The pesharim were a series of early Jewish commentaries on the Hebrew Bible composed at Qumran between 100 and 40 BC. As this study reveals, they are a truly complex and intriguing source for the early Qumran community and its beliefs. Charlesworth's study revolves around the central issue of whether any reliable historical information can be obtained from the pesharim and, if so, what it reveals. Placed within the context of Hellenistic and Jewish historiography, and Biblical literature, this is a specialised study within Dead Sea Scroll scholarship.

Among the Hebrew documents recovered from the Qumran caves are eighteen texts distinguished by the fact that each is a continuous commentary on or an interpretation of a single biblical book. These texts are called pesharim because each section of interpretation following a biblical citation is introduced by one of several formulas using the word pēser, "interpretation" (plural: pĕsārim). The documents that are extant preserve portions of commentaries on the book of Psalms and on the prophetic books of Isaiah, Hosea, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah. The monograph presents the Hebrew texts of the pesharim, an English translation, and notes on the texts that cover features of the Hebrew language in these scrolls, suggested restorations of lacunae, and possible connections of the content of the commentary sections to historical events. Following the presentation of the texts is a discussion of the literary genre of pesher, treating the structure of the documents, the formulas employed, the modes of interpretation, and the relation of the pesharim to some other writings.

The Companion to the Qumran Scrolls series offers comprehensive and accessible introductions to the corpus of texts from Qumran. This volume, devoted to the characteristic biblical commentaries, discusses their contents and history, as well as their generic relationship to both New Testament and rabbinic scriptural exegesis. As with all the books in this series, this Guide is ideal for undergraduate and graduate classes.This book introduces the reader to one of the most important genres of sectarian writing from Qumran: the Pesharim, or biblical commentaries. Timothy Lim systematically discusses the textual characteristics of the quoted bible verses, the literary genre and its relationship with rabbinic midrash, the characteristics of sectarian exegesis, the nature of the historical allusions, and the common features, whether real or imagined, with the New Testament. Taking account of all relevant and recently published texts and with an annotated bibliography, this is an authoritative guide for the student or non-specialist scholar.

Who discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls? When and where were they discovered? How were they saved? Who has them now? Will more be discovered? Have all the scrolls been published? Are some still hidden away? Were there conspiracies to suppress some scrolls? How do the scrolls affect Christianity and Judaism? How similar are the biblical scrolls to our Bible today? These and other questions are answered in The Dead Sea Scrolls, A Short History, which offers information from exclusive interviews and unpublished archives.

In Reading and Re-reading Scripture at Qumran, Moshe J. Bernstein gathers more than three decades of his work on diverse aspects of biblical interpretation in the Dead Sea Scrolls. The essays range from broad surveys of the genres of biblical interpretation in these texts to more narrowly focused studies and close readings of specific documents. Volume I focuses on the book of Genesis, with a substantial portion being dedicated to studies of the Genesis Apocryphon and Commentary on Genesis A. Volume II contains several historical and programmatic essays, with specific studies focusing on legal material in the DSS and the pesharim. Under the former rubric, the documents known as 4QReworked Pentateuch, 4QOrdinancesa, 4QMMT, and the Temple Scroll are discussed.

This volume contains 17 essays on the subjects of text, canon, and scribal practice. The volume is introduced by an overview of the Qumran evidence for text and canon of the Bible. Most of the text critical studies deal with texts from the Dead Sea Scrolls, including sectarian as well as canonical texts. Two essays shed light on the formation of authoritative literature. Scribal practice is illustrated in various ways, again mostly from the Dead Sea Scrolls. One essay deals with diachronic change in Qumran Hebrew. Rounding out the volume are two thematic studies, a wide-ranging study of the “ambiguous oracle” of Josephus, which he identifies as Balaam’s oracle, and a review of the use of female metaphors for Wisdom.

The roots of the Hasmonean Revolt: the reign of Antiochus IV -- Questions of identity: the "teacher of righteousness," the "man of lies," and Jonathan the Hasmonean -- The succession of high priests: John Hyrcanus and his sons in the Pesher to Joshua 6:26 -- Alexander Jannaeus and his war against Ptolemy Lathyrus -- A prayer for the welfare of King Jonathan -- The Pharisees' conflict with Alexander Jannaeus and Demetrius' invasion of Judaea -- The successors of Alexander Jannaeus and the conquest of Judaea by Pompey -- The assassination of Pompey -- The changing notion of the enemy and its impact on the Pesharim.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are an invaluable source of information about Jewish biblical interpretation in antiquity. This volume by preeminent scholars in the field examines central aspects of scriptural interpretation as it was practiced at Qumran and discusses their implications for understanding the biblical tradition. While many of the forms of biblical interpretation found in the Scrolls have parallels elsewhere in Jewish literature, other kinds are original to the Scrolls and were unknown prior to the discovery of the caves. These chapters explore examples of biblical interpretation unique to Qumran, including legal exegesis and the Pesher. Readers will also find discussion of such fascinating subjects as the "rewritten Bible," views on the creation of humanity, the "Pseudo-Ezekiel" texts, the pesharim, and the prophet David. Contributors: Moshe J. Bernstein Shani Berrin Monica Brady George J. Brooke John J. Collins Peter W. Flint Matthias Henze Shlomo A. Koyfman Michael Segal James C. VanderKam

Universally acknowledged as the dean of New Testament scholarship, Brown brings a lifetime of teaching and research to bear in his landmark overview of the New Testament.

The papers included in this volume use careful textual analysis to explore theological and ethical ideas expressed in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Connections are drawn to the broader corpus of Second Temple literature, as well as the New Testament writings.