The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated: The Qumran Texts in English [Paperback]

Florentino Garcia Martinez (Editor), W. G. E. Watson (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1997

Offering the first comprehensive English translation of the non-biblical Qumran scrolls, "The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated" presents the largest collection of Qumran texts ever published in this language. Two-hundred of the total 625 manuscripts discovered can be found in this volume. (Those manuscripts omitted are either in such a fragmentary condition that translation would be meaningless, or are sufficiently modest in size that translation of them would add very little.) Thanks to the official publication, in 1993, of all the photographs of the Dead Sea Scrolls ("The Dead Sea Scrolls on Microfiche" by "Brill," Leiden and the Israel Antiquity Authority), it is now possible for the public to enjoy the same material available to the specialists. The 200 Dead Sea Scrolls translated here are a marked increase on the 62 previously published in the third edition of Geza Vermez's "The Dead Sea Scrolls in English," This increase is mainly possible due to the introduction of the fascinating 'new' texts, some of which, for example 4QMMT, are still awaiting official publication. "The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated" comprises an extensive preface outlining the origin of the manuscripts and the aims of the translation. This is followed by an introduction offering a survey of the discoveries and their publication, a brief sketch of the characteristics of the Qumran library, and several interesting remarks on the sect's identity, origins and history. The translation of the manuscripts is organized into nine chapters, each with one or two pages of introduction. It concludes with an exhaustive list of all manuscripts discovered at Qumran. This list has a double function. Firstly, it provides the readerwith accurate information of all the existing texts, biblical and non-biblical, published an not yet published. Secondly, it offers basic bibliographical references for the textual editions already available and for the publications which provide information on the texts not yet published. This list is a very useful reference tool and forms a scientific publication in its own right. Originally published in Spanish (1992) the present authorized translation has been prepared by Wilfred G.E. Watson of the University of Newcastle, a renowned scholar of Biblical Hebrew poetry. Please note that this title is available to customers in North America exclusively through Eerdmans Publishing Company (www.eerdmans.com).

Editorial Reviews

Review

'The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated" is the most complete and authoritative English translation of the non-biblical Dead Sea Scrolls available. With this book, which includes many fascinating recently released texts, readers can find out what the scrolls really say. Garcma Martmnez brings years of scrolls research and scholarship to the translations and his wide grasp of the texts is evident throughout.'
Lawrence H. Schiffman, New York University.
'"Garcma Martmnez deserves our gratitude for having compiled the most comprehensive one-volume edition of the Dead Sea Scrolls ever attempted. Drawing on his vast knowledge of and first-hand acquaintance with the texts, he has prepared a careful rendering into English of everything worth translating, including the full texts of the multiple copies of works such as the Community Rule and the Damascus Document. Especially helpful is the fact that line numbers are specified in the text so that the reader knows exactly where the words are found. The substantial introduction and the full list of Qumran manuscripts, with up-to-date bibliographical references, enhance the value of the volume even more.'
James C. VanderKam, University of Notre Dame.
'"This is the most comprehensive translation of the Dead Sea Scrolls now available, and it should rapidly become a standard textbook.'
John J. Collins, "Journal of Biblical Literature, 1995.
'"Absolutely invaluable!'
PRD, "Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 1997.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Hebrew --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 519 pages
• Publisher: Brill Academic Pub; 2 edition (August 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9004105891
• ISBN-13: 978-9004105898
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #205,138 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very well written!!, August 29, 2000

By 

Susan L Alfson (Ridgecrest, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated: The Qumran Texts in English (Paperback)

"The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated" by Florentino Garcia Martinez is the best version of translated Scroll material that I have come across, and there are "others." What makes this translation excellent is the unbiased, scholarly critique. Martinez does a superb job here! There is no "religious" leaning that I can see. This translation is not prejudged in any way, shape or form. This is an excellent reference book for anyone desiring to research the scrolls.

There has been an argument made against Martinez' translation. That argument says that since this translation was first put into Spanish, then into English something was lost in the translation. Not so! Florentino Garcia Martinez is a Professor at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands- a well renowned scholar. If anything, his multiple translations just go to show his intelligence and ability at what he does (he runs the Qumran Institute). This is a reliable and very well written translation!

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Just Plain Jane, January 30, 2003

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Virgil Brown (White Oak, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated: The Qumran Texts in English (Paperback)

This book needs to be considered alongside _The Dead Sea Scrolls: A New Translation_ edited by Michael Wise et al. Readers who find a commentary advantageous will want to seek out Wise's book. Readers who are ready to look at the texts and make their own comparisons are ready for Garcia-Martinez's book.

Garcia-Martinez begins his book with a short history of the DSS and addresses a couple of the key issues of the DSS such as whether they are a part of a sectarian library. Next comes a thematic approach to the Scrolls. The Rule of the Community and the Damascus Document come at the beginning of the book, but the rest of the un-numbered manuscripts are grouped with other manuscripts of a similar theme.

There are no biblical manuscripts nor are there any Hebrew texts. However at the end of the book are lists of all of the manuscripts and the caves in which they were found.
There lies the real advantage of this book: each manuscript is accompanied by an authoritative bibliographical reference(s) for those who want to know more.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Useful reference tool, June 7, 2001

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D. Daily (VA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated: The Qumran Texts in English (Paperback)

These comprehensive translations are of the non-Biblical texts found from the caves at Qumran, and are useful for anyone interested primarily in the *content* of the scrolls. The hebrew texts are not given in this work (those interested in such should search under title = "Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition", published both by Brill/Eerdmans), and the Biblical texts are not given (bibliographies are given for these texts-- most often the Oxford series *Discoveries in the Judaean Desert* is the primary source for Biblical texts).

Serious students of Qumran literature will need more than this work, of course, given that some of the renderings given in the book are disputed (debate over the particulars of any given text can be consulted in academic journals and monographs). The book is a solid compilation of translations of the Dead Sea Scrolls.