נגלות ונסתרות: התגלות נמשכת בתחומי החכמה והחוק

It is generally accepted that the terms niglot and nistarot, derived from Deut. 29:28, function as technical terms in the Qumran corpus. The conventional understanding has been that the Qumran community used these terms to distinguish between laws that are recorded explicitly in the Torah, and esoteric laws that were made known only to the members of the community. This has been contrasted to the rabbinic use of these terms in a judicial sense, to denote transgressions committed openly or in secret. Recent studies have indicated greater complexity in the use of these terms in the Second Temple period. This investigation demonstrates that both the rabbis and the Qumran community interpreted Deut. 29:28 in relation to (1) the revelation of eschatologically and theologically significant esoterica; (2) progressive halakhic revelation; and (3) juridical distinctions between categories of transgressions. As might be expected, there is a clear correlation between the interpretation evinced in a particular text, and that composition's genre. Thus, apocalyptic and sapiential texts employ the term nistarot to refer to knowledge of transcendent matters, whereas rules texts tend to use the word to denote laws or punishments. Nonetheless, conceptual interdependence is discernible. The book of Jubilees reflects an integrated application of the exegetical traditions related to Deut. 29:28. The final section of this article examines the influence of these traditions on the general premise of Jubilees, as well as their impact on three specific cases that relate to progressive revelation, hidden and overt sins, and intentional and unintentional transgressions, viz. the sins of Reuben and Judah, the punishment of Cain, and the "Jubilees Apocalyse".