Dead Sea Scrolls Confirm Jubilee Cycles
It is believed by some that the Jubilee cycles are 50 years, not 49. We have already presented evidence in support of 49 year cycles, however, we want to look closely now at historical records which predate the time of Messiah, especially the Dead Sea Scrolls. While the Book of Jubilees may appear to be the only evidence to draw upon, that is not entirely correct. In fact, we can even find documentation from the first and second century BCE which shows the Jewish people understood that: 1) "weeks" in apocalyptic literature are intended to mean Sabbatical weeks (weeks of years), 2) seven of those weeks represent a complete jubilee cycle, and 3) Daniel's 70 weeks in particular were intended to mean 10 Jubilee cycles. Here is the documented evidence:
A "Week" in Apocalyptic literature means a Sabbatical week (a week composed of seven years).
Then after that Enoch happened to be recounting from the books. And Enoch said, "Concerning the children of righteousness, concerning the elect ones of the world, and concerning the plant of truth, I will speak these things, my children, verily, Enoch, myself, and let you know (about it) according to that which was revealed to me from the heavenly vision, that which I have learned from the words of the holy angels, and understood from the heavenly tablets." He then began to recount from the books and said, "I was born the seventh during the first week, during which time judgment and righteousness continued to endure. After me there shall arise in the second week great and evil things;' deceit should grow, and therein the first consummation will take place. But therein (also) a (certain) man shall be saved. After it is ended, injustice shall become greater, and he shall make a law for the sinners. "Then after that at the completion of the third week a (certain) man shall be elected as the plant of the righteous judgment, and after him one (other) shall emerge as the eternal plant of righteousness. "After that at the completion of the fourth week visions of the old and righteous ones shall be seen; and a law shall be made with a fence, for all the generations. "After that in the fifth week, at the completion of glory, a house and a kingdom shall be built. "After that in the sixth week those who happen to be in it shall all of them be blindfolded, and the hearts of them all shall forget wisdom. Therein, a (certain) man shall ascend. And, at its completion, the house of the kingdom shall be burnt with fire; and therein the whole clan of the chosen root shall be dispersed. "After that in the seventh week an apostate generation shall arise; its deeds shall be many, and all of them criminal. At its completion, there shall be elected the elect ones of righteousness from the eternal plant of righteousness, to whom shall be given sevenfold instruction concerning all his flock. (1st Enoch 93:1-10 -- The Apocalypse of Weeks).
This reference can be dated from between 200 BCE and 100 CE. Regardless of whether we are in agreement with the authors interpretation of prophetic events, this reference clearly shows that a 'week' in apocalyptic literature was intended to represent a Sabbatical week of years. It also shows that such 'weeks' were intended to represent long periods of time (not a brief period of only seven literal days).
and there will come the dominion of Belial upon them to deliver them up to the sword for a week of years...During this jubilee they will brake all my laws...and they will begin to argue with one another for seventy years... (The Pseudo-Moses Apocalypse) [4Q390, 4QpsMoses]
This reference from the Dead Sea Scrolls once again clearly defines a prophetic week as a seven year period.
Seven Apocalyptic Weeks represent a complete Jubilee cycle.
Do seven prophetic weeks equal one jubilee cycle? The best evidence for this is the book of Jubilees itself. The best way to easily illustrate this (without reading the entire book) will simply be to reference the introduction as provided by the translator:
Although months and seasons are accounted for in the calendar of Jubilees, it was the recurring cycle of seven-day weeks that was used as the basic model for structure larger periods of time. Each period of seven years is referred to as a 'week of years' or simply as a 'week'. Each period of seven weeks of years, i.e. forty-nine years, is designated a jubilee. (The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha (2 vols), Charlesworth (ed), Doubleday: 1983.)
Daniel's 70 weeks is intended to mean 10 Jubilee cycles.
Because you have heard about the seventy weeks, listen also concerning the priesthood. In each jubilee there shall be a priesthood: In the first jubilee the first 'person to be anointed to the priesthood will be great, and he shall speak to God as father; and his priesthood shall be fully satisfactory to the Lord, and in the days of his joy, he shall rise up for the salvation of the world. In the second jubilee the Anointed One shall be conceived in sorrow of the beloved one, and his priesthood shall be prized and shall be glorified by all. The third priest shall be overtaken by grief, and the fourth priesthood shall be with sufferings, because injustice shall be imposed upon him in a high degree, and all Israel shall hate each one his neighbor. The fifth shall be overcome by darkness; likewise the sixth and the seventh. In the seventh there shall be pollution such as I am unable to declare in the presence of human beings, because only the ones who do these things understand such matters. Therefore they shall be in captivity and will be preyed upon; both their land and their possessions shall be stolen. And in the fifth week they shall return to the land of their desolation, and shall restore anew the house of the Lord. In the seventh week there will come priests: idolators, adulterers, money lovers, arrogant, lawless, voluptuaries, pederasts, those who practice bestiality. (The Testament of Levi 17, found in the Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs.)
This document comes from the second century BCE, and it gives very strong evidence in support of the idea that a 'week' in Apocalyptic prophecies was then understood as being long periods of time. It also clearly makes a direct connection to the 70 weeks of Daniel 9, and it also shows that a Jubilee (according to him) was intended to be understood as an integral part of seventy weeks of years (i.e., just as given to us in Daniel 9) The context of this passage indicates that a much greater amount of time is intended than just 7 or 49 literal days.
The Melchizedek Scroll
The Dead Sea Scrolls also shed great light on the significance of a Jubilee cycle and how it was to be counted:
The Melchizedek Scroll.
'Now the d[ay of expia]tion i[s the en]d of the tenth [ju]bilee, when expiation (will be made) for all the sons of [light and] for the m[e]n of the lot of Mel[chi]zedek.' The end of the tenth jubilee is, of course, the culmination of seventy weeks of years or 490 years. (Eschatology, Messianism, and the Dead Sea Scrolls, Craig Evans and Peter Flint (eds). Eerdmans:1997.) [Collins, p. 83.]
Here is another full translation of that same text, which shows conclusively that the 10 Jubilees are connected directly with Daniel 9 -- DSS 11Q13:
2 [...] And as for what he said: Lev 25:13 « In [this] year of jubilee, [you shall return, each one, to his respective property », concerning it he said: Deut 15:2 « Th]is is
3 [the manner of the release:] every creditor shall release what he lent [to his neighbour. He shall not coerce his neighbour or his brother, for it has been proclaimed] a release
4 for G[od ». Its interpretation] for the last days refers to the captives, who [...] and whose
5 teachers have been hidden and kept secret, and from the inheritance of Melchizedek, fo[r ...] and they are the inherita[nce of Melchize]dek, who
6 will make them return. And liberty will be proclaimed for them, to free them from [the debt of] all their iniquities. And this [wil]l [happen]
7 in the first week of the jubilee which follows the ni[ne] jubilees. And the d[ay of aton]ement is the e[nd of] the tenth [ju]bilee
8 in which atonement shall be made for all the sons of [light and] for the men [of] the lot of Mel[chi]zedek. [...] over [the]m [...] accor[ding to] a[ll] their [wor]ks, for
9 it is the time for the « year of grace » of Melchizedek, and of [his] arm[ies, the nat]ion of the holy ones of God, of the rule of judgment, as is written
10 about him in the songs of David, who said: Ps 82:1 « Elohim will [st]and in the assem[bly of God,] in the midst of the gods he judges ». And about him he sai[d: Ps 7:8-9 « And] above [it,]
11 to the heights, return: God will judge the peoples ». As for what he sa[id: Ps 82:2 « How long will you] judge unjustly and show partia[lity] to the wicked? [Se]lah. »
12 Its interpretation concerns Belial and the spirits of his lot, wh[o ...] turn[ing aside] from the commandments of God to [commit evil.]
13 But, Melchizedek will carry out the vengeance of Go[d's] judgments, [and on that day he will fr]e[e them from the hand of] Belial and from the hand of all the sp[irits of his lot.]
14 To his aid (shall come) all « the gods of [justice »; and h]e is the one w[ho ...] all the sons of God, and [...]
15 This [...] is the day of [peace about whi]ch he said [... through Isa]iah the prophet, who said: [Isa 52:7 « How] beautiful
16 upon the mountains are the feet [of] the messen[ger who] announces peace, the mess[enger of good who announces salvati]on, [sa]ying to Zion: your God [reigns. »]
17 Its interpretation: The mountains [are] the prophet[s ...] [...] for all [...]
18 And the messenger i[s] the anointed of the spir[it] as Dan[iel] said [about him: Dan 9:25 « Until an anointed, a prince, it is seven weeks. » And the messenger of]
19 good who announ[ces salvation] is the one about whom it is written that [...]
20 « To comfo[rt] the [afflicted », its interpretation:] to instruct them in all the ages of the wo[rld ...]
21 in truth [...] [...]
22 [...] has turned away from Belial and will re[turn ...] [...]
23 [...] in the judgment[s of] God, as is written about him: [Isa 52:7 « Saying to Zi]on: your God rules. » [« Zi]on » i[s]
24 [the congregation of all the sons of justice, those] who establish the covenant, those who avoid walking [on the pa]th of the people. And « your God » is
25 [... Melchizedek, who will fr]e[e them from the ha]nd of Belial. And as for what he said: Lev 25:9 « You shall blow the hor[n in] all the [l]and of
The Melchizedek Scroll, A fragment of the Dead Sea Scrolls called DSS 11Q13
. . . The figure of Melchizedek is introduced into this context of a jubilee year. What then is meant by "the year of jubilee" in this manuscript? Fitzmyer interprets the year of jubilee mentioned in this manuscript as follows:
'In the course of the midrashic development the year of jubilee mentioned first in line 2 becomes "the last jubilee" (line 7), or "the tenth jubilee" (line 7, at the end). In other words, it seems to refer to the end of the 490 years, or "the seventy weeks of years" of Dan 9:24-27. It is called the year of "release" (mth) proclaimed for the Lord (lines 3-4) and of "liberation" (drr), such as was announced to the captives of Isa 61:1.'The translation is taken from Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition (eds.Garcνa Martinez and Eibert J. C. Tigchelaar, 1209). Highlights in the translation indicate the parts of the Old Testament verses. [Go to Melchizedek in 11Q13 (11QMelch), for more information.]
The Ages of Creation documents (4Q180-181)
The use of 70 and 490 in structuring history is known elsewhere; from the Flood to the end is seventy generations (1 En. 10:12) or seventy weeks of years (4Q181 2.3; cf. 4Q 180 1.4-9); 11Q Melch envisages a period of ten jubilees or 490 years up to the final judgment. (Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis, Willem A. VanGeren (gen. Ed.), Zond:1997 (5 vols).
Now, as anyone can plainly see after reading this, the idea that a Jubilee cycle represents seven weeks of years (49 literal years, not 50 years), and the idea that a continuous seven year period represents Sabbatical cycles is not strictly a new idea at all. These concepts were well understood by the Jewish people some 200 years prior to the birth of Messiah. For further information please check out this link to Good Question...Did the Jews understand the 'weeks' of Daniel to refer to 'years'?