4. The Son of God and Son of the Most High in the Daniel Apocryphon from Qumran

Abstract

This chapter covers another text from Qumran, the so-called Daniel Apocryphon. It refers directly to the Son of Man in the biblical Book of Daniel and has drawn attention from numerous scholars. The chapter describes Daniel Apocryphon as a fragment of an Aramaic scroll dating from the late Herodian period, which is the last third of the first century BCE. Its particular significance comes from its unique, straightforward way of mentioning a “Son of God” and “Son of the Most High.” The chapter also points out the relationship between the most high God El and Elohim-Melchizedek. Although Psalm 82:1 states that Elohim-Melchizedek holds judgment in the midst of the other gods, the judgment at the end of days is actually reserved for the Most High God El, as becomes clear from Psalm 7:8–9.