Textual Variants and Pesher Exegesis in the Damascus Document

An analysis of interpretations of scriptural quotations interwoven into the Admonitions in the Damascus Document reveals that the author employed pesher exegesis built on variant versions of prophetic verses. Exegetical hints the author has left in the work prove that he was familiar with different variants and capitalized on them to enrich his interpretations. This pesher technique is well-known from the continuous pesharim, and its occurrence in the Damascus Document provides more evidence as to the close connection between the Admonitions of the Damascus Document and pesher literature.