Books of Interest
Scrolls Bible: The Oldest Known Bible Translated for the
First Time Into English. San Francisco: Harper, 1999.
An English translation of the biblical manuscripts from Qumran. It includes only those portions of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament actually found among the Dead Sea Scrolls.
New Light on the Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994.
A basic introduction to the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and their significance to our understanding of ancient Judaism. The book deals extensively with the question concerning authorship of the scrolls. Highly recommended.
Cross presents a good overview of the early discoveries at Qumran, a description of the contents of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the significance of the scrolls.
This short work draws upon data from archaeology and the texts of the Dead Sea Scrolls to describe the history of Qumran.
Tell us About the New Testament. New York: Paulist Press, 1986.
Besides discussing the implications of the Dead Sea Scrolls for Christianity, this work also presents a readable yet detailed introduction to basic issues of Dead Sea Scrolls research.
The Qumran Texts in English. Leiden: Brill, 1994; Leiden/
Grand Rapids, MI: Brill/Eerdmans, 1996 (2nd edition).
The most complete collection of English translations available. The work was originally done in Spanish, then translated into English. Valuable book and highly recommended.
This work attempts to answer important questions raised in the media about the Dead Sea Scrolls, and provides reliable, up-to-date information on the literature and social organization of the Qumran community, its religious beliefs, and the Jewish background within which Christianity arose.
3rd Edition. Garden City, NY: Anchor Books, 1976.
While this collection of English translations of the Dead Sea Scrolls is not as complete as Vermes' book, or García Martínez's book, the notes, introductions and indices can be very helpful. It is, however, now fairly out of date.
Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society, 1994.
A very valuable book for understanding the Jewish background and content of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The book includes extensive discussions of many of the manuscripts from Qumran, and the nature of the community there. Highly recommended.
James A. Sanders, The Dead Sea Scrolls After Forty Years.
Washington, D.C.: Biblical Archaeology Society, 1991.
This book contains a collection of four talks delivered at a Symposium at the Smithsonian Institution on October 27, 1990 concerning the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Dead Sea Scrolls. New York: Random House, 1992.
A collection of essays on various Dead Sea Scrolls issues. Authors include many of the foremost DSS scholars, but some of the essays at the end push the sensational and controversial too much.
Trever, one of the earliest photographers of the Dead Sea Scrolls, tells about his experiences during the somewhat chaotic times when the Scrolls came to light in the late 40's and 50's. Most attention is devoted to the Cave 1 documents.
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994.
The book summarizes the discovery, nature, chronology, literary character and background of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Highly recommended.
New York: Allen Lane (Penguin Press), 1997.
This is a fairly extensive collection of English translations of Dead Sea Scroll documents, available in many bookstores, and highly recommended.
Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1981.
This is an excellent introduction to the basic issues concerning the Dead Sea Scrolls and their interpretation.
The Dead Sea Scrolls. San Francisco: Harper, 1996.
This is an excellent translation of the non-biblical manuscripts from Qumran, translated directly into English from Hebrew and Aramaic.
New York: Crossroads, 1991. Reprint from 1957.
This is a readable introduction to the Dead Sea Scrolls written by the prominent Israeli archaeologist who published the Temple Scroll and was personally involved in excavations.
