Calendrical Texts and the Origins of the Dead Sea Scroll Community

The dwqh cycles were initially calculated for a triennial lunar cycle rather than a six-year span, and upon expansion to a six-year framework the triennial scheme was duplicated without re-evaluating the lunar phenomena.

“A straightforward explanation for the discrepancies observed could be that the dwqh cycles were initially calculated for a triennial lunar cycle rather than a six-year span, which from a calendrical perspective was constructed only in order to enumerate the weeks of the priestly families before Gamul returns to the temple on the first week of the first month. Upon its expansion to a six-year”

Upon its expansion to a six-year framework, the scheme of the triennial cycle was merely duplicated without re-evaluating the dynamics of the lunar phenomena.

“Upon its expansion to a six-year framework, the scheme of the triennial cycle was merely duplicated without re-evaluating the dynamics of the lunar phenomena.52”

VanderKam's hypothesis gained popularity in terms of Qumran history because it was concurrent with mainstream theories on the formation of the yahad.

“VanderKam's hypothesis gained popularity in terms of Qumran history because it was concurrent with mainstream theories on the formation of the yahad (VanderKam 1994: 385;1998: 113-16).”