Unraveling the controversies surrounding the Dead Sea Scrolls
Since they were first discovered in the caves at Qumran in 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls have aroused more fascination—and controversy—than perhaps any other archaeological find. They appear to have been hidden in the Judean desert by the Essenes, a Jewish sect that existed around the time of Jesus, and they continue to inspire veneration to this day. In this concise and accessible book, John Collins tells the story of the scrolls and the bitter conflicts that have swirled around them since their startling discovery. He explores whether the scrolls were indeed the property of an isolated, quasi-monastic community or more broadly reflected the Judaism of their time. He unravels the impassioned disputes surrounding the scrolls and Christianity, and looks at attempts to “reclaim” the scrolls for Judaism after the full corpus became available in the 1990s. Collins also describes how the decades-long delay in publishing the scrolls gave rise to sensational claims and conspiracy theories.
John J. Collins is the Holmes Professor of Old Testament Criticism and Interpretation at Yale University. His many books include Beyond the Qumran Community: The Sectarian Movement of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Table of Contents
Preface vii Chapter 1 The Discovery of the Scrolls 1 Chapter 2 The Essenes 33 Chapter 3 The Site of Qumran 67 Chapter 4 The Scrolls and Christianity 96 Chapter 5 The Scrolls and Judaism 147 Chapter 6 The Scrolls and the Bible 185 Chapter 7 The Battle for the Scrolls 213 Appendix Personalities in the Discovery and Subsequent Controversies 243 Notes 247 Glossary 259 Bibliography 263 Indexes 265
Ancient Texts 265
Names 267
Places 270
Subjects 27
What People are Saying About This
From the Publisher
"This is a marvelously readable, informative, and reliable general introduction to everything associated with Qumran, and provides valuable insights into the impact of the scrolls on the Bible, ancient Judaism, and budding Christianity. It is highly recommended as one of the best guides for anyone wishing to approach the greatest Hebrew manuscript discovery of modern times."—Geza Vermes, professor emeritus of Jewish studies, University of Oxford"This up-to-date and concise handbook introduces readers to profound discussions of theological, historical, and canonical issues, and to the savory details and gossip surrounding the discovery and publication of the scrolls. Written in Collins's original, witty style, the book is a must for anyone who wants to learn about the scrolls, novice and specialist alike."—Emanuel Tov, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, former editor in chief of the Dead Sea Scrolls Publication Project"This book is right up to date, and is written by a scholar who has been at the very center of scrolls scholarship for several decades. What sets it apart is Collins's expert and sensible analysis of the theories scholars have crafted about the Dead Sea Scrolls in the sixty-five years since they were first discovered."—James C. VanderKam, author of The Dead Sea Scrolls Today"This is an excellent introduction to the scrolls and a great read. Collins has a distinctive perspective and voice, and writes lucidly and engagingly. His well-known scholarly judiciousness is everywhere in evidence—a virtue in short supply in some areas of scrolls study. There is no other volume that does quite what this one does."—Philip Alexander, author of The Mystical Texts: Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice and Related Manuscripts
