Literary Structure

The prayer for each of the six weekdays presents an independent unit, set off by blank spaces in the text and symbols in the margins. Each may be read on its own in a closed liturgical performance. Chazon demonstrates that each of these prayers follows the same, closely integrated, multipart internal structure, encompassing:

1. the title, identifying the text as X-תפלה ביום (tplh bywm), “petitionary prayer for Day X”;

2. a call to remembrance addressed to God;

3. a summary review of events in the sacred history, focusing on humanity and then Israel’s relationship with God;

4. a petitionary request;

5. a concluding benediction;

6. the—presumably communal—response, “Amen. Amen” (Chazon, “Liturgical Document,” 3–5 [English abstract]; Chazon, “Liturgy or Literature”; compare Falk, Daily, Sabbath, and Festival Prayers, 66–67).

Although the prayer for each of the six weekdays functions as an independent composition, Chazon also identifies a number of literary features that demonstrate the entire seven-day cycle reflects the “deliberate literary composition” of a singular authorship (Chazon, “Liturgical Document,” English 3–5; “4QDibHam,” 448):

• the chronological progression of historical references in each consecutive weekday prayer;

• uniformity of structure; and

• linguistic parallels between the prayers.

The Sabbath liturgy is different in style and content, most notably in that it lacks any historical narrative or petition (Chazon, “4QDibHam,” 448–50; Falk, Daily, Sabbath, and Festival Prayers, 150). The apparent belief that certain petitionary forms of prayer are inappropriate for the Sabbath evokes similar sensibilities found in later rabbinic liturgy.

The Words of the Luminaries avoids use of the tetragrammaton in prayer (instead employing the title אדוני, 'dwny, “Lord”). Some fragmentary elements, and a particular interpretation of the title word, “Luminaries” (as referring to spiritual beings) may allude to concepts of joint worship with angels (Penner, Patterns of Daily Prayer, 104).

The Words of the Luminaries should not be confused with the Book of the Luminaries that comprises chapters 72–82 of the First Book of Enoch.