Regardless of what specifically the Hebrew word midrash stands for in its two occurrences in a postexilic book of the Hebrew scriptures (2 Chr. 13:22, 24:27), where the reference is clearly to something written or written in (Heb., ketuvim; Gr., gegramménoi), by the last century BCE it stands for oral interpretation, that is, interpretation of the Torah, the Law of Moses; and one who interprets the Law is referred to as doresh hatorah. This we learn from the literature of the Dead Sea sectarians (Damascus Covenant 6.7, 7.18f., 8.29; Manual of Discipline 6.6, 8.15; see also Ecclesiastes 1:13). Indeed, it is possible that already at the beginning of the second century BCE there were in existence schools where Torah interpretation was going on. In the Hebrew of Ben Sira (c. 200–180 BCE), the author, Simeon ben Joshua ben Sira, or Sirach, by whose time "wisdom" is already equated...