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Belial in the Dead Sea Scrolls
Belial, the Devil, is prominent in the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Reference to him occurs more than thirty times. I searched the translation by Martinez
and Tigchelaar. I found Belial used in Rules of the Community (Manual of Discipline)
(3), the War Scroll (9), the Thanksgiving Hymns (4), the Psalms
and Psalms Pesher (2), and miscellaneous texts (7). He was referred to prevalently
in The Damascus Document (10). I found the phrase "Man of Lies" used
once in the Psalms Pesher, and twice in the Damascus Document.
The Rules of the Community
In the Rules of the Community he is described as an
evil influence to be avoided "during the dominion of Belial." He is not pictured
as someone in human form, who has overt influence on the minds of other human beings,
as we would expect at the end of the Millennium. In Column 10, Line 21 we find:
This leads us to conclude that the Rules of the Community
were thought to apply to a group of people during the Era of Wickedness. This view
has caused scholars to believe the community existed, and that the conduct of the
members was being described. They almost universally assigned this to the Essenes.
Unfortunately, the Rules may have been created out of an expectation that
was never realized.
The War Scroll
On the other hand the War Scroll is designed explicitly
for the era at the end of the Millennium. We find such phrases as
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1:1 . . . the army of Belial . . .
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4:2 . . . God's fury unleashed against Belial and against
all the men of his lot . . .
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11:8 . . . the hordes of Belial . . .
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13:1-2 . . . they shall damn there Belial and all the
spirits of his lot . . .
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13:4 Accursed be Belial for his inimical plan, may he
be damned for his blameworthy rule.
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14:9 . . . the empire of Belial . . .
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18:1 . . . when the mighty hand of God is raised against
Belial and against all the army of his dominion . . .
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The Thanksgiving Hymns
In the Thanksgiving Hymns we find him as a schemer
and plotter, influencing men without their knowing. He is working in opposition
to God's people. We can also see the severe burden under which the Teacher works
in the Last Days of the earth age.
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Col 10:
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20 Blank I give you thanks, Lord, because you put
me in the bundle of the living
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21 and have protected me from all the traps of the pit,
for vicious men have sought my soul when I relied
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22 on your covenant. They are a council of futility, an
assembly of Belial. They do not know that because of you I stand firm
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23 and that by your kindness you save my life.
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Col 12
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8 . . . for they drive me from my land
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9 like a bird from its nest. All my friends and my acquaintances
have been driven away from me and rank me like a broken jug. But they are mediators
of
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10 fraud and seers of deceit. They have plotted a devilish
thing against me ( . . . ) to change your Law, which you engraved in my heart. For
flattering teachings
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11 for your people they have denied the drink of knowledge
to the thirsty. But for their thirst they have given them vinegar to drink, to consider
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12 their mistake, so they may act like fools in their
feasts so they will be caught in their nets. But you, 0 God, abhor every plan of
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13 Belial and your counsel remains, and the plan of your
heart persists endlessly. But they, hypocrites, plot intrigues of Belial.
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14 They search you with a double heart, and are
not firmly based in your truth . . .
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Col 14
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19 . . . testimony. have allowed themselves to be enticed
by those spreading lies . . . in the service of justice,
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20 even though you, God, commanded them to seek fortune
far from their paths, walking on your holy path, on which the uncircumcised, the
unclean, the vicious
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21 do not travel. They have staggered off the path of
your heart and in . . . calamity they languish. Belial is the counselor
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22 of their heart. . . . . . . schemes of wickedness they
wallow in guilt. I have become like a sailor in a ship in the raging
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23 seas: their waves and all their breakers roar over
me, a whirlwind without a lull for taking breath, without
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24 a track to take a straight path over the surface of
the water. The deep thunders at my sigh. my soul nears the gates of death. I have
become
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25 like someone who enters a fortified city, and finds
shelter on the high wall until salvation. My God, I lean on your truth . . .
We can see how the influence of Belial works with mankind,
attempting to misguide and mislead them.
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The Damascus Document
I shall now examine how Belial is described in the Damascus
Document.
The Present Era
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Column IV |
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Martinez and Tigchelaar
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R. H. Charles
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T. H. Gaster
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6 Blank Of holiness are the forefathers, for whom
7 God atoned, and who declared the just man as just, and
declared the wicked as wicked, and all those who entered after them
8 in order to act according to the exact interpretation of
the law in which the forefathers were instructed until
9 the period of these years is complete. According to the
covenant which God established with the forefathers. in order to atone
10 for their iniquities, so will God atone for them. But
when the period corresponding to the number of these years is complete.
11 there will no longer be any joining with the house of
Judah but rather each one standing up on
12 his (own) watchtower. The wall is built, the boundary
far away. And during all these years
13 Belial will be set loose against Israel, as God has said
by means of the prophet Isaiah, son of
14 Amoz, saying: (Isa 24:17) Panic, pit and net against you,
earth-dweller. Blank Its explanation:
15 They are Belial's three nets about which Levi, son of
Jacob spoke.
16 by which he catches Israel and makes them appear before
them like three types of
17 justice. The first is fornication; the second, wealth;
the third,
18 defilement of the temple. He who eludes one is caught
in another and he who is freed from that is caught
19 in another. Blank
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Blank The first saints whom
7 God pardoned, Both justified the righteous, and condemned
the wicked. And all they who come after them
8 must do according to the interpretation of the Law, In which the forefathers were
instructed until
9 the consummation of the period of these years. In accordance
with the covenant which God established with the forefathers in order to pardon
10 their sins, so shall God make atonement for them. And
on the consummation of the period [of the number] of these years
11 they shall no more join themselves to the house of Judah.
But shall every one stand up
12 against his net. The wall shall have been built, the boundary
been far removed. And during all these years
13 Belial shall be let loose against Israel, as God spake
through Isaiah the prophet, the son of
14 Amos, saying: (Isa 24:17) ‘Fear and the pit and the snare
are upon thee, O inhabitant of the land.’ Blank This means
15 the three nets of Belial, concerning which Levi the son
of Jacob spake,
16 by which he caught Israel and directed their faces to
three kinds of
17 righteousness. 11 The first is fornication, the second
is the wealth (of wickedness), the third
18 is the pollution of the Sanctuary. He that cometh up from
this shall be caught by that, and he that escapeth from this shall be caught
19 by that. Blank
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These were the holy men of former times—the men whose sins
God pardoned, who knew right for right and wrong for wrong. But all who up to the
present time have succeeded them in carrying out explicitly the Law from which those
ancients drew their lessons, them too will God forgive, in accordance with the Covenant
which He made with those ancients to forgive their iniquities. And when the present
era is completed, there will be no more express affiliation with the house of Judah;
every man will `mount guard' for himself. `The fence will be rebuilt, and the bounds
be far-flung' (cf. Mic. 7.11).
Meanwhile, however, Belial will be rampant in Israel, even as God has said through
the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz: "Terror and the pit and the trap shall be upon
thee, 0 inhabitant of the land!" (Isa 24.17). The reference is to those three snares,
viz. (a) whoredom, (b) lucre, and (c) desecration, concerning which Levi the son
of Jacob said that by making them look like three kinds of righteousness Belial
ensnares Israel in them. He who escapes the one gets caught in the other, and he
who escapes the other gets caught in the third.
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1. The author(s) of this document understood that we were
in a long and distinct period of history. The start of this era is not defined,
except by the human and social conditions of those who know God and those who do
not. During this period God offers instruction, understood as the Law, but actually
operating as the Correct Teaching, the Torah. The Hebrew word used is ha-torah, The
Teaching, but the translators were confined in their understanding to the
traditional definition as Law. The author(s) were Jewish men thinking historically
in Jewish terms.
2. The author(s) further understood that there would be a
consummation of this era. M&T give it as when the period corresponding to the
number of these years is complete. Charles gives it as on the consummation of
the period [of the number] of these years. Gaster says when the present era is
completed. They understood that another world era would follow
the one they lived in. Whether that era would be the one we know as anno domini,
the Year of our Lord, or an even further one, can not easily be distinguished in
the text. The phrasing is suggestive of the Christian era, since there would no
longer be joining with the house of Judah. Every individual would mount guard for
himself, meaning would develop a relationship with God that would be unique, no
longer guided by the Laws of Moses. Micah 7:11 states
The context here is a world era beyond the present Christian
era. The translators did not recognize this prophetic reference except for Gaster.
3. During this era Belial would be free to operate. Men of
earth would be cursed with his wicked presence. The text describes his influence
in three ways, (a) fornication, (b) greed, and (c) lack of respect for the temples
of God, whether Jewish or Christian. In our current world these influences have
become greatly exaggerated. We have lost all sense of sexual respect. Greed is being
expressed everywhere, whether in salaries for corporate management, or in gambling
modes, such as sanctioned state lotteries. The Jewish synagogues and Christian churches
have lost well nigh all righteous direction.
Note that Belial is not being described in his direct mind
penetration that takes over the souls of hapless human beings.
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Destruction at the Hand of Belial
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Column VIII
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Martinez and Tigchelaar
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R. H. Charles
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T. H. Gaster
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These escaped at the time of the first visitation
1 while the renegades were delivered up to the sword. Thus
will be the judgment of all those entering his covenant but who
2 do not remain steadfast in them: they shall be visited
for destruction at the hand of Belial. This is the day,
3 when God will make a visitation. The princes of Judah are
those upon whom the rage will be vented
4 for they hope to be healed but the defect sticks (to them);
all are rebels because they have not left the path of
5 traitors and have defiled themselves in paths of licentiousness,
and with wicked wealth, avenging themselves. and each one bearing resentment
6 against his brother, and each one hating his fellow. Each
one became obscured by blood relatives,
7 and approached for debauchery and bragged about wealth
and gain. Each one did what was right in his eyes
8 and each one has chosen the stubbornness of his heart
. . .
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These shall escape during the period of the (first)
visitation,
1 but those who proved faithless shall be delivered to the
sword. And this also shall be the judgment of all them who have entered into His
covenant, who
2 will not hold fast to these (statues): they shall be visited
for destruction through the hand of Belial. This is the day
3 on which God shall visit (as He hath spoken). The princes
of Judah were (like them that removed the landmark): Upon them will I pour
out (My) wrath (like water).’
4 For they are too sick to be healed And they have
been at the head of all the rebels. Because they have not turned from the way
of
5 traitors, But have wallowed in the ways of harlots, And
in the wealth of wickedness and (in) revenge. And every man beareth a grudge
6 against his Brother, And every man hateth his neighbor.
And the committed trespass every man against his next of kin.
7 And drew near to unchastity: And exalted themselves with
a view to wealth and unjust gain And every man did that which was right in his own
eyes
8 And they chose every man the stubbornness of his heart
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these faithful men escaped, while those that turned back
were delivered to the sword. Such will be the fate also of those who in the latter
days will have entered God's Covenant but not held fast to these things. Them will
God punish unto extinction by the hand of Belial. The day on which God will carry
out the punishment will be that to which the prophet alluded when he said: "The
princes of Judah have become like them that remove landmarks; I will pour out My
wrath upon them like water' [Hos. 5.10]. They shall hope for healing, but the blemish
shall cling to them. They are all of them apostates in that they have not turned
from the way of the treacherous but have sullied themselves with wantonness and
with wicked lucre and with the nursing of grudges against their fellows and with
hatred of their neighbors. They have cheated their own kin and have had contact
with lewdness and have been overbearing by virtue of wealth and possession and have
done . every man of them what was right in his own eyes, and have preferred the
stubbornness of their own hearts . . .
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1. We can see that God will make a visitation. Destruction
will come at the hand of Belial. How does he perform this destruction? By inducing
in men thoughts that are inimical to the welfare of others, out of lack of righteousness.
Unrighteous thoughts can lead to self interests and perversions of reality. As a
consequence, men fear, and are guided by their fears. They may fight religious wars,
contending who has the correct philosophical reaction to life. They may fight over
slavery, and the use of other human beings in subjugation to economic benefits.
They may fight over racial supremacy, or economic philosophies. Many are the reasons
why men fight with one another.
2. Judah, the land of modern Israel, will be subject to the
rage of other nations. Their leaders and their men of political strength, the Princes
of Judah, will receive God's judgment. They are rebels against the way of God. They
have become licentious, greedy, and resentful against one another. They shall be
destroyed as prophesied in Jeremiah and elsewhere.
3. Of curious importance is the phrase obscured by blood
relatives, or committed trespass every man against his next of kin, or
they have cheated their own kin. The situation is family members of a righteous
person who themselves are not righteous. How can a righteous person remain righteous
if he is being tempted by family members who are not. I do not mean morality. I
mean maintaining a righteous relationship with God. For example, family members
may associate with channelers, in perfect innocence. But for the righteous person,
who may recognize the iniquity of the channeler, this is association with
evil. This means that the righteous person has a sensitivity to evil that family
members do not. This is a most difficult personal dilemma, obscured by blood relatives,
or the blood relationship, or it may constitute trespass against the next of kin,
against the righteous person, or may mean cheating their own kin.
In these cases the human beings, the family members, may
do what is right in their own eyes, and prefer the stubbornness of their own hearts.
But there are eternal consequences.
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The Spirits of Belial
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Column XII
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Martinez and Tigchelaar
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R. H. Charles
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T. H. Gaster
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2 Blank Every man over whom the spirits of Belial
dominate
3 and who preaches apostasy will be judged according to the
regulation of the necromancer or the diviner. But every one who goes astray,
4 defiling the sabbath and the festivals shall not be executed.
for it is the task of men
5 to guard him; and if he is cured of it, they shall guard
hint for seven years and afterwards
6 he may enter the assembly.
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Blank Any man who is ruled by the spirits of Belial
3 and speaks rebellion shall be judged by the judgment of
the necromancer and wizard. And he whom he leads astray
4 into profaning the Sabbath and the Feasts shall not be
put to death; but it shall be the duty of the sons of man
5 to watch him; and should he be healed of it, they shall
watch him seven years and then
6 he shall come into the Congregation. Blank
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Any man who is dominated by demonic spirits to the extent
that he gives voice to apostasy is to be subject to the judgment upon sorcerers
and wizards. If, however, a man desecrate the Sabbath or the festivals through (mental)
aberration, he is not to be put to death. In that case, it is the duty of men to
keep him under observation. If he recovers, they are to watch him for seven years,
and only thereafter may he be readmitted to public assemblies.
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These admonitions come in the midst of a long litany of regulations
concerning the future members of the body of Israel. They contain all the elements
of social conduct that we would expect out of the current world order. Clearly,
the author(s) understood this to apply to a devout body of Israel before the advent
of great earth changes. Social judgments against necromancers, diviners, sorcerers,
or wizards are well defined in the Old Testament, in Leviticus, and elsewhere.
Deut 18:9-14: "When you come into the
land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable
practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one who burns
his son or his daughter as an offering, any one who practices divination, a soothsayer,
or an augur, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a medium, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
For whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh; and because of these
abominable practices Yahweh your God is driving them out before you. You shall be
blameless before Yahweh your God. For these nations, which you are about to dispossess,
give heed to soothsayers and to diviners; but as for you, Yahweh your God has not
allowed you so to do.
"A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely
be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them."
Lev. 20:27
The term "familiar spirit" was used because the Spirit seems to know all about us
and the most private affairs of our lives. He became very familiar with anyone who
engaged in soliciting Him. The warning is for anyone who hath a familiar spirit.
Thus we see that the overt actions of Belial, the Devil,
in his coming destruction of God's people, are not given in these passages from
the Damascus Document.
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