Scripture, Wisdom, and Authority in 4QInstruction: Understanding the Use of Numbers 30:8-9 in 4Q416

The Qumran wisdom text 4QInstruction makes use of several passages found in Torah. Among the passages used are two verses from Numbers 30. This article examines the author's use of Num 30:8-9 in an effort to characterize how Scripture has been incorporated into this wisdom document. Possibilities considered are "paraphrase," "quotation," and "re-written Bible." Following descriptions of "re-written Bible" provided by Michael Segal, George Brooke, and Daniel Falk, it is concluded that the use of Numbers 30 at this particular point in 4QInstruction follows the tendencies of "re-written Bible." This determination shows that the author approached the source text from Numbers 30 as an authoritative starting point for his instruction. It further shows that the author saw his own work as an extension of biblical ideals.