The Performance of Blessing as Imitation of Divine Beings

Abstract This essay examines Qumran texts that not only perform blessing but also reflect on the activity of itself, and thereby offer an opportunity to better understand urge necessity behind growth liturgical cycles generate traditions prayer. The paper looks at three texts, hymns maśkîl , Hymn Creator, 4Q408, in which performance is presented as acknowledgment creator through lens primordial time actualization creation narratives. argues way divine beings are imagined perceiving responding act forms a model performers emulate order approach much possible holiness these higher beings. example demonstrates interaction between interpretation their impact emergence textual traditions, both oral written, Second Temple period.