Fall 2005

MES 320 • The Dead Sea Scrolls

Course Description

The Dead Sea Scrolls, accidentally discovered by Bedouin in 1947 in caves near Qumran in the Judean Desert, represent one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. The scrolls have significantly enrtiched our knowledge of the Bible, early Rabbinic Judaism, Sectarian Jewish life and the origins of Christian thought.

Grading Policy

3 in-class quizzes:30%; 45%; 25%.

Texts

G. Vermes, The Dead Sea Scrolls in English, Penguin, 1998; J. VanderKam, The Dead Sea Scrolls Today, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994; L. Schfimann, Reclaiming ther Dead Sea Scrolls, Philadelphia.

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