The sect seems to have perpetuated itself for a considerable time, otherwise this book would hardly have been preserved. It may perhaps be conjectured that it survived long enough to be gathered, along with numerous younger sects, into the capacious bosom of Karaism, of which it was in various points a precursor. Such an hypothesis would explain how it came about that copies of the book were made in the tenth century and later, we should then suppose by Karaite scribes.(110) Dr. Schechter has laid all students of Judaism under new obligations by the discovery and publication of these texts. They will join with their congratulations the hope that he may find yet other treasures among the accumulations of the Genizah. FOOTNOTES 1 Documents of Jewish Sectaries. Volume I. Fragments of a Zadokite Work. Edited, with Translation, Introduction, and Notes, by S. Schechter. Cambridge University Press. 1910. 2 It may be added that the quotations are singularly inexact. 3 In my translation I have sometimes thought it possible to adhere to the text where Dr. Schechter has preferred a conjectural emendation. 4 That is, probably, against the legitimate high priest of the time (perhaps Onias).—The rendering “_by_ his Anointed” is grammatically admissible, but would be unintelligible in this context. 5 It would be possible to render “the penitents of Israel.” 6 The four or five words which follow are unintelligible. 7 The references are to page and line of the Hebrew text. 8 Others sought refuge in Egypt; the temple of Onias at Leontopolis had its origin in the same circumstances. 9 So they understood the words translated in the English version “the cruel venom of asps.” 10 See 2 Macc. 4 16: “By reason of which (sc. their predilection for Greek ways) a dire calamity befel them, and those for whose customs they displayed such zeal and whom they wanted to imitate in everything became their enemies and avengers.” Assumption of Moses, 5 1: “When the times of retribution shall draw near, and vengeance arises through kings who share their guilt and punish them,” etc., describes the same situation. 11 Cf. “the whole race of the elect root,” Enoch 93 8. 12 See Schürer, Geschichte des jüdischen Volkes (3 ed.), vol. iii. p. 189.