Understanding the Dead Sea Scrolls: A Reader from the Biblical Archaeology Review

Shanks, Hershel [editor]

ISBN 10: 0679414487 / ISBN 13: 9780679414483

Published by Random House, New York, 1992

About this Item

Hardcover in publisher's non price-clipped dust-jacket. 336 pages. Notes, About the Authors, Index. Illustrated throughout with black and white photographs. First edition, first printing following Random House method of identification with words First Edition present and number line beginning with "2". No previous ownership marks. No remainder mark. Not ex-library. A clean, tight, fresh and unmarked copy, like new. Dust-jacket shows light scuffing to shinny black rear cover from shelving. Fine in a near fine dust-jacket.

Seller Inventory # 022000

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Understanding the Dead Sea Scrolls: A Reader from the Biblical Archaeology Review
• Publisher: Random House, New York
• Publication Date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0679414487
• ISBN 13: 9780679414483
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First Edition
• Condition: Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine
• Weight: 2.12 pounds
• Seller catalogs:
  • Religion

About this title

Synopsis

A groundbreaking anthology that demolishes the myths -- and reveals the true significance -- of the greatest archaeological discovery of our time.

Ever since their initial discovery in 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls have aroused excitement, jealousy, and not a little dread among some who feared their contents might undermine the foundations of Judaism and Christianity. For more than 35 years the majority of scroll texts remained the intellectual property of an exclusive coterie of scholars. Recently, however, the Biblical Archaeology Review succeeded in breaking that monopoly.

This path-clearing volume is an illuminating assessment of what these texts reveal about a lost era in the history of two world religions, Christianity and rabbinic Judaism. Were the Dead Sea Scrolls written by the Essenes, an ascetic sect of Jews that may have included John the Baptist among its members? Is the Copper Scroll a secret map to the treasures of the Jerusalem Temple? In what way do these books prefigure the teachings of early Christianity? Additional chapters address the controversies surrounding the Scrolls' discovery and their long suppression -- including the possible role of the Vatican and charges of anti-Semitism on the part of a former chief editor of the official scroll publication team.


From the Trade Paperback edition.