Rethinking the Relationship between 4QInstruction and Ben Sira

Since the publication of 4QInstruction , many scholars have compared this sapiential work with Ben Sira . Certain commentators have examined the language and themes in these works to suggest the same period of composition and even a dialogue between the sage Ben Sira and those responsible for 4QInstruction. This paper analyzes the evidence and the relationship between these two texts. Despite such commonalities as the use of the Genesis creation stories to address sin and human accountability, the differences between the two works on eschatology, the search for knowledge, and such mundane matters as surety are significant. 4QInstruction has more common vocabulary with the rest of the Dead Sea Scrolls corpus than with Ben Sira and does not necessarily date from the same period as the more elite sage. Comparative analysis of 4QInstruction and Ben Sira highlights significant parallels, but there are also major differences that point to the diversity of the wisdom tradition during the Second Temple period.