The "Dead Sea Scrolls"

October 1, 2012

After reading this work, the conceit of writing a biography of the Dead Sea Scrolls will seem most apt. Collins (Holmes Professor of Old Testament Criticism & Interpretation, Yale; Introduction to the Hebrew Bible), a respected Dead Sea Scroll scholar, sketches a concise historical narrative of what was found in the Qumran caves south of Jericho in 1947, then traces the nearly 50-year journey these scrolls, pages and, in some cases, indecipherable fragments took to publication. He recounts the major players and, more important, the theological, political, and recurring personal conflicts that are the narrative fodder for all good biographies. The author is somewhat professionally invested in these fights but adopts as neutral a voice as possible. Collins is especially good at highlighting where scholars often--but not always--unwittingly massaged evidence to fit prevailing hypotheses and assumptions. This is a bit of fascinating historical biography that shows the high stakes involved in obscure academic and theological finds. VERDICT Historians and seminarians looking for a short, quick study with extensive bibliographies on the subject will be well served by this book. Recommended. [The reviewer is no relation to the author.--Ed.]--Sandra Collins, Byzantine Catholic Seminary Lib., Pittsburgh

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2012
This compact book is not so much about what the Dead Sea Scrolls are but, rather, how the arguments around them have impacted Christianity, Judaism, and the wider world. Collins writes engagingly about the history of the scrolls and examines the debates and conclusions that various scholars have put forth about who wrote the scrolls, what the location of their discovery means, and the way the wide-ranging writings have been used to promote various positions. One distracting element is the way Collins sets himself up as an arbiter of which of these positions are valid. While presenting more than one side, he does take stances with which others will disagree. Still, for a lay audience just coming to the Dead Sea Scrolls, this is a solid introduction that offers plenty of information without getting lost in the weeds. Those who want to know more will appreciate the lists of other sources that appear at the end of each chapter.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)