The Figure of Daniel as an Archetype of an Historical Apocalypse Visionary: Findings from Two Qumran Texts

I would like to discuss a single aspect of one of the most prominent phenomena of the Second Temple literature – the phenomenon of Pseudonymity – by examining two examples of Qumran texts which employ the figure of Daniel: the Aramaic Pseudo-Daniel scroll, 4Q243-244, and scroll 4Q245. The two texts are categorized as apocalyptic texts of the genre of apocalyptic history, a subgenre of apocalyptic literature, and Daniel’s name appears in both of them.

My assertion is that the figure of Daniel transforms into the archetype of a historical apocalypse visionary, whether the texts are close – in terms of content and chronology – to the book of Daniel, and whether they are not. This is not merely a model of historical apocalypse employing the name of Daniel as its visionary, but rather the figure of Daniel itself, with the emotional and historical significance that he embodies for the readers of that period. Pseudonymity creates the illusion that the prophecy, which was mostly fulfilled, would be realized until the end.

The fact that the authors of these two Qumran texts – scroll 4Q243-244, and scroll 4Q245 – sheltered under the patronage of Daniel’s name is only logical, since in the biblical book Daniel is presented not only as the authorized interpreter of dreams, but particularly of the great apocalyptic visions of history. This is equally the distinctive feature of the several pseudo-epigraphical compositions which have used his name in later periods.