Understanding the Dead Sea Scrolls

by Hershel Shanks (Editor)

Overview

Ever since their initial discovery in 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls have aroused excitement, jealousy, and not a little dread among some who were afraid 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 group of scholars. However, in 1991 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?

Product Details

BN ID:	2940013689602
Publisher:	Biblical Archaeology Society
Publication date:	12/29/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	9 MB

About the Author

Hershel Shanks is founder and editor of Biblical Archaeology Review, the most popular magazine in this niche field of study. Shanks in 1991 was the first to publish excerpts of the Dead Sea Scroll fragments, which had been secreted by a small group of scholars who controlled them. He has authored and edited numerous books including The Mystery and Meaning of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and The Copper Scroll and the Search for the Temple Treasure.

Editorial Reviews

Years ago, this was the first book I read on the Dead Sea Scrolls. Since then, it has become one of my most important DSS references. This is a great introduction. The story of the discovery, the temple scroll, the copper scroll and much more are explained simply.

W.G. Hubert

Outstanding anthology, drawn in part from The Biblical Archaeological Review and The Bible Review, that serves as a complete primer to what biblical scholar Harry Thomas Frank has called ``the most sensational archaeological discovery of the century.'' Shanks, editor of The Biblical Archaeological Review, has a flair for drama, evident both in the many essays here about the intrigue that swirls around the scrolls--spies, conspiracy theories, and shadowy antique-dealers all play their part.

Kirkus Review