Midrash Pesher of Habakkuk & Jesus of Nazareth

 The Midrash Pesher of Habakkuk, as Brownlee titles it, is perhaps a mixed metaphor in terms of biblical commentary. In the strictest sense, midrash is seen as scholarly, rabbinical commentary on and interpretation of the books of the Hebrew Scriptures, and Jewish religious observance and practice in the light thereof. The Midrashic tradition traces its origin to the first days of the Exile in the sixth century BCE, and extends to roughly the thirteenth century CE. The various midrashim can be divided into groupings according to the type of commentary they provide: halakhah, or that which is primarily concerned with the law (civil or religious) and codes of behavior; and, aggadah (or, haggadah), or that which has been described as "all the nonlegal literature of rabbinic Judaism. It is . . . a kind of 'imaginative' literature" (Holtz, 178). On the other hand, pesher is viewed as prophetic interpretation or insight, which does not necessarily devolve from rabbinic sources, although this should not be taken to mean that it is any less "a

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have "kept quiet at the time of the reproof by the Teacher of Right and did not help him against the Man of Lies." Near the close of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells the multitude: "And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man . . ." (7:26). Of this passage in the Pesher, Brownlee states that "the 'Man of Lies' was a prominent Jewish leader. . . . To members of the sect (at Qumran), the Teacher spoke the words of God; but those outside the sect did not believe this" (94). How true this could be said of the Pharisees and Sadducees in the time of Jesus, in contrast to His followers. In ?20 (2:1-2), there is a direct comparison of the last days of Habakkuk and the mission of Righteous Teacher: Habakkuk prayed that he might know the things which would happen in the last days. . . . But the fulness (sic) of that time [God] did not make known to him. [However], "for the sake of him who reads it may run [may divulge]," its interpretation concerns the Righteous Teacher to whom God has made known all the mysteries . . . . Jesus says, in Matthew 5:17b, "I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill." Brownlee (110) expounds that, accordi
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Approximate Word count = 1715
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)

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