] 3 [...] ... which there is above them, and ... [...] 4 [...] ... of all, who establishes judges [...]

Frag. 6 col. i
2 [...] ... [...] 3 [...] ... my hands 4 [...] when I will go 5 [...] ... And he said to me: «During the kingdom 6 [... ari]se to the East, and when they agree 7 [...] ...

Frag. 6 col. ii (cf. 4Q552 1 ii)
1 Blank And I saw [...] 2 upon which [the dawn arose.] Blank And fou[r trees ...] to him. And the trees rose up 3 and turned away [from him.] Blank And I said: «How will I see and understand 4 this?» And I saw [the trees which ...] And I asked: « What is your name? » And he answered me: « Babel. » Blank And I said to him: « You 5 are the one w[ho rules over Persia.» And I saw] another [tr]ee. And I asked him and said to him: «What 6 is your name?» [...] ... [...]