The Words Of Moses

Synopsis
The Apocryphal Words Of Moses, and the various texts found in the Dead Sea Scrolls known as The Apocryphon Of Moses, are a collection of fragments, purporting to the words of Moses. It is possible all the fragments come from a single source, or it could be that there are several sources.

The Texts contain many prophecies by Moses, concerning the the Land Of Canaan, Solomon’s Temple and more.

Dating
3000-100 BC

Canonicity
The Essenes very likely held it as scripture, but it is not part of any canon.

Col. i
''1 [And God spoke] to Moses in the year [forty] of the depart[ure of the children of I]sra[el from the land of E]gypt, in the eleventh mo[nth,] 2 the first day of the [mo]nth, saying: [Muster] all the con[gre]gation, climb [Mount Nebo] and stay [there,] you 3 and Elea[zar,] Aar[on’s s]on. Blank Inter[pret for the heads of fam]ilies, for the levites and for all the [priests] and decree to the sons of 4 Israe[l the wo]rds of the Law which [I] commanded [you] on Mount S[i]nai to decree to th[em. Proclaim] in the[ir] ears everything 5 accura[tely,] for I will [requi]re it from them. [Take the] heavens and [the earth as witnesses against] them, [f]or they will not [lo]ve 6 wha[t] I have commanded [them,] th[ey] and [their] sons, [all] the days they [live upon the ea]rth. [However] I announce 7 that they will desert [me and ch]oose [the sins of the] peo[ples,] their [abo]minations [and] their [disre]putable acts [and will serve] 8 ido[l]s, who will become a tr[ap and] a snare. They will vio[late all the ho]ly [assemblies], the sabbath of the covenant, [the festivals] which 9 I command you today [to k]eep. [This is why I will stri]ke them with a great [blow] in the midst of [the] land [for] 10 [the con]quest of whi[ch th]ey are going to cross [the Jo]rdan there. And [w]hen all the curse[s] happen t[o] them and overtake them un[til] they die and until 11 they are de[stroyed], then they will know [that] the truth has been ca[rried out] on them. Blank And Moses called Eleazar, son of 12 [Aaron] and Joshu[a, son of Nun, and said to] them: Speak [all the words of the Law, without] leaving any [out. Be silent,]''

Col. ii
''1 [I]srael, and listen! This [da]y [you are becoming the na]tion of God, your [God.] K[eep my rules], my stipulations, [my commandments wh]ich 2 [tod]ay [I] command you [to carry out. And wh]en y[ou] cross the [Jordan] I shall [give] you large [and good citie]s, 3 houses full of eve[ry wealth, vine- yards and olive groves] which [you did] n[ot plant, wel]ls bored [wh]ich you did no[t] 4 [d]ig, and you will eat and become replete. [Beware] of raising your [he]art and forget[ting wh]at I [command] you today; 5 [for] it is [your] life and [your] old age. Blank [And] Moses [spoke] and [said to the sons of I]srael: Forty 6 [years] have passed [from the] day of our dep[arture] from the land [of Egypt, and] to[day Go]d, [our] God, [has caused the]se [wo]rds [to issue] from h[is] mouth 7 [all] his [pre]cepts <[and] all [his] pre[cepts>. Ho]w [shall I alone carry] your burden, [your weig]ht, [your quarrels?] When 8 I [have finish]ed to [...] the covenant and to decree the pa[th] on [whi]ch you must] walk, [choose for yourselves wise men who will] have the task to ex- plain 9 [to you and to] your [sons] all these words of the L[aw.] Be [ve]ry ca[reful,] for your lives, [to observ]e [them, lest] the wrath 10 [of your God be en]kindled and break out against you, [and] he closes the skies [ab]ove, which make rain fall u[pon yo]u, and the [water] from under[neath the earth which] gives you 11 [the harv]est. Blank And Moses [continued spea]king to the son[s of Israe]l: The[se] are the command[ments which] Go[d] commands you to observe 12 [...]... [...]''

Col. iii
''1 [After seven ye]ars [you shall keep] the sabbath [of the land, and the yield of the sabbath of the] lan[d may be used by you] for food, by [you and your animals and the beasts of] the fi[eld.] 2 [it may be used for fo]od. [What rem]ains will be for [the poor from among] your [brothers] who are in [the land. N]o-on[e] will s[ow his field] nor prune [his vine.] 3 [No-one will har- vest what grows of it’s own accord nor] gather [anything. Keep] al[l the]s[e words of the] covenant 4 [to observe them, and] when [...] in order to do [...] And [in] thi[s y]ear you shall grant a release. 5 [Every creditor w]ho [has lent something to] someone, or [who possesses something from his brother,] will grant a re[lease to] his [fell]ow for 6 [a release] for [G]o[d, yo]ur [God, has been proclaimed. One may demand restitution] from the fore[igner, but from one’s brother] no-[one shall demand restitution,] for in [that] year 7 [Go]d [will bless you, forgiving you your] sin[s ...] ... 8 [...] in the year [...] of the month of 9 [...] ... [...] on this day [... For] your [father]s wandered 10 [in the wilderness] until the [te]nth day of the month {the [... on the te]nth [day] of the month} 11 [You shall] refrain [from all work.] And on the te[nth] day [of the] month, atonement shall be made [...] of the month 12 [... and] they shall take [...]''

Col. iv
''1 in the congregation of the gods [and in the council of the ho]ly ones, and in their [..., in favour of the sons of Isra]el and on behalf of the la[nd] 2 [And] ta[ke] from [its blood and] pour (it) on the earth [...] ... [...] 3 [...] ... [and atone]ment [shall be made] for them by it [... And] Moses [spoke say- ing:] Observe [...] 4 [... etern]al precepts for [your] generations [...] ... [...] And on the [...] day 5 [...] ... [...] he will take [...] the children of Israel [...] 6 [... and al]l that which [...] ... for a[ll] 7 [...] of the [...] year [...] the person who 8 [...] upon the book [...] ... the priest [...] 9 [...] he will lay [his] hands [...] all this 10 [...] in the [...] year [...] these 11 [...] of the two he-[goats ...] 12 [...]''

Frag. 1
''1 [... Nadab and] Ab[i]hu, Elea[zar and Itamar ...] 2 [... in order to do] you justice in truth, and in order to reprove with faith[ful]ness [...] 3 [...] Blank [...] 4 [And Moses went outsi]de the camp and pleaded with yhwh and bowed do[wn before ...] 5 [And he said: yhwh Go]d, how can I look at you, and how can I li[ft] my face [towards you...] 6 [...] one nation by your d[e]eds [...] 7 [...] ... [...]''

Col. i
''1 [all that] your God commands you by the prophet’s mouth, and you shall keep 2 [all] these [pre]cepts, and shall return to yhwh, your God with all 3 [your heart and with al]l your soul, and your God will repent of the fury of his great wrath 4 [in order to save y]ou from your trials. However, the prophet who rises up to preach 5 [apostasy] to you, [to make] you [tu]rn away from God, shall die. And if the tribe 6 from [which] he comes should rise up and say: «He is not to die, for he is a just man, he is a 7 [tr]ustworthy prophet», you shall come with that tribe and your elders and your judges 8 [t]o the place which your God will choose in one of your tribes before 9 [the] anointed priest upon whose head the oil of anointing has been poured''

Col. ii
''1-2 [...] 3 and he shall take [a young bullock from the herd and a ram ... and he shall sprinkle] 4 with [his] fing[er on the surface of the place of atone- ment ...] ... [...] 5 the flesh of the ra[m ...] and [one] he-goat 6 for the sin- offering, he shall ta[ke] it [and slaughter it, and at]one for all the congrega- tion. And Aa[ron shall sprinkle with some of the blood] 7 before the veil of [the sanctuary and shall approach] the ark of the testimony and shall study [all the precepts of] 8 yhwh concerning all [... which have been hid]den from you. And he shall [g]o out before a[ll the chiefs] 9 of the assembly. And this [...] ... [...]''

Frag. 1 col. i
''1 [... and before the de]puty of the anointed priest 2 [... a young bu]llock from the herd and a ram [...] 3 [...] for the Urim''

Frag. 1 col. ii (= 1Q29 1)
''1 they will provide you with light and he will go out with it with tongues of fire; the stone of the left side which is at its 2 left side will shine to the eyes of all the assembly until the priest finishes speaking. And after [the cloud (?)] has been removed 3 [...] and you shall keep and d[o al]l [that] he tells you''

Frag. 1 col. iii
''1 in accordance with all this judgment. And if there were in the camp the Prince of the whole congregation, and [...] 2 his enemies, and Israel is with him, or if they march to a city to besiege it or in any affair which [...] 3 to the Prince [...] ... [...] the field is far away [...]''

Frag. 13 col. ii (= 4Q387a 10 ?)
''1 when he sought my face, and his heart was not feeling prouder than him ... [...] 2 and his days will be completed, and Solomon will take place [upon his throne ...] 3 and I will give the soul of his enemies in his hand [...] 4 and I will take injustice (?) from his hand [...] 5 ... [...]''

Frag. 41 (= 4Q387a 2)
''1 [...] ... [...] 2 [... three priests] who will not walk [on the path] 3 [of the first ...] they will be called [by the name of the God of Is]rael. And [in their days the pride] will be cut down 4 [of those who act wickedly against the covenant and who ser]ve what is foreign. And [Israel will be split apart]''

Frag. 44 (= 4Q387a 3 ii; 4Q389 1 ii)
''1 [...] ... [...] 2 [... And at the completion of that] generation [I will liberate] 3 [the kingdom from the hand of] those who have power ov[er it and I will establish] 4 [over it others from] another [people.] And he will govern [...] 5 [all the country and the kingd]om of [Israe]l will pe[rish in those days] 6 [... a blas]phemer and he will per[form abominations. And I will split] 7 [...] that [... kingdom apart ...] to kings, while my face [is hidden] 8 [from Israel ... and the reign] will turn to many peoples, [whilst the children of Israel] 9 [cry ... heavy yoke in the l]ands of [their] ex[ile ...]''

Frag. 45 (= 4Q388 2 + 3)
''1 [...] ... [...] 2 [... when you walk in error be]fore me ... [...] 3 [...] those [ca]lled by name [...] 4 [... wh]ich I said to Ja[cob ...] 5 [...] ... [...] sabbath[s of the land ...] 6 [... my statutes and the] festivals of my covenant and the cy[cles of the years ...] 7 [...] my temple, and you shall slaughter [...] 8 [...] ... [...]''

Frag. 2 (= 4Q385a 41)
''1 [...] ... [...] 2 [... do]uble ... [...] 3 [...] polluted ... [...] 4 [...] three priests who will not walk on the path 5 [of the] first [...] they will called by the name of the God of Israel. 6 [And in] their days the pride [will be cut down] of those who act wickedly against the coven[ant] and who serve what is foreign. 7 And Israel will be split apart in th[at] generation, waging war against one another 8 for the sake of the law and for the sake of the covenant. And I will send a famine, but not 9 of bread, and a drought, but n[ot] of water [...] and if not [...]''

Frag. 3 col. ii (= 4Q385a 44; 4Q389 1 ii)
''1 [...] ... to serve me with all your heart 2 and with a[ll your soul ...] ... in their distress. But I will n[ot] search them 3 because of their disloyalty [with whi]ch they were disloyal [to me], until ten 4 jubilees of years are complete. And ... with ma[dness] and with blindness and confusion 5 of heart. And at the completion of that generation I [will liberate] the kingdom from the hand of those who have power 6 over it, and [I] will [es]tablish over it others from another people. And he will govern 7 [...] ... [... al]l [the co]untry and the kingdom of Israel will perish in 8 those days [...] a blasphemer and he will perform abominations. And I will split 9 that [...] king[dom] apart [...] to those who destroy, while my face is hidden from Israel 10 [... and the reign will turn to] many peoples, whilst the children of Israel cry 11 [... heavy yoke in the lands of] their [exile. And] they have [no saviou]r 12 [because and only because they rejected my precepts and their soul loathed my laws. Th]ere[fore]''

Frag. 3 col. iii (= 4Q388a 1 ii; 4Q389 1 ii)
''1 [Isra]el without people. In his da[ys] /I will destroy/ the kingdom of [Egypt ...] 2 [... Egyp]t and Israel I will destroy, and [I will] de[liver up to the sword all] 3 [the hi]gh places of the co[untry ...] ... and I will remove the huma[n beings, and I will abandon] 4 the country in the hand of the angels of enmity. And I will hide [my face] 5 [from Is]rael. And this will be the sign for them in the day when I abandon the country [...] 6 [...] the priests of Jerusalem to serve other gods. [...] 7 [like the abom]inations ... [...]''

Frag. 5
''1 [...] them in their disloyalty (with) which [they were disloyal to me] profaning [the] na[me of] 2 [...] in their nakedness, one approaching his blood-relative [...] 3 [...] him to crying and mourning. And they will say [...] 4 [...] guilty [...] they did not understand; therefore they wailed on the day [of ...]5 [...]...[...]''

Frag. 1 col. ii (= 4Q387a 3 iii; 4Q389 1 ii)
''1 won[de]rs. And they turned [... and they did e]vil fr[om the first days ...] 2 the covenant which [I] es[tablished wi]th Abraham, with Isaa[c and with Jacob ... In] those [days] 3 a king will rise up [for the na]tions, a blasphemer, and will do evil things. And [...] 4 Israel without people. In his days I will destroy the kingdom of Egypt [...] 5 Egypt and Israel I will destroy, and deliver up to the sword [all the high places of the land of ...] 6 and I will remove the human beings [and] I will abandon the country into the ha[nd of the angels of enmity ... the priests of Jerusalem] 7 to serve ot[her] gods. [...] like the abominations [...] 8 three who will reign [...] 9 [in] the most [h]oly [...] 10 [...] and those declaring (them- selves) just [...]''

Frag. 1 col. ii (= 4Q385a 44; 387a 3 ii - iii; 388a 1 ii)
''1 [...] ... [...] 2 [...] and the reign will return to many peoples and the children of Israel 3 [will be weeping ...] a heavy yoke in the lands of their exile, and there will not be Blank a saviour for them 4 because and only because they have rejected my precepts and their soul despised my law. For this I hid 5 my face [from them until] they make good their faults. Blank And this will be the sign for them that they have made good 6 their faults [...] I have abandoned the earth because they hard- ened their hearts against me and did not know 7 [... wonders. And they tur]ned and they did evil Blank from [the] first [days] 8 [... the covenant which I established] with Abraha[m, with I]saac and with 9 [Jacob ... In those days] a king [will] rise up for the nations, a blasphemer, [and will d]o evil things 10 [... Israe]l without peo[ple. In his days] I will destroy t[he king]dom of''

Frag. 2
''1 [...] did [not] seek me. I was [...] 2 [... and I will] raise your heads when I lead [you] out [...] 3 [...] to them, and what they did to me. And I will lea[ve (a rest) ...] 4 [... at] Qadesh-Barnea, and I will speak to them [...] 5 [...] ... on them, and I will swear [...] 6 [...] and their sons I brought to the [...] 7 [...] ... and I will walk with them in [...] 8 [...] forty years, and it happened [...] 9 [...] ... [...]''

Frag. 1
''1 [...]... [...] 2 [and] ... [... And I will] go back [and deliver them] into the hand of the sons of Aar[on ...] seventy years [...] 3 And the sons of Aaron will rule over th[em], but they will not walk [in] my [pat]hs which I com- m[and] you so that 4 you caution them. And they too will do what is evil in my eyes, like everything that Israel did 5 in the first days of its kingdom, apart from those who will be the first to go up from the land of captivity in order to build 6 the temple. But I will speak to them and send them a precept and they will understand all that 7 they have abandoned, they and their fathers. And ever since that generation Blank has been completed, in the seventh jubilee 8 of the devastation of the land, they will forget the law, the festival, the sabbath and the covenant; and they will disobey everything and will 9 do what is evil in my eyes. And I will hide my face from them and deliver them to the hands of their enemies and abandon [them] 10 to the sword. But /from among them/ I will make survivors remain so th[at] [t]he[y will] not [be exter]mi[nated] by my anger [and] by the concealment [of my face] 11 from them. And over them will rule the angels of destruction and [...] and [t]he[y] will come back 12 [and] do [...] evil before [my] eye[s] and walk according to the stub[bornness of their heart ...] 13 [...] ... [...]''

Frag. 2 col. i
''1 [...] ... [...] 2 [...] ... [...] the ho[ly] temple [... not] 3 has been done; and so [... for] these things will happen to them [...] and [there will co]me 4 the dominion of Belial upon them to deliver them up to the sword for a week of year[s ... During] that jubilee they 5 will break all my laws and all my precepts which I will command [them and send by the hand of] my serv- ants the prophets; 6 and [t]he[y] will [be]gin to argue with one another for seventy years, from the day on which they break the [vow and the] covenant which they shall break. And I shall deliver them 7 [to the hands of the an]gels of destruction and they will rule over them. And they will not know and will not understand that I am enraged towards them for their disloyalty 8 [with which they will des]ert me and do what is evil in my eyes and what I do not like they have chosen: domineering for money, for advantage 9 [and for vio- lence. And each] will steal what belongs to one’s neigh[bour] and they will oppress one another; they will defile my temple, 10 [they will defile my sabbaths, and] they will f[orget] my [fest]ivals and with the sons of [foreign- ers they will de]base their offs[pring;] their priests will act violently 11 [...] ... [...] and 12 [...] their sons''

Frag. 2. col. ii
''1-2 [...] 3 ... [...] 4 from upon it [...] 5 and with the word [...] 6 we ... [...] 7 they shall know and I will se[nd ...] 8 and with lances in order to se[ek ...] 9 in the interior of the land and upon ... [...] 10 their [pro]perty, and they will sacrifice in [...] 11 they [will dese]crate it, and ... [...]''