Genesis Apocryphon 1Q20
Dated circa 1st century BCE. –
One of the first Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in 1947
A collection of parabiblical traditions about Lamech, Noah, and Abraham,
A very deteriorated scroll.
The Genesis Apocryphon (1Q20), also called the Tales of the Patriarchs or the Apocalypse of Lamech and labeled 1QapGen, is one of the original seven Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in 1946 by Bedouin shepherds in Cave 1 near Qumran, a small settlement in the northwest corner of the Dead Sea. Composed in Aramaic, it consists of four sheets of leather. Furthermore, it is the least well-preserved document of the original seven. The document records a conversation between the biblical figure Lamech, son of Methuselah, and his son, Noah, as well as first and third person narratives associated with Abraham. It is one of the nonbiblical texts found at Qumran. A range of compositional dates for the work have been suggested from the 3rd century BC to 1st century AD. Palaeography and Carbon-14 dating were used to identify the age of the documents. It is 13 inches in length and 2.75 inches in width at its widest point in the middle.
Parabiblical writings
The literary genre of the Genesis Apocryphon lies within the “rewritten bible” category, which can be closely compared to the Targum, Midrash, and parabiblical or parascriptural genres. The term “parascriptural” can be used as an umbrella term for a broad class of texts that in various ways extend the authority of scripture by imitation and interpretation. The “rewritten bible” category is the result of extending scripture which was a somewhat common practice during the Second Temple period. Writers employed several different methods of rewriting scripture: rearranging passages, adding detail, and clarifying points that were open to misinterpretation.