'לפשר מובנו של הכינוי 'דורשי חלקות

The derogatory epithet דורשי חלקות, apparently hurled by the sectarians of the Dead Sea Scrolls against the Pharisees, has been variously rendered, but none of the suggested interpretations has sufficient attestation. It may best be explained as referring to the Pharisaic claim that the biblical verses may be filled with meaningful content only by virtue of their דרשות (cf. Gen. R. 4:10). The adjective חלק is used in the rabbinic texts with the denotation 'empty' in several of its shades (for sources consult the relevant lexica). Hence דורשי חלקות is to be rendered: expounders of empty things. It was thus used by the Dead Sea sectarians as a stinging retort to the Pharisaic boast that their דרשות fill the biblical verses with meaningful content. This use of חלק will also explain correctly two other baffling texts. The Ugaritic phrase ין חלק (UT, No. 1084; Glossary, No. 969) is now to be taken simply as 'flat wine', i.e. devoid of aroma and flavour. The verse in Ben Sira 36:13 כן אדם ביד עושהו להתיצב מפניו חלק is to be explained as follows: so is man in the hand of his Maker, appearing before Him devoid of shape (to be moulded by Him).