Introduction to the Texts..
Working from many thousands of scroll fragments recovered in eleven caves near Qumran, researches have identified approximately 800 different original manuscripts. A few scrolls were fairly intact when found, others have been tentatively pieced together, still more exist only as small scraps of parchment. The preserved portions of a scroll often give only glimpses of what might have existed in the complete text. (See the Introduction to the collection for more background information.)
DSS texts are identified by a number and letter combination, indicating the cave from which they were recovered: "1Q" indicates the text was found in Qumran cave 1; "4Q" means found in Qumran cave 4. This initial code is followed by either a second number (the catalog file number assigned to each fragment as it was archived) or by a few letters that abbreviate an alternative name given to a fragment by researchers, usually the supposed title of the text. Many important scrolls existed in more than one copy. Surviving pieces of these were sometimes found in different caves. For example, the section of text from the Book of Secrets (listed below), is reconstructed from fragment 27 found in Qumran Cave 1 (1Q27) and fragments 299-301 of a different copy found in Qumran Cave 4 (4Q299-301).
A variety of literary forms can be identified among the surviving texts. Although there is no generally accepted system of categorizing the scrolls, roughly speaking the manuscripts fall into one or more of the following genres: Biblical texts, pentateuchal stories and commentaries; legal and ritual texts; prophets stories and commentaries; psalms and poetry; wisdom literature; prophecy and apocalyptics (visions); sectarian literature; and "miscellaneous things that don't fit anywhere else". Some texts can be assigned to several categories, depending on the subjective reading of the interpreter, which is why no system works very well. The great variety manifest in DSS texts has led some scholars to question whether a single sect at Qumran would have created or maintained such an apparently eclectic collection.
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Texts Archived in the Gnostic Society Library
This is a varied collection of short texts, representative of several types of DSS literature. One will note several unique mythical motifs developed in the DSS manuscripts, as well as imaginative or visionary reworking of traditional themes. Study of the DSS has given new understanding of how dynamic and heterodox Judaism was in the intertestamental period.
The Divine Throne Chariot
The Book of Secrets (1Q27, 4Q299-301)
The Thanksgiving Psalms (1QHa)
The Parable of the Bountiful Tree (4Q302a)
A Baptismal Liturgy (4Q414)
The Coming of Melchizedek (11Q13)
Tongues of Fire (1Q29, 4Q376)
The Book of Giants (4Q203, 1Q23, 2Q26, 4Q530-532, 6Q8)
Texts Accompanying a Lecture by Vermes, Schiffman and Tov
This series (The Dead Sea Scrolls with Rachel Kohn) was sponsored by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 2000. The texts presented are accompanied by photographs of the original scroll fragment, a translation and a short commentary. (Note that the commentaries are representative of traditional views about the DSS and their source in an Essene community living at Qumran.)
Psalms 11Q5 Contains parts of 41 Biblical psalms, Apocryphal psalms (including the Apostrophe to Zion) and prose about the psalms written by King David.
The Nahum Commentary 4Q169 Prophetic commentary which alludes to the history of a sect, presumed to be the Qumran Essenes, and names real historic figures.
Community Rule 4Q260 Also known as The Manual of Discipline, it contains rules ordering the life of the sect presumed to have lived at Qumran and identified as Essenes by traditional interpreters of the DSS..
Acts of Torah 4Q394 Excerpt from a unique document in letter format, which outlines the religious laws peculiar to the sect, and in opposition to the law practiced by the Temple in Jerusalem.
War Rule 11Q14 An original composition attributed to the Essene sect by traditional interpreters of the scrolls, containing what may be a vision of the "end of days"
Exodus Fragment 4Q22 A fragment of Exodus 6:25-7:19
Texts Presented in the Library of Congress Exhibit
The Dead Sea Scroll Exhibit at the Library of Congress included translations and high-quality photographs of selected sections of several scrolls. Each is accompanied by a short commentary, a complete physical description of the scroll or fragment, and a list of references.
Psalms Tehillim
Phylactery Tefillin
The Community Rule Serkeh ha-Yahad
Calendrical Document Mishmarot
Some Torah Precepts Miqsat Ma`ase ha-Torah
Enoch Hanokh
Hosea Commentary Pesher Hoshe`a
Prayer for King Jonathan Tefillah li-Shlomo shel Yonatan ha-Melekh
Leviticus Va-Yikrah
Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice Shirot `Olat ha-Shabbat
Damascus Document Brit Damesek
The War Rule Serekh ha-Milhamah
Complete Scholarly Translations of Scroll Texts with Commentary
Great Isaiah Scroll (Fred Miller) -- This site presents the most impressive internet presentation of a complete scroll from the DSS. While the site offers little of interest to a casual reader, it gives glimpses into the issues involved in the analysis and translation of a scroll. It includes black & white plates of each column of The Great Isaiah Scroll (one of the first seven scrolls found in Cave 1, and the oldest extant Hebrew biblical manuscript), along with detailed notes on the physical condition of the manuscript and comparison of its orthography and wording with the standard Masoretic text. The technical discussions of the site are obviously intended for scholars familiar with Hebrew.
Fragments of the Book of Enoch from Qumran Cave 7 (Ernest Muro) Again, a site of limited general interest. It is dedicated to the detailed analysis of a tiny scroll fragment in Greek, once argued (inaccurately, it appears) to be from a New Testament text. (Of course, the presence of a Christian text in the DSS find would have supported the original efforts to link the Qumran texts with Christian history; this tiny fragment of Greek text therefore became a focus of debate.) This site illustrates the complex task of reconstructing, identifying and then interpreting DSS fragments. It includes photos of the fragment with transcription and translation, as well as two articles (by E. Muro & E. Puech) refuting claims that these are fragments of New Testament texts.
Paraphrases and Descriptions of Texts
These useful paraphrases and descriptions of a large variety of DSS texts were apparently a student project for "Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures", a course given at St. Joseph's University by Alan Humm.
Pentateuchal stories and commentaries
Reworked Pentateuch (4QPPa=4Q158).
Genesis Apocryphon
Exhortation based on the Flood (4QFloodAp=4Q370).
Vision of Jacob (4QAJa=4Q537).
Legal and ritual texts
Ritual Purity Laws (4QTohorota=4Q274).
Psalms, Hymns, Poetry
Apocryphal Psalms (4QPsf=4Q88, 4QapPs=4Q448, 11QPsa-b=11Q5-6).
Thanksgiving Hymns #7 & 8 (1QH(odayot)a col.10).
Wisdom Literature
Wisdom Text (1Q26, 4QWisda)
Collecton of Proverbs (4QWisd).
Wiles of the Wicked Woman (4Q184).
Prophecy and Apocalyptic
The Chosen One (4Qelect, 4QarNC).
Words of Michael (4Qmich, 6Qunidar).
Miscellaneous Texts
The New Jerusalem (1QJNar, 2QExc, 4QJMa, 5QJNar, 11QJN).
The Copper Scroll (3QTreasurea).
Physiognomic Horoscopes (4QCryptic-4Q186, 4QPhysiogn).
Observances (4QCal (Mishmarot), 4QMMTa).
Targum of Job (4QtgJob, 11QtgJob).
Inventory of the Dead Sea Scrolls Manuscripts
A comprehensive and useful Inventory of all the Dead Sea Scroll Manuscripts has been compiled by Mitchell A. Hoselton.
