Historical Perspectives From The Hasmoneans To Bar Kokhba In Light Of The Dead Sea Scrolls

The papers published in this volume were presented at the Fourth Orion International Symposium (Jerusalem, 1999), whose focus was Jewish history in light of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The first section, “History of the Jews and Judaism,” is devoted to specific topics in Jewish history, such as historical references in the Scrolls, comparative studies between the Scrolls and Josephus, and issues of Jewish nationalism. The second section, “Community and Covenant,” comprises studies of community, Jewish law, and the concept of covenant. The third section, “Natural Sciences and the Scrolls,” reports on examinations of DNA preserved in leather used for the Scrolls, of dust found in jars from Qumran, of the nature of the stitching of the Scrolls, and of the composition of the pottery found at Qumran.

This book presents the authoritative print bibliography of current scholarship on the Dead Sea Scrolls, Qumran, and related fields (including New Testament studies); source, subject, and language indices facilitate its use by scholars and students within and outside the field.

This book contains an exhaustive survey of past and present Qumran research, outlining its particular development in various circumstances and national contexts. For the first time, perspectives and information not recorded in any other publication are highlighted.

The Orion Center Bibliography of the Dead Sea Scrolls (1995-2000) is the fourth official Scrolls bibliography, following bibliographies covering the periods 1948-1957 (W. S. LaSor), 1958-1969 (B. Jongeling), and 1970-1995 (F. García Martínez and D. W. Parry). The current interest in the Scrolls, with at least two journals dedicated to these texts, has led to a proliferation of secondary literature, theses, and electronic publications. The Orion Center Bibliography contains over 3000 entries, including approximately 600 reviews, gathered from the École Biblique et Archéologique Française in Jerusalem, from on-line databases, and from the authors themselves. This work is based on the bibliography compiled by the Orion Center for the Study of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Jerusalem, and includes reviews, journal articles, and electronic publications, a text index and a subject index.

The studies in this volume examine the intersection of the Dead Sea Scrolls with early rabbinic literature. Methodological attention is paid to questions of the nature of sectarian and rabbinic law and narrative, and how they may elucidate one another.

The roots of the Hasmonean Revolt: the reign of Antiochus IV -- Questions of identity: the "teacher of righteousness," the "man of lies," and Jonathan the Hasmonean -- The succession of high priests: John Hyrcanus and his sons in the Pesher to Joshua 6:26 -- Alexander Jannaeus and his war against Ptolemy Lathyrus -- A prayer for the welfare of King Jonathan -- The Pharisees' conflict with Alexander Jannaeus and Demetrius' invasion of Judaea -- The successors of Alexander Jannaeus and the conquest of Judaea by Pompey -- The assassination of Pompey -- The changing notion of the enemy and its impact on the Pesharim.

This volume of collected essays reflects on various aspects of language, text, and interpretations of war and peace in the Dead Sea Scrolls and other Second Temple Jewish literature, with special close attention set on the Qumran War Scroll.