The Copper Scroll 3QI5: A Reevaluation: A New Reading, Translation, and Commentary (Studies on the Texts of the Desert of Judah, Volume 25)

This volume deals with the Copper Scroll, an almost two thousand year old cryptic proto-Mishnaic Hebrew Dead Sea document. It is the largest known ancient text to have ever been recorded on metal. The Introduction covers the nature and site of the discovery, opening of the two brittle oxidized copper rolls, deciphering the text, controversy about genuineness of the content, etc. The in-depth study presents the primary major studies, and offers a new reading, translation, and interpretation, including alternatives, as well as detailed studies of some unique aspects. The analysis is based on Rabbinical Jewish sources originating largely in the same historical era. This results into a more reliable interpretation of the Copper Scroll which probably originates from the Priestly leaders of Jerusalem, and contains a list of the hidden treasures of the Second Temple before its destruction by the Romans. Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Acknowledgments Abbreviations Rabbinic Sources I. INTRODUCTION Official Release Discovery of the Copper Rolls Initial Discovery Reports The Unopened Rolls Opening the Rolls Major Publications on the Copper Scroll The Present State of the Copper Scroll The Text and Its Problems The Language of the Copper Scroll Approach Used in this Study Vocalization Format of the Commentary II. TEXT AND COMMENTARY Item 1 ‒ Lines: 1:1 - 1:4 Item 2 ‒ Lines: 1:5 - 1:6a Item 3 ‒ Lines: 1:6b - 1:8 Item 4 ‒ Lines: 1:9 - 1:12 Item 5 ‒ Lines: 1:13 - 1:15 Item 6 ‒ Lines: 2:1 - 2:2 Item 7 ‒ Lines: 2:3 - 2:4 Item 8 ‒ Lines: 2:5 - 2:6 Item 9 ‒ Lines: 2:7 - 2:9 Item 10 ‒ Lines: 2:10 - 2:12 Item 11 ‒ Lines: 2:13 - 2:15 Item 12 ‒ Lines: 3:1 - 3:7 Item 13 ‒ Lines: 3:8 - 3:10 Item 14 ‒ Lines: 3:11 - 3:13 Item 15 ‒ Lines: 4:1 - 4:2 Item 16 ‒ Lines: 4:3 - 4:5 Item 17 ‒ Lines: 4:6 - 4:8 Item 18 ‒ Lines: 4:9 - 4:10 Item 19 ‒ Lines: 4:11 - 4:12 Item 20 ‒ Lines: 4:13 - 4:14 Item 21 ‒ Lines: 5:1 - 5:4 Item 22 ‒ Lines: 5:5 - 5:7 Item 23 ‒ Lines: 5:8 - 5:11 Item 24 ‒ Lines: 5:12 - 5:14 Item 25 ‒ Lines: 6:1 - 6:6 Item 26 ‒ Lines: 6:7 - 6:10 Item 27 ‒ Lines: 6:11 - 6:13 Item 28 ‒ Lines: 6:14 - 7:2 Item 29 ‒ Lines: 7:3 - 7:7 Item 30 ‒ Lines: 7:8 - 7:10 Item 31 ‒ Lines: 7:11 - 7:13 Item 32 ‒ Lines: 7:14 - 7:16 Item 33 ‒ Lines: 8:1 - 8:3 Item 34 ‒ Lines: 8:4 - 8:7 Item 35 ‒ Lines: 8:8 - 8:9 Item 36 ‒ Lines: 8:10 - 8:13 Item 37 ‒ Lines: 8:14 - 8:16 Item 38 ‒ Lines: 9:1 - 9:3 Item 39 ‒ Lines: 9:4 - 9:6 Item 40 ‒ Lines: 9:7 - 9:9 Item 41 ‒ Line: 9:10 Item 42 ‒ Lines: 9:11 - 9:13 Item 43 ‒ Lines: 9:14 - 9:16 Item 44 ‒ Lines: 9:17 - 10:2 Item 45 ‒ Lines: 10:3 - 10:4 Item 46 ‒ Lines: 10:5 - 10:7 Item 47 ‒ Lines: 10:8 - 10:11 Item 48 ‒ Lines: 10:12 - 10:14 Item 49 ‒ Lines: 10:15 - 10:16 Item 50 ‒ Lines: 10:17 - 11:1 Item 51 ‒ Lines: 11:2 - 11:4 Item 52 ‒ Lines: 11:5 - 11:7 Item 53 ‒ Line: 11:8 Item 54 ‒ Lines: 11:9 - 11:11 Item 55 ‒ Lines: 11:12 - 11:15 Item 56 ‒ Lines: 11:16 - 12:3 Item 57 ‒ Lines: 12:4 - 12:5 Item 58 ‒ Lines: 12:6 - 12:7 Item 59 ‒ Lines: 12:8 - 12:9 Item 60 ‒ Lines: 12:10 - 12:13 III. DISCUSSION The Copper Scroll and the Dead Sea Scrolls Reflection on the Opening of the Scroll The Drawings Copper Scroll Hebrew Uniqueness and Characteristic of the Document Historicity of the Copper Scroll Authenticity of the Copper Scroll The Hidden Treasure Why Copper Not Parchment? Ḥarevah/Ḥaruvah and the Valley of Achor Summary Conclusion IV. APPENDICES Appendix A - The Abbreviation Versus Introduction Scribal Corrections Regarding A Suggested New Meaning for The Abbreviation The Possible reading of Other Possible Interpretations for Conclusion Appendix B ‒ Numerals, Numbers, and Contracted Teens Introduction Numerals and Numbers Compound Numbers Teens Reconstruction of the Hebrew Contracted Teens Word Order Regarding Numbers and Numerals Conclusion Appendix C ‒ The Mysterious Greek Letters Introduction Suggestions by the Scholars 3Q15 Versus 4Q186 Numerical Values of the Greek Letters Are the Greek Letters Part of the Document? Suggested Interpretations Conclusion Appendix D ‒ The Term Introduction The Term The Scholars Interpretations The Meaning of Other References Regarding Relevant References to Versus in Item 4 in Items 12 and 58 in Item 13 in Items 22 and 50 in Item 33 in Items 51, 54, and 55 Conclusion Appendix E ‒ The Phrase Introduction Readings of the Scholars Possible Solutions Conclusion V. BIBLIOGRAPHY VI. WORD INDEX OF THE COPPER SCROLL STUDIES ON THE TEXTS OF THE DESERT OF JUDAH "This volume deals with the Copper Scroll, an almost two thousand year old cryptic proto-Mishnaic Hebrew Dead Sea document. It is the largest known ancient text to have ever been recorded on metal. The Introduction covers the nature and site of the discovery, opening of the two brittle oxidized copper rolls, deciphering the text, controversy about genuineness of the content, etc. The in-depth study presents the primary major studies, and offers a new reading, translation, and interpretation, including alternatives, as well as detailed studies of some unique aspects. The analysis is based on Rabbinical Jewish sources originating largely in the same historical era."--Jacket This book is an analysis of the Copper Scroll, the most unique of the Dead Sea Scrolls, written in a cryptic format in proto-Mishnaic Hebrew almost 2000 years ago. It probably originates from the priestly leaders of Jerusalem, and apparently contains a list of hidden treasures of the Second Temple before its destruction by the Romans.