Overview

"Unraveling the controversies surrounding the Dead Sea ScrollsSince 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."

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9780691191713

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Reviews

"""Winner of the 2013 Cover/Jacket Merit Award in the Professional, Scholarly Series category, New York Book Show"""

[Collins] writes with relish and refreshing honesty. --Tessa Rajak, Journal of Jewish Studies An excellent introduction to a complex subject. --Roger S. Bagnall, Bryn Mawr Classical Review Collins writes in a clear and precise style. . . . Here he addresses the different interpretations presented by scholars, providing a good summary of historical debate about the Scrolls. --Choice [Collins] rehearses all the various theories on the scrolls, separates the wheat from the chaff, and brings light to the darkness. This is not simply a digest. Collins takes our hand and guides us to oh-so-reasonable conclusions. --Peter Stanford, The Independent [Collins] brings clarity and acuity to a subject that has often attracted myth-makers and special pleaders. --Jonathan Kirsch, Jewish Journal One could scarcely imagine a better concise guide to the Scrolls. --Robert Alter, London Review of Books Winner of the 2013 Cover/Jacket Merit Award in the Professional, Scholarly Series category, New York Book Show

oeAn excellent introduction to a complex subject. Roger S. Bagnall, Bryn Mawr Classical Review oe[Collins] rehearses all the various theories on the scrolls, separates the wheat from the chaff, and brings light to the darkness. This is not simply a digest. Collins takes our hand and guides us to oh-so-reasonable conclusions. Peter Stanford, The Independent oe[Collins] writes with relish and refreshing honesty. Tessa Rajak, Journal of Jewish Studies oeCollins writes in a clear and precise style. . . . Here he addresses the different interpretations presented by scholars, providing a good summary of historical debate about the Scrolls. Choice oe[Collins] brings clarity and acuity to a subject that has often attracted myth-makers and special pleaders. Jonathan Kirsch, Jewish Journal oeOne could scarcely imagine a better concise guide to the Scrolls. Robert Alter, London Review of Books Winner of the 2013 Cover/Jacket Merit Award in the Professional, Scholarly Series category, New York Book Show

Author Information

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.

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