BOOKS

ARCHEOLOGY

The Dead Sea Scrolls in English 
   Geza Vermes

Price: $13.95 
Format: Paperback, 4th ed., 448pp.
ISBN: 0140237305
Publisher: Viking Penguin
Pub. Date: January  1991

 
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Description from
A translation of the Hebrew and Aramaic documents discovered in the 1940s and dating from 200 BCE to the 1st century CE, offering unparalleled insights into post-biblical Jewish life; a revised and updated edition

From the Publisher
The manuscripts found in the Qumran caves, dating from about 200 BC to AD 70, are associated with the Essene sect described by several classical authors. Yet despite their immense importance, Geza Vermes argues, scholarly restrictive practices were responsible for 'the academic scandal par excellence of the twentieth century', which until recently kept many key documents hidden from public view. The Dead Sea Scrolls in English provides reliable, direct access to these fascinating documents. Established as the standard English version of the non-biblical material, is now in its fourth edition and has been extensively expanded and updated to include twenty-six newly translated scroll texts, a recent introduction discussing development in Qumran scholarship and, for the first time a full inventory of all the scrolls made available in 1991. Introductory chapters explain the background and outline the history, customs and beliefs of the sectarian community as well as the significance of their writings. The Dead Sea Scrolls in English acts as an authoritative guide for scholar students and all those interested in ancient Judaism and nascent Christianity.
Preface to the Fourth Edition
Preface to the Third Edition (1987)
Introduction
Scroll Catalogue
List of Abbreviations
I The Community 1
Appendix: The Essenes and the Qumran Community 20
II The History of the Community 23
III The Religious Ideas of the Community 41
Note on the Texts 65
1 The Community Rule 69
2 The Community Rule 90
3 The Community Rule 93
4 The Damascus Document 95
5 The Damascus Document: Skin Disease 114
6 The Damascus Document: Penal Code 115
7 The Damascus Document: Renewal of the Covenant Ritual 117
8 The Messianic Rule 119
9 The War Rule 123
10 The War Rule from Cave[subscript 4] 146
11 The Rule of War 149
12 The Temple Scroll 151
13 MMT (Some Observances of the Law): Peroration 181
14 The Wicked and the Holy 183
15 [subscript 4]QTohorot (Purities) A 184
16 Curses of Satan and His Lot 185
17 Curses of Melkiresha 186
18 The Thanksgiving Hymns 189
19 The Apocryphal Psalms 237
20 A Messianic Apocalypse 244
21 Poetic Fragments on Jerusalem and 'King' Jonathan 246
22 Lamentations 248
23 The Words of the Heavenly Lights 250
24 Songs for the Holocaust of the Sabbath 254
25 Liturgical Prayer 264
26 Prayers for Festivals 265
27 Daily Prayers 267
28 Blessings 268
29 Purification Ritual 271
30 The Triumph of Righteousness 272
31 The Seductress 273
32 Exhortation to Seek Wisdom 275
33 A Liturgical Work 277
34 A Sapiential Work 278
35 Bless, My Soul 280
36 Songs of the Sage 282
37 Beatitudes 286
38 The Genesis Apocryphon 292
39 A Genesis Commentary 300
40 A Flood Apocryphon 303
41 The Ages of the Creation 304
42 The Testament of Levi 305
43 The Testament of Naphtali 306
44 A Joseph Apoctyphon 307
45 The Testament of Qahat 309
46 The Testament of Amram 311
47 The Words of Moses 314
48 A Moses Apocryphon 316
49 Pseudo-Moses 317
50 The Samuel Apocryphon 319
51 Commentaries on Isaiah 320
52 The New Jerusalem 324
53 Second Ezekiel 327
54 The Prayer of Nabonidus 329
55 The Pseudo-Danielic Writings 330
56 An Aramaic Apocalypse 331
57 Commentaries on Hosea 333
58 Commentary on Micah 335
59 Commentary on Nahum 336
60 Commentary on Habakkuk 340
61 Commentary on Psalms 348
62 Midrash on the Last Days 353
63 Messianic Anthology or Testimonia 355
64 Ordinances or Commentaries on Biblical Law 357
65 The Heavenly Prince Melchizedek 360
66 Consolations or Tanhumim 363
67-8 'Horoscopes' 367
69 A Brontologion 370
70 The Copper Scroll 372
Chronology 379
Major Editions of Qumran Manuscripts 382
General Bibliography 384
Index 386