The Dead Sea Scrolls: A New Translation

This translation is one of the best I’ve encountered. The modern, flowing English captures the scrolls’ nuance, while extensive introductions, maps, and footnotes provide essential context. The sturdy binding and clean layout make reading a pleasure. Scholars and curious readers alike will appreciate how it brings these ancient texts to life—highly recommended.

QUMRAN: AS SADDUCEE GOVERNED SPIRITUAL TEMPLE Regardless of your starting-point: Christian, Judaic, or Secular; you will appreciate the objective treatment of the scrolls by these three scholars. I personally was interested in the Qumran-authored scrolls that would give me insight into the community itself. I read the following sections: Introduction pp. 1-38 This introduction gives the reader a close look at the 200 year span from 100 BCE to 100 CE; a great exposition of the Hasmonean and Herodian dynasties. Absolutely essential material. Damascus scroll pp. 49-59 EXHORTATION SECTION: This material introduces us to the “man-of-mockery” & the “teacher-of-righteousness”, which illustrates the underlying convictions that guided the commune. RULES OF CONDUCT SECTION: very informative for understanding the early Judaic rules of the Sabbath. There are additional practical rules in the section pp. 70-84. Habakkuk scroll pp. 114-124 Extremely important for understanding the sect. Through re-interpreting the 6th century BCE document of Scripture; especially the Nebuchadnezzar threat, and applying it to their own threatened relationship to queen Salome’s preference for Pharisee governship of the temple. Charter scroll pp. 123-133 A fully-recovered scroll that was not in fragments. It gives us an excellent look “inside” Qumran and is essential reading. It also gives a look at their “angel-theology” & “rite-of-initiation” Nahum scroll of cave four pp. 215-225 Considered by the authors as the “key” scroll for understanding the community at Qumran. You’ll do best to read this section, with your bible open to Nahum. The references are specific. It, of course concludes with an enlarged “judgment” section. Today there are many Dead Sea scroll offerings and It could get difficult selecting one that treats the scrolls objectively. My HONEST IMPRESSION is that this volume is very objective and fair to the material researched. I strongly recommend it. You will be enriched by the journey. 5 stars for not jumping to the overly-simplistic Essene theory; and for giving us honest in-depth scholarship.

Thank you

Item arrived quickly, undamaged in shipment, a wonderful addition to my "first bibles" collection - Thanks !

Bought it used and it came in all right condition is a good book to read.

I wan't sure what to expect from this translation of the Qumran scrolls (I had not read any earlier translations). The introduction is excellent, clearly explaning to readers what to expect - and not expect - from the scrolls, as well as some tremendously helpful background on the scrolls themselves: how they were written, the languages used, and some broad information about their origins and the site at which they were found. This primer gave perspective and clarity before getting to the scrolls themselves. Before each scroll is presented, there is a brief introduction. While any sort of interpretation will have its bias, I found no clear agenda in these introductions - rather, they too helped make some sense of the documents and shed some light on the controversey (where there was some) and differences of opinions (when there was) about the meaning or significance of the scroll. Taken as a whole, this is a tremendous resource, the scholarship and information presented along with the documents themselves are helpful and accessable to the non-specialist.

Important to read the the Preface & Introduction (including all parts of it) as the the writers who are bringing this Translation of the Scrolls to the public not only give you important info on how to read the scrolls,but you learn the incredible amount of step-by-step & thoughtful time-consuming work it took for all these scholars from the beginning to the present) to bring to the fore these incredible finds. These scrolls indicate there were many types of Judaism than what modern Jews & Christians are aware of, the substantial literary productivity mostly in Hebrew but some in Aramaic, Some show there is agreement frequently to what became the written word in the OT (& a few myth busting ideas we have today) and some scrolls preserve readings we never knew existed. It's hard to believe this treasure only cost me $4.00!!!! How incredible is that when you see all the less than enlightening books out there that cost $$$$.

Great book

A wonderful collection, painstakingly revised and elaborated by the authors. Reading it brings a shiver up the spine and takes you back to 600 BC (or earlier) when it was composed. These are the second oldest surviving testament scriptures in the World after the two silver scrolls of Ketef Hinnom. The third are the Nag Hammadi Texts. An absolute essential for the Biblical studies scholar and an absolute 'must have' for Theology enthusiasts. The compilation far exceeded my expectations, the breadth and depth of knowledge of Michael O. Wise (Author), Martin G., Jr. Abegg (Author), Edward M. Cook (Author) is beyond compare.

A very thick book, very informative

Hermosa edición revisada de los manuscritos del Mar Muerto... Excelente edición.

Still at the beginning of the book but so far very enjoyable. The introductory was amazing and now dipping into the Damascus Document. I can tell already I will not regret having this book.

En su momento, la aparición de estos manuscritos o rollos (scrolls) en Qumrán, a orillas del Mar Muerto, supuso una conmoción en el mundo de la arqueología, la historia de las religiones y estudios bíblicos,etc. Los primeros aparecieron por azar en una cueva y las investigaciones posteriores encontraron textos en otras diez cuevas (muy recientemente, ya en este siglo, se ha añadido una duodécima). La mayoría ( fechados desde el III a.C hasta el I d,C.) se conservan en estado fragmentario y corresponden a tres grupos de textos: libros canónicos de la Biblia, libros apócrifos y textos misceláneos (calendarios, oraciones, normas de convivencia...) de una comunidad que la mayoría (no todos) de los estudiosos identifica con los Esenios. Su importancia es enorme pues aportan versiones muy antiguas de textos tanto canónicos como apócrifos, fundamentales para comprender la evolución del judaísmo así como otros documentos que pueden arrojar luz sobre los orígenes del cristianismo. Muchos libros se han escrito sobre estos textos desde su aparición a mediados del siglo pasado y no todos con el debido rigor académico y científico: se han publicado obras especulativas que forzaban el sentido de los originales para ofrecer "hallazgos espectaculares". Lo mejor es, pues, ir al texto mismo. Eso sí, como los originales están escritos en hebreo, arameo y (muy pocos) griego, para la mayoría resultará útil una buena traducción. Las más citadas suelen ser las de G. Vermes, F. García Martínez y ésta de M. Wise, M. Abegg y E. Cook. Es la más reciente y muy bien escrita, por lo que resulta recomendable para el lector curioso que quiera saber del tema de primera mano.