A Case of Mistaken Identity

It has often been argued that the Qumran Temple Scroll (TS) was inspired by and drew upon the depictions of temple and worship in the book of Chronicles, in particular the account of the divinely revealed tavnit (plan) that David transmits to Solomon in 1 Chr 28. Such arguments, however, lack clear textual support and overlook massive differences in the goals and ideology of the two texts. This essay analyses these differences and concludes that direct dependence of TS upon Chronicles is unlikely; the superficial similarities that do exist are due to the engagement of both texts with earlier traditions about temple and cult. The essay also raises methodological questions about how traditional categories influence the questions scholars ask and the conclusions they come to. In this case, scholars have been led astray by relating Chronicles to TS in light of the later canon (Bible/not-Bible), rather than viewing both texts as parallel examples of the reworking of earlier traditions in the Second Temple period.