A Differnt Perspective

May 8, 2009, 9:24 am by dc-agape.

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The Apocryphon of Judah

The title of this Tractate is rather deceiving.  An Apocryphon is usually a book that brings secret teachings to the reader.  It might be that this Tractate is so fragmentary that we have lost the “secret” part.  The only part that has survived is the story of Joseph’s second encounter with his brothers in Egypt (Gen 44:1-45:15).  It is told from the perspective of Judah, the brother that suggested selling him into slavery years before this reunion (Gen 37:26-27). 

In this narration Joseph’s love for Ben-Ami (yes, I am using Rachel’s name for her son instead of Abraham’s choice) is completely absent.  And if we believe that it is written from Judah’s perspective, only Judah receives the greatest expression of brotherly love.  This is in severe contrast to the Book of Genesis.  This Tractate’s purpose was to downplay the importance of the relationship between the brothers of Rachel and to bring importance to the reunion between Joseph and Judah.  If you remember the history of Israel, Judah became an independent kingdom separated from the rest of Israel after the reign of Solomon.  After the Assyrian conquest of Judah both nations were “reunited”.  This Tractate was most likely written to smooth over the differences between the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel.

Looking at it from an Atheist’s perspective, I see how easily religious texts can be “rewritten” for political purposes.  It is true that this particular Tractate did not survive to become part of the Holy Word of God as we know it.  Yet, this Tractate was held in high regard by a particular sect of Israelites.  Somehow this sect could ignore the Torah and allow this Tractate to either supersede or compliment the Book of Genesis.  I wonder what would have happened if the Romans had not destroyed the Temple in 70AD.  Would this Tractate still be circulated?  Would we have a completely different perspective on the Book of Genesis if that were the case?  I ask these questions because the sect that kept this Tractate was dedicated to the survival of the Temple.  When the Temple was destroyed this sect lost any religious power that it held.

When reading the Dead Sea Scrolls, one must keep a few things in mind.  First, the sect that held these Tractates was linked directly to the existence of the Temple.  Second, this sect was of an unknown group.  It was neither part of the Pharisees, Sadducees, or Essenes.  From some of the other writings we know that this sect was much more wide spread than the Essenes, but that it did not accept either the Pharisees or the Sadducees either.  Third, we must understand that, as a result, this Jewish sect interpreted the Torah, the Nevi’im, and Ketuvim differently than the other religious sects of the time.  Which sect was correct?  Which sect truly understood the meaning of the Old Testament?  And, as a result of these last two questions, do we understand the Old Testament correctly?  All of modern day Jewish and Christian faith relies on these questions.  Can we risk being wrong?  Should we risk being wrong?  Or should we recognize that as with most legends from mythology that the Old Testament is just that: mythology!

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