The Dead Sea Scrolls in English

Edited by Geza Vermes
(320 Pages)Publisher: Penguin, 1987

The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Judean desert between 1947 and 1956 transformed our understanding of the Hebrew Bible, early Judaism and the origins of Christianity. These extraordinary scrolls appear to have been hidden in the caves of Qumran by members of the Essene community, a Jewish sect existing before and during the time of the second Temple.

Fifty years after the Scrolls' first discovery, and following the release of the scroll texts to scholars in 199, this revised and expanded edition of the Dead Sea Scrolls in English crowns a lifetime of research by the esteemed Qumran scholar Geza Vermes. This is the most complete and authoriative Scrolls edition available: it contains superb translations of all the texts sufficiently well preserved to be rendered into English. Hitherto unpublished texts are included, among them important documents relating to the Community's liturgical calendar, its rules and observances, further sections of the Genesis Apocrypha, much Wisdom literature and, remarkably, a crucial inscription discovered among the Qumran ruins in 1996.

The authority, clarity and remarkable literary qualities of these translations are immediately evident. There are brief introductions to each doument and at the beginning of each chapter detailed historical, cultural and religious background is provided. The Complete Dead Seal Scrolls in English is essential reading for anyone interested in ancient Judaism and early Christianity.

Third, revised and augmented edition, including the Temple Scroll and other recently published manuscripts.