(+) The Essene Writings from Qumran = Les écrits esséniens découverts près de la mer Morte (1961 Dupont-Sommer / Vermès), book (English ed.)

The Essene writings from Qumran (1961) is the English edition of Les écrits esséniens découverts près de la mer Morte (1959 Dupont-Sommer), book. Translated from the French by G. Vermes.

Abstract

Translated from the second revised and enlarged edition of Les écrits esséniens découverts près de la mer Morte (1959 Dupont-Sommer), book

Editions and translations

Published in Cleveland (The World Publishing Company, 1961). Translated into English by G. Vermes.

Table of contents

• INTRODUCTION

The discovery of the manuscripts - General contents of the manuscripts - Acquisition of the manuscripts and their publication - The biblical manuscripts. Their importance for the textual criticism os the Bible - The non-biblical manuscripts. Their importance for the history of Essenism and of primitive Christianity - Object, plan and method of the present work.

• I. THE ESSENES IN ANCIENT LITERATURE

1. PHILO OF ALEXANDRIA: Quod omnis probus liber sit ; Apologia pro Judaeis. 2. FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS: The Jewish War: Jewish Antiquities. 3. PLINY THE ELDER. - DIO CHRYSOSTOM.

• II. THE ESSENE ORIGIN OF THE QUMRAN WRITINGS

The Damascus Document and the Qumran scroll: the problem for their origin. - 1. Textual evidence. The "Council of God". Community life. Rites. Doctrines. Customs. - 2. Archeological evidence. Excavations at Khirbet Qumran. - Data from the Qumran writings and the ancient accounts.

• III. THE SCROLL OF THE RULES

Description of the scroll: its contents, character and late. - Translation of the Rule. - Translation of the Rule Annexe. - Translation of the Book of Blessings.

• IV. THE DAMASCUS DOCUMENT

Description of two manuscripts from the Cairo Geniza; analysis of the book. - 1. The Exhortation. General contents and date. Translation of Manuscript A. Translation of Manuscript B. -2. The Ordinances. Their composite character, date, Essene origin. Translation.

• V. - THE SCROLL OF THE WAR RULE

Description of the scroll; general character, analysis and date of the book. - Translation: Introduction and principal Rule; Rule Annexe.

• VI. THE HYMN SCROLL

Description of the scroll; literary genre and author. - Translation.

• VII. THE BIBLICAL COMMENTARIES

General character, structure, historical allusion. - 1. Commentary on Habakkuk. - 2. Commentary on Nahum. - 3. Commentary on Psalm XXXVII. - 4. Another Commentary on Psalm XXXVII. - 5. Commentary on Isaiah . - 6. Commentaries on Hosea, Micah, Zephaniah.

• VIII. THE GENESIS APOCRYPHON

Description of the scroll; analysis, character and date of the book. - The Story of Lamech and Enoch, CVI-CVII. - Translation: 1. The Story of Lamech. - 2. The Story of Abraham.

• IX. APOCRYPHA AND PSEUDOEPIGRAPHA

The problem of the origin of the Apocrypha and Pseudoepigrapha of the Old Testament. -Fragments of Tobit, Ecclesiasticus and the Epistle of Jeremiah. - Fragments of Jubilees and Enoch. - Fragments of the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs.

• X. FRAGMENTS OF EXEGETICAL WRITINGS

Biblical exegesis at Qumran. - The Sayings of Moses. - Florilegium. - The Patriarchal Blessings. - Testimonia.

• XI. FRAGMENTS OF APOCALYPTICAL, LITURGICAL AND OTHER WRITINGS

Apocalypse of Pseodo-Daniel. - Prayer of Nabonidus. - Other apocalyptical fragments; The Book of Mysteries. - A Descrption of the New Jerusalem. - Fragments of liturgical writings; Angelic Liturgy; Prayer for the Feast of Weeks. - Fragments of hymnic, sapiential and juridical writings; mishmaroth ; horoscopes ; fragments in cryptic script.

• XII. THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE WRITINGS FROM QUMRAN

The problem; various opinions. - 1. The Kittim. - 2. The Wicked Priest.

• XIII. THE TEACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

The anonymity of the Teacher of Righteousness; his earthly career. -1. The Prophet. - 2. The Man of Sorrows. - 3. The Head of the Church.

• XIV. ESSENISM AND CHRISTIANITY

Jewish apocalyptical writings, Essenism and Christianity. - John the Baptist and the sect of Qumran; Jesus and the Teacher of Righteousness. - The primitive Church and Essenism: affinities and borrowings; contrasts. - Conclusion.

• APPENDICES

I. The copper scrolls discovered in cave III. II. Are the Qumran scrolls of Karaite origin? III. Are the Qumran scrolls of Judeo-Christian origin? IV. Are the Qumran scrolls of Zealot origin? V. Are the Qumran scrolls of Pharisaic origin? VI. Are the Essenes a myth?

• BIBLIOGRAPHY
• INDICES

I. Alphabetical index of the translated Qumran writings. II. Index of biblical references. III. Index of authors.