Abstract:
This study investigates the textual differences between Pseudo-Ezekiel 4Q385 fragments 2 and
3, and 4Q386 fragment 1 column i, in order to determine the possible provenance, authorship
and date of each fragment. The research consists of a literary-exegetical analysis, an analysis
of the differences in orthography between these texts, and a text-critical analysis between the
Pseudo-Ezekiel fragments and the MT, LXX, and p967. The aim with this study is to contribute
to our understanding of Pseudo-Ezekiel with regard to the vision of the valley of the dry bones
in the light of what the text may reveal about scribal practice, authorship, provenance, and the
dating of these texts. It would appear that the rewriting of texts can reflect the ideology or
perspective of different authors. It has been indicated that Pseudo-Ezekiel 4Q385 fragments 2
and 3, and 4Q386 fragment 1 column i, date from different times, and were penned by different
authors. It is proposed that Pseudo-Ezekiel 4Q386 may be contemporary to the assassination of
Pompey and 4Q385 to the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
