Prayer for Jonathan
(Alexander Jannaeus) Discovered at Qumran (4Q448)

 

4Q448 contains three columns of script, one on the top and two below. The column on the top (A) and the column on the lower left (C) are incomplete. 4Q448 has two parts: column A is a psalm of praise to God, whereas columns B and C are a prayer for the welfare and prosperity of a certain "King Jonathan" and his kingdom. The King Jonathan is probably Alexander Jannaeus, the Hasmonean ruler (103 BCE-76 BCE). This prayer is a something of an anomaly among the Dead Sea scrolls, because of  the favorable stance taken towards the Hasmoneans; other references to them are critical. It is possible that the prayer offered on behalf of Jonathan was composed before the falling out between the Teacher of Righteousness and Jonathan. (Why this text was preserved in view of Jonathan’s eventual status as the Wicked Priest is unclear.) Or the Essenes may have supported Alexander Jannaeus during the six-year civil war.This hypothesis is strengthened by the fact that the Pharisees, longtime opponents of the Essenes, had allied themselves against Alexander Jannaeus (see Ant. 13.13.5-14.1; 372-78; War 1.4.3-5; 88-95). 

4Q448
Parchment
Copied between 103-76 B.C.E.
Height 17.8 cm (7 in.), length 9.5 cm (3 3/4 in.)
 
   Column A 

1.  Praise the Lord, a Psalm [of 
2.  You loved as a fa[ther(?) 
3.  you ruled over [ 
4.  vacat [ 
5.  and your foes were afraid (or: will fear) [ 
6.  ...the heaven [ 
7.  and to the depths of the sea [ 
8.  and upon those who glorify him [ 
9.  the humble from the hand of adversaries [ 
10. Zion for his habitation, ch[ooses 

   Column B 
1.  holy city 
2.  for king (hmlk) Jonathan   
3.  and all the congregation of your people 
4.  Israel 
5.  who are in the four 
6.  winds of heaven 
7.  peace be (for) all 
8.  and upon your kingdom (mmlktk)
9.  your name be blessed 

Column C  
1.  because you love Isr[ael  
2.  in the day and until evening [   
3.  to approach, to be [  
  
  
4.  Remember them for blessing [  
5.  on your name, which is called [ 
6.  kingdom to be blessed [  
7.  ] for the day of war [  
8.  to [ ] Jonathan and all your people [                                    
9.  

Transcription and translation by E. Eshel, H. Eshel, and A. Yardeni