The Genesis Apocryphon, as we have just seen, represents a reworking of material in Genesis and forms one of a number of writings from Qumran of various kinds in which biblical material has been reworked. By contrast the Prayer of Nabonidus (4QPrNab) represents an older form of a tradition preserved in the Bible, namely the story of Nebuchadnezzar's madness (Dan. 4). The Prayer therefore is not strictly speaking ‘exegetical’, but it is included here because of its close relationship to Dan. 4.

The story of Nebuchadnezzar's madness forms part of the cycle of traditions associated with the figure of Daniel. This cycle includes not only the biblical book that bears his name, but also the stories in the Apocrypha of Daniel and Susanna, and Daniel, Bel, and the Snake. To this cycle have now to be added the fragments of three different writings in Aramaic that were found in Qumran Cave 4: (1) an apocalyptic work in which Daniel speaks before the king and his courtiers and gives an account of the history of the world from the flood onwards (4QPsDan ara–c); (2) a second apocalyptic work which is unclear in many respects, but is of interest because of its use of the terms ‘Son of God’ and ‘Son of the Most High’ (4QPsDan Aa (= 4Q243)); (3) the Prayer of Nabonidus. The Jewish hero of the Prayer is not in fact named in the fragments of this work that have survived, and it is by no means certain that he was named; but there is no question that this writing is related to the narrative of Dan. 4.