The Dead Sea Scrolls Today, rev. ed

This perennially bestselling book on the Dead Sea Scrolls by one of the fields most respected scholars has now been revised and updated to reflect scholarship and debates since the book was first published in 1994.

Customer Reviews:

A valuable addition to any biblical archeology and history collection

By Midwest Book Review - May 12, 2010

The Dead Sea Scrolls have sparked a good deal of interest for those curious about the mysteries of the Bible. "The Dead Sea Scrolls Today" is the second edition update to the study of the Dead Seas Scrolls, manuscripts which provide a decidedly different and insightful view of the Bible. The original volume won awards when it was published sixteen years ago, and with new research and updates, author James C. VanderKam makes the update just as valuable reading even if one has read the original. "The Dead Sea Scrolls Today" is a valuable addition to any biblical archeology and history collection.

Superb! Reads like a Mystery!

By Dr. Marc Axelrod "PM" - May 24, 2010

This is a very well written discussion of the Dead Sea Scrolls pitched at a popular level. You learn about the 1947 discoveries in cave 1 (The Isaiah scrolls, the Manual of Discipline, and the Nahum commentaries. You also learn about the later discoveries in cave 4 especially, which was the mother lode, with over 900 scrolls and artifacts. Treasure buffs will marvel at the discovery of the Copper Scroll, which tells of buried treasure near Qumran, but to this day, no one has found the treasure, which some surmise has already been raided and recovered.

Work continues on the scrolls to this day. Fantastic links with the Jewish and early Christian communities have been made. Both the Qumran Essenes and the early Christians revered the books of Isaiah, Psalms, and Deuteronomy, for these are three most quoted books in both the New Testament and in the Scrolls.

It is unclear as to whether or not the Qumran community ever allowed marriage and if they believed in one or... read more

Interesting and thorough

By Valerie Crescenz - July 24, 2012

I purchased this after going to see the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. If you are looking for a book that explains what was found, who left the scrolls there, and what it all means, this is the book to get. James C. Vanderkam does an excellent job presenting the facts and then explaining the theories. A fascinating book for those interested in the lessons of archeology, history and religion.