The secret of time : reconfiguring wisdom in the Dead Sea scrolls

This book contributes to the rethinking of the Dead Sea Scrolls as an essential and integral part of Judaism in the Greco-Roman period. The Qumran manuscripts attest to the reconfiguration of Jewish wisdom concepts in this period. Strikingly, reflection on time as the organizing principle behind all of reality is formative for these emerging concepts, which are expressed by the enigmatic phrase rāz nihyeh . The secret of time invites us to venture beyond existing categorizations and explore a rich conceptual framework that is manifested across a wide range of texts, beyond generic categories, and overcoming the sectarian divide. "This book contributes to the rethinking of the Dead Sea Scrolls as an essential and integral part of Judaism in the Greco-Roman period. The Qumran manuscripts attest to the reconfiguration of Jewish wisdom concepts in this period. Strikingly, reflection on time as the organizing principle behind all of reality is formative for these emerging concepts, which are expressed by the enigmatic phrase rāz nihyeh. The secret of time invites us to venture beyond existing categorizations and explore a rich conceptual framework that is manifested across a wide range of texts, beyond generic categories, and overcoming the sectarian divide"-- Provided by publisher Contents Preface Abbreviations Chapter 1 Beyond the Limits of Wisdom 1 Rethinking Categories 2 The Sectarian Divide Chapter 2 Redefining the Sage 1 mēbîn 2 maśkîl 3 ḥākām 4 Conclusion Chapter 3 Continuous Study 1 By Day and by Night 2 Keeping Watch 3 Celestial Beings 4 Conclusion Chapter 4 The Dynamics of Revelation 1 The Body and Evil Forces 2 The Fleshly Spirit 3 Heavenly Light 4 Conclusion Chapter 5 Rāz Nihyeh 1 Turning to the Past 2 The Divisions of the Times 3 Divine Thinking 4 Conclusion Bibliography Index of Modern Authors Index of Ancient Sources Subject Index