Israel and the Dead Sea Scrolls

by Edmund Wilson

Book Overview

The scrolls of the Essenes and the history of this Jewish sect's possible antecedence to Christianity intrigued Edmund Wilson and drew him, in 1954, to Israel and the revelations contained in the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374513414
• ISBN13: 9780374513412
• Release Date: January 1978
• Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Edmund's Fascinating Research Narrative of DS Scrolls and Judaism

"The Dead Sea Scrolls had its origin in that winter of Hebrew studies at Princeton when,... Edmund Wilson added the wonder of an archaeological and journalistic flight into the very heart of old Palestine." Leon Edel, Foreward Our First Encounter: One day in late 1970 or early 71, while working for a refinery in Kuwait, a senior process engineering associate, Marino Coss, mentioned the relatively recent discovery of ancient Hebrew/Aramaic scrolls, and the power politics behind their dominance. That same evening, I drove to the only downtown Kuwait bookshop, and asked the manager, an English expatriate, about any book on the subject, he may have encountered. He told me that all related books are banned in Kuwait, but to my great astonishment he sneaked a book into my hands. "This is my review copy, I already presented my report to the censorship!" The book: The Dead Sea Scrolls 1947-1969, by Edmund Wilson was my great catch, that hot humid day in Kuwait. Wilson, a past reporter of the New Yorker magazine, visited the discovery site and met some of the key actors. Dead Sea Scrolls: The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls has been one of the greatest events in biblical archaeology. No other similar event has helped us to better understand the Bible against the backdrop of time and history. Although the subject has been discussed at length by scholars and common folk, the truth is that few people fully understand what are commonly called the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS). Many visitors to Israel have had the opportunity to see these scrolls in the Jerusalem Museum's Shrine of the Book. It is truly awe inspiring to see fragments of the collection of parchments and replicas of the full scrolls when considering the archeological treasure exhibited there. But what are the DSS? What new truths are revealed in them? Do they contradict or support our basic understanding of the Bible? Is there an "earth shattering" discovery that hasn't been made public for fear of creating a doctrinal debacle? Are Jesus, John the Baptist, or other disciples mentioned in these writings? (David Sedaca) Israel & Dead Sea Scrolls: Wilson pursued the complex and still revealing discovery as the kind of subject that inspired his imaginative reconstruction based on a historical analysis of the great archaeological discovery. Wilson's essay on Israel, here included, started with his first reading Genesis in the attic of his mother's house, reflects the still continuing paradox of the Jewish Nation survival struggle. An excellent introduction by a famous critic concerning the discovery and early theories about the Qumran community. First appeared in the New Yorker in the 1950's where it introduced millions of Americans to the Dead Sea Scrolls. "An incredible find it was! The whole world soon was electrified with the announcement of the Dead Sea scrolls. Their importance can hardly be over rated. Not only have they confirmed the accuracy of the Old Testament, but they

"Must" reading for all students of the Dead Sea scrolls.

The scrolls of the Essenes and history of this Jewish sect intrigued Wilson and in 1954 he journeyed to Israel to study the scrolls. His research first appeared in the New Yorker and was revised just before his death this returns his out of print classic to new audiences.