Pesharim

Among the Hebrew documents recovered from the Qumran caves are eighteen texts distinguished by the fact that each is a continuous commentary on or an interpretation of a single biblical book. These texts are called pesharim because each section of interpretation following a biblical citation is introduced by one of several formulas using the word pēser, "interpretation" (plural: pĕsārim). The documents that are extant preserve portions of commentaries on the book of Psalms and on the prophetic books of Isaiah, Hosea, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah. The monograph presents the Hebrew texts of the pesharim, an English translation, and notes on the texts that cover features of the Hebrew language in these scrolls, suggested restorations of lacunae, and possible connections of the content of the commentary sections to historical events. Following the presentation of the texts is a discussion of the literary genre of pesher, treating the structure of the documents, the formulas employed, the modes of interpretation, and the relation of the pesharim to some other writings.