The Cave 3 Copper Scroll: A Symbolic Journey (Studies on the Texts of the Desert of Judah)

In The Cave 3 Copper Scroll: A Symbolic Journey, Jesper Høgenhavn presents a reading presents of the Copper Scroll as a literary composition, with a deliberately designed structure, composed to cope with turbulent circumstances during the 1st century CE. Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1 Legend or History: A Brief History of Scholarship 1 Discovery and Opening of the Copper Scroll 2 Early Assessments 3 Authentic or Fictitious Treasures? 4 The Publication of the Text 5 The Discussion Concerning the Language of 3Q15 6 Continued Discussions on the “Authenticity” Question 7 Newer Contributions and a New Text Edition 8 The Present State of Research 9 Key Questions for Understanding 3Q15 Chapter 2 A Walk on the Wild Side: A Suggested Reading of 3Q15 1 First Main Section (I 1–IV 12) 1.1 Point of Departure: the Valley of Achor (I 1–8) 1.2 The Mound of Kohlit (I 9–12) 1.3 The Staircase of Manos (I 13–II 2) 1.4 First Visit to Jerusalem (II 3–12) 1.5 Retreat to Kohlit (II 13–15) 1.6 Second Visit to Jerusalem (III 1–13) 1.7 There and Back Again: Kohlit, Valley of Achor, Asla, Kohlit (IV1–12) 2 Second Main Section (IV 13–VIII 3) 2.1 In and around Secacah (IV 13–VI 10) 2.2 Between Secacah and the Kidron Valley (VI 11–VIII 3) 3 Third Main Section (VIII 4–XII 3) 3.1 Through the Kidron Valley towards Jerusalem (VIII 4–X 11) 3.2 Third Visit to Jerusalem: the Inner Kidron Valley (X 12–16) 3.3 Third Visit to Jerusalem: Tomb of Zadok (X 17–XI 7) 3.4 Third Visit to Jerusalem: Tombs and Monuments below the Temple Compound and Elsewhere (XI 8–XII 3) 4 Fourth Main Section (XII 4–13) 4.1 Away to the North: Gerizim, Beth-Shan, Bezek (XII 4–9) 4.2 Final Destination: Return to Kohlit (XII 10–13) 5 Overview and Synthesis 6 Different Scholarly Opinions Regarding Structure in the Copper Scroll 7 Conclusions Chapter 3 A Map of Meanings: Places and Items in the Copper Scroll 1 The Structure of 3Q15: a Logic Beyond Geographical Sequence? 2 Understanding the Depiction of Landscape in 3Q15 3 The Symbolic Meaning of the Places in 3Q15 4 Distribution of Sacred Objects 5 Books as Objects to Be Retrieved in 3Q15 6 Gold, Silver and Other Valuables 7 Buildings, Architectural Remains, and Water Installations as Hiding-Places 8 Tombs, Burial Places, and Sepulchral Monuments 9 Underground Hiding-Places 10 Patterns of Meaning Associated with Hiding-Places in 3Q15 11 Conclusions Chapter 4 What is Real? The Copper Scroll as a Material Artefact 1 The Material State of the Copper Scroll 2 The Deposit of the Copper Scroll in Cave 3 and Its Relation to Other Qumran Scrolls 3 The Paleography, Script, and Date of the Copper Scroll 4 The Greek Letters in 3Q15 5 The Hebrew of 3Q15 6 Numerals and Numerical Symbols 7 Special Abbreviations 8 The Use of Copper for Preserving the Text of 3Q15 9 The Structure of “Entries” in 3Q15 10 The Genre of the Copper Scroll: a “List” or “Inventory”? 11 The Functions of the Scroll and Its Historical Background Re-Evaluated 12 The Historical Situation of the Copper Scroll 13 The Case for the Authenticity of the Deposits 14 The Case against the Authenticity of the Deposits 15 A Perspective beyond the Dichotomy between Reality and Fiction 16 Conclusions Chapter 5 What We Were Told: Traditional and Literary Contexts for the Copper Scroll 1 Massekhet Kelim 2 The Book of the Treasured Pearls 3 Lists and Inventories from Various Contexts 4 The Lindian Chronicle 5 The Fate of the Treasures of the First Temple in Early Jewish Sources 6 The Treasures of the First Temple in Rabbinic Sources 7 The Copper Scroll in the Context of Jewish Legends of Temple Treasures 8 The Copper Scroll and Qumran Literature 9 Conclusions Conclusion Appendix: Translation of 3Q15 Bibliography Index of Ancient Sources Index of Modern Authors "In The Cave 3 Copper Scroll: A Symbolic Journey, Jesper Høgenhavn presents a reading of the Copper Scroll as a literary text. For more than 60 years, scholars have debated whether or not the treasures recorded here reflect historical realities. This study argues that the dichotomy between "facts" and "fiction" is inadequate for a proper understanding of the Copper Scroll. The document was designed to convey specific images to its readers, thus staying true to the format of an instruction for retrieving hidden treasures. Yet, the evoked landscape is dense with symbolical associations, and the journey through it reflects deliberate narrative patterns. The scroll was written against the background of the social and political turmoil of Jewish Palestine in the 1st century CE, and reflects contemporary concerns and interests"-- Provided by publisher