Rather than break up your well-written post, I thought I'd just mention some things that came to mind as I read it.
As far as "builders of the wall" goes, I don't think it needs to exactly match the way that "fence" is used by the Pharisees or how the "wall" is used in Ezekiel, since the DSS generally take the OT out of context. It is enough for me to see that it's a "close enough" match for the Pharisee fence given all the other "clues" we have that point to the Pharisees. We don't need to be told that the Pharisees made extra laws when a "smooth things" (halaqot) wordplay is made of their halakhot (i.e., body of oral law). And "smooth things" is used in CD 1.18-2.1, along with other behavior of the sort that we see the Pharisees do in the NT.
Josephus characterizes the oral Torah as "extra laws" that went beyond the written Torah.
Pharisees saw their "fence" as something that protected the written Torah, but as Jesus points out in Mk. 7, it in effect does the opposite in "many" cases (echoing Josephus' "a great many observances").
These are cases (from Jesus' perspective) where the oral Torah (however well-meaning from the Pharisees perspective) was "bad" because it "nullified" the written Torah. To "neatly set aside the command of God" and what "Moses said" with the oral Torah would (I imagine) have likewise been seen by the DSS sect as "setting aside the command of God" (with their "smooth things"/halakhot).
And Pharisees pick on Jesus throughout his career and plot with rulers to kill him, just like those who "sought smooth things" do in CD (who are described as persecuting "righteous ones," like Jesus is called in the NT).
Also, there were Pharisee priests (Josephus being one example), so whatever CD has solely against priests (if that is the case) would apply to them in that capacity, and the priests who conspired to kill Jesus (like those who "sought smooth things" had conspired to "kill the innocent" or "righteous one" in CD) seem similarly "happy to see the people quarrel" (Mk. 15:11: "But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead").
Just some things that came to mind after my initial reading of your great post.
As far as "builders of the wall" goes, I don't think it needs to exactly match the way that "fence" is used by the Pharisees or how the "wall" is used in Ezekiel, since the DSS generally take the OT out of context. It is enough for me to see that it's a "close enough" match for the Pharisee fence given all the other "clues" we have that point to the Pharisees. We don't need to be told that the Pharisees made extra laws when a "smooth things" (halaqot) wordplay is made of their halakhot (i.e., body of oral law). And "smooth things" is used in CD 1.18-2.1, along with other behavior of the sort that we see the Pharisees do in the NT.
For they had sought flattery, choosing travesties of true religion; they looked for ways to break the law; they favoured the fine neck. They called the guilty innocent, and the innocent guilty. They overstepped covenant, violated law; and ‘they conspired together to kill the innocent’ (Ps 94:21), for all those who lived pure lives they loathed from the bottom of their heart. So they persecuted them violently, and were happy to see the people quarrel. Because of all this God became very angry with their company.
Josephus characterizes the oral Torah as "extra laws" that went beyond the written Torah.
... the Pharisees have delivered to the people a great many observances by succession from their fathers, which are not written in the laws of Moses; and for that reason it is that the Sadducees reject them, and say that we are to esteem those observances to be obligatory which are in the written word, but are not to observe what are derived from the tradition of our forefathers.
Pharisees saw their "fence" as something that protected the written Torah, but as Jesus points out in Mk. 7, it in effect does the opposite in "many" cases (echoing Josephus' "a great many observances").
9He went on to say, “You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain your own tradition. 10For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’11But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), 12he is no longer permitted to do anything for his father or mother. 13Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.”
These are cases (from Jesus' perspective) where the oral Torah (however well-meaning from the Pharisees perspective) was "bad" because it "nullified" the written Torah. To "neatly set aside the command of God" and what "Moses said" with the oral Torah would (I imagine) have likewise been seen by the DSS sect as "setting aside the command of God" (with their "smooth things"/halakhot).
And Pharisees pick on Jesus throughout his career and plot with rulers to kill him, just like those who "sought smooth things" do in CD (who are described as persecuting "righteous ones," like Jesus is called in the NT).
Also, there were Pharisee priests (Josephus being one example), so whatever CD has solely against priests (if that is the case) would apply to them in that capacity, and the priests who conspired to kill Jesus (like those who "sought smooth things" had conspired to "kill the innocent" or "righteous one" in CD) seem similarly "happy to see the people quarrel" (Mk. 15:11: "But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead").
Just some things that came to mind after my initial reading of your great post.
Statistics: Posted by John2 — Fri Jan 10, 2025 2:31 pm