xii.-xxxvi. The oldest
pre-Maccabæan
xciii., xci. 12-17 “The Apocalypse portions
of Weeks.”
vi.-xi., liv. 7-lv. Fragments of Pre-Maccabæan at the
2, lx., lxv.-lxix. “The Book of latest.
25, cvi., cvii. Noah.”
lxxxiii.-xc. “The 165-161 B.C.
Dream-Visions”
lxxii.-lxxxii. “The Book of Before 110 B.C.
the Heavenly
Luminaries.”
xxxvii.-lxxi. “The Parables,” _circa_ 105-64 B.C.
or
“Similitudes.”
xci. 1-11, 18, _circa_ 105-64 B.C.
19-civ.
i.-v. The latest portion,
but pre-Christian.
Chapter cv, which consists of only two verses, cannot be dated; while
cviii. is in the nature of an appendix, probably added subsequently, to
the whole work.
While these dates may be regarded as approximately correct, it should be
pointed out that differences of opinion exist among scholars on the
subject. Schürer holds, for example, that, with the exception of
chapters xxxvii.-lxxi. (the “Parables,” or “Similitudes”), the entire
book belongs to the period 130-100 B.C.; the “Parables” he assigns to a
time not earlier than Herod the Great. Beer thinks that the
“Dream-Visions” (chapters lxxxiii.-xc.) belong to the time of John
Hyrcanus (135-105 B.C.), and he includes under the pre-Maccabæan
portions only xci. 12-17, xcii. xciii. 1-14; and holds that the rest of
the book was written before 64 B.C. Dalman maintains that it cannot be
proved that the important section xxxvii.-lxxi. (the “Similitudes”) is
“the product of the pre-Christian period,” though he fully recognizes
its Jewish character, Burkitt regards the writer as “almost
contemporary” with the philosopher Posidonius (135-51 B.C.). There is
thus some diversity of opinion as to the date of the book among leading
authorities. That it is, as a whole, pre-Christian, may be regarded as
definitely established. More difficult is the question whether any
portions of it are pre-Maccabæan; Charles gives various reasons for his
belief that considerable parts are pre-Maccabæan; we are inclined to
agree with him, though it may be questioned whether the last word on the
subject has been spoken.