Dead Sea Scrolls - Wisdom Literature Pre-Pub

I don't know how many Dead Sea Scrolls enthusiasts there are on the forums. But if you like this general area or even the 2nd Temple period, this resource is quite affordable and fills in some gaps that people periodically ask about. And it's easy to 'miss' among all the pre-pubs. It SHIPS in less than 2 weeks.

http://www.logos.com/product/10018/wisdom-literature

The resource title is a little misleading ... it sounds like it's talking about the OT wisdom literature. So I thought I'd post a few tasty tidbits that are quite impressive.

General Subjects (I highlighted some that really look good):

Instruction (1Q26, 4Q415-418, 423)
Mysteries (1Q27, 4Q299-300, 301?)
The Evil Seductress (4Q184)
Wisdom Composition (4Q185)
CryptA Words of the Maskil to All Sons of Dawn (4Q298)
Sapiential-Didactic Work A (4Q412)
Ways of Righteousness (4Q420-421)
Instruction-Like Composition B (4Q424)
Beatitudes (4Q525)
The Wisdom of Ben Sira (Sirach)

And then some of the endorsers:

John Kampen, celebrated for his focus on wisdom in the Dead Sea Scrolls, has written, in an exciting and lucid manner, the first focused commentary on the Qumran wisdom texts. While the Cave 1 manuscripts rarely concern 'wisdom,' the scrolls Kampen translates are devoted to it. Studying a corpus of texts and not a definition is the beginning of wisdom. I find Kampen's book exciting and perspicacious.

—James H. Charlesworth, Princeton University

This is an excellent guide to the Qumran wisdom literature, providing updated introductions, new translations, and judicious commentaries on all the texts. John Kampen has succeeded in presenting this vast body of literature as a research tool for the advanced scholar and the beginning student alike, and has done so in an attractive way.

—Emanuel Tov, Hebrew University, Jerusalem

This volume provides an accessible collection of ten of the major wisdom documents found at Qumran. Based on his many years of work on this genre, Kampen has judiciously chosen key issues to focus on in the introductions to each work and in the commentaries. Concisely, yet with depth, he demonstrates what these wisdom texts can contribute to our understanding of Second Temple Judaism and the New Testament, and he alerts us to many questions that await further study and reflection.

—Eileen Schuller, McMaster University

I'll admit I had to look up Charlesworth's 'perspicacious'!

The Amazon site doesn't show reviews (resources pretty new) but you can 'flip the pages':

http://www.amazon.com/Literature-Eerdmans-Commentaries-Scrolls-ebook/dp/B005EQ1YVE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320937459&sr=8-2

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Comments

Is Mebin

I ordered this book on pre-pub...it is really helpful (and perspicacious)...and a lot more insightful IMHO than Liturgical Works, the first in the series. However, I don't know yet whether to order it on L4...if only I had of known it would be available so soon!!! Same with Dictionary of Early Judaism, and Stone's new book. Arghhhh...if only I knew!!! I'd always much rather have them on L4, and I feel too guilty purchasing a product twice.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/304236#Comment_304236

Yes ... that's now happening to me too (hardcopy eventually followed by digital). I've been reading the Samaritan Documents (I think you have), and it's becoming more clear the Samaritan Penteteuch is sort of a 'must have' but I've doubts at least for Logos.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/304358#Comment_304358

Okie, dokie ... TWO more days!!

Why you might want it:

- Dead Sea Scrolls: Non-Biblical writings concentrating on the wisdom literature (the most likely to illuminate the NT, etc)

- New translation PLUS commentary, PLUS discussion of relationships to the NT and 2nd Temple writings

Not sure of the author:

http://www.mtso.edu/about-mtso/faculty-directory/john-kampen/ (he has a nice smile too; prefers blue shirts)

http://www.themennonite.org/issues/10-14/articles/WEB_EXCLUSIVE_Mennonites_Judaism_and_IsraelPalestine

Dean J

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/308910#Comment_308910

Allow me to plug a little gem I found -

http://www.logos.com/product/7905/judaism-and-the-origins-of-christianity

I actually already had a copy from the library when I saw that Logos has it - and the Logos price is far better than what Amazon is selling it for.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/308919#Comment_308919

You're right. I nearly dropped my computer:

http://www.amazon.com/Judaism-Origins-Christianity-David-Flusser/dp/9652236276/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322454996&sr=8-1

Even the used is twice Logos.

I notice Charlesworth wrote the introduction to another of Flusser's books.

Eric Weiss

I'll probably wait until all five volumes are available.

Let's see... the first one came out in 2001, and this one (the second) came out in 2011, so the fifth one should be out in 2041. [:)]

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/308919#Comment_308919

Well, Dean, I fell for your plug.

I'd earlier purchased the Black Friday Lenski, initially enjoyed some of his points but eventually had to conclude that he was at the tail-end of an era. I probably won't mention it to my Dad (who used to use it long ago)!

I will have to say the refund offer by Logos is a real boon for making sure people have a good fit with their purchases. I'd guess there's some real processing costs to the refunding, but they don't charge. I'm thankful.

But Judaism and the Origins of Christianity ... wow, how'd I miss this one?? Thank goodness for the forums. And as noted above, surprisingly affordable.

Appreciate it.

[LATER] For anyone passing this way regarding the JOC resource, it does have the photographic illustrations at the end (matching the earlier discussion) in the Logos version. I don't have the CD-ROM that accompanies the hardcopy, so I can't compare completely.

And for the many forum folks that ALWAYS wondered how to play the 'ancient Egyptian game of Who Struck You?', this resource amply demonstrates! (I haven't read yet, but I assume linked to Jesus before his death).

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/309049#Comment_309049

Well, Dean, I fell for your plug.

It serves you right if you walk around shuffling your feet. If you picked them up, you wouldn't be tripping over extension cords. BTW: What is an extension cord doing in a traffic area? [:D]

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/309059#Comment_309059

That took me a solid minute to catch on. You're getting to subtle with your humor!

Is Mebin

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/309049#Comment_309049

Lenski, initially enjoyed some of his points but eventually had to conclude that he was at the tail-end of an era

It is usually said that "2 great minds think alike". Well, mine is no great mind but I agree with you totally. Solid exegesis, but stiffled by dogmatic assertions without discussion of alternative theories. Yes, it is true that Lenski doesn't evade the hard verses or issues, but he does leave the reader with only one answer. Well, I should say, I only bought it late last night and so far have only gone through his commentary on James.

the refund offer by Logos is a real boon

I am not sure if I want a refund yet though...need to search it more...even though it represents a dying era of commentators, it is still a solid example of such. It is probably not even quotable to me (being from Pentecostal tradition), but I do like the fact I have an extra hyperlink option from my SIL Exegetical Summaries [^o)] I personally have always liked the older commentaries...but in regards to the book of James, Joseph Mayor's commentary in the Greek Classic Commentaries selection is something I am far more thankful for...and for the modern issues, Witheringtons work on the Homily of James.

Is it worth the low price of $200? Probably not...maybe $99 would be more fesable...but I will more than likely keep it now I have it...it's like hoarding your old books...if there is one line in any of them that could help me better understand God's word better,then they are worth the space they take up...and I am sure there is more than one line in each of Lenski's volumes that will help me to do just this. Well, that is my excuse, and self-justification for spending $200...lol![:D]