[Right Wing Professor]

The entire reason the book was dated after 37 B.C. was because the scholars presumed that prophesy is impossible, i.e. mentioning the end of the Maccabee reign would date the manuscript after 37 B.C., the rise of Herod the Great. Subsequent carbon-dating set the Qumran copy's date as far back as 186 B.C. (before Herod the Great and before the Maccabees as well).

Actually, based on my brief reading, there was argument about this even before the carbon dating.

It does seem, though, that any inferences they made based on a very stretched reading of the manuscript were questionable to start with. Based on a quick reading of 89 and 90, and the history of the Jews in the Maccabean period, I don't see much relationship between the two.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for your reply!

Based on a quick reading of 89 and 90, and the history of the Jews in the Maccabean period, I don't see much relationship between the two.

I wouldn't expect you to see such things, it is not your speciality. But the consensus of the scholars at the time of Laurence (before the carbon dating) was what it was.