Intertextuality and Prophetic Exegesis in the War Scroll of Qumran

The War Scroll at Qumran (1QM) is a rich text that describes the battle between the Sons of Light on one side and Belial and the Sons of Darkness on the other. Allusions of Scripture throughout the scroll promise God's support of the Sons of Light, but only columns 10-12 directly cite Scripture. Melgar argues that these citations are used prophetically by looking to the past in order to predict the future, when God will fully establish his reign and his fellowship with the Sons of Light. By integrating theories from biblical and literary studies, Melgar reads these citations within a web of intertextual connections and suggests that they provide a window into the religious beliefs of the sectarians at Qumran.