The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are texts not discovered in the Dead Sea itself, but in caves and holes along the northwest shore of the Dead Sea between 1947 and 1963, has had an enormous impact on human intellectual life, in particular the fields of biblical studies and archaeology. The Dead Sea Scrolls have influenced not only the study of the Old Testament or the Hebrew Scriptures, but also the history of Judaism in Judea, the study of the ancient languages of Aramaic and Hebrew, and the interpretation of many New Testament writings. Since 1957, Joseph Fitzmyer has done considerable study and research on the Dead Sea Scrolls along with having published extensively on this topic. The result is informative, interesting, and insightful reading that will appeal expecially to students of the Bible and those interested in ancient archaeology. Highlights: • Succinct description of the Dead Sea Scrolls along with their significance and importance both for biblical studies and ancient archaeology. • Author’s expertise. He has done extensive research, study, and scholarly writing on the Dead Sea Scrolls since 1957. • Helpful reading resource for students of the Bible and those interested in history and ancient archaeology. • Accompanying photos and illustrations that complement the presentation. †
