Wealth in the Dead Sea Scrolls and in the Qumran Community (Studies on the Texts of the Desert of Judah)

This volume is concerned with exploring sectarian attitudes toward wealth and the economic practices that gave rise to and issued from those attitudes. An introductory chapter establishes the state of the question. Three subsequent chapters focus on major sectarian texts: the Damascus Document, the Rule of the Community, and 4QInstruction A. Other sectarian and non-sectarian texts that mention wealth are discussed in a fifth chapter, while archaeological evidence from the Qumran region and contemporary documentary texts are introduced in chapters seven and eight. Finally, ancient secondary testimony on Essene economic practices is discussed. The book breaks new ground in arguing for several biblical rationales for the practice of shared wealth. Its integration of archaeological and documentary evidence sheds surprising new light on the economic organization of the Qumran community. CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES LIST OF PLATES PREFACE ABBREVIATIONS CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Prelminary Definitions 1.2 Past Study of Wealth in the Dead Sea Scrolls 1.3 Scope and Methodology of the Present Study CHAPTER 2 WEALTH IN THE DAMASCUS DOCUMENT 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Textual Evidence 2.3 Texts Illustrative of Communal History 2.4 Texts Illustrative of Communal Relations 2.5 Communal Ideals in the Texts 2.6 Conclusions CHAPTER 3 WEALTH IN THE RULE OF THE COMMUNITY 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Textual Evidence 3.3 Rationales for the Voluntary Offering of Wealth 3.4 Realities behind the Voluntary Offering of Wealth 3.5 Conclusions CHAPTER 4 WEALTH IN INSTRUCTION 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Textual Evidence 4.3 Wealth in Cosmic and Eschatological Context 4.4 Advice to the Poor Man and the Poor Maven 4.5 The Source and Disposition of Agricultural Wealth 4.6 Conclusions CHAPTER 5 WEALTH IN OTHER LITERATURE FOUND AT QUMRAN 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Wealth in the Sectarian Literary Texts 5.3 Wealth in the Non-sectarian Literary Texts 5.4 The Copper Scroll 5.5 Conclusions CHAPTER 6 ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF WEALTH FROM THE QUMRAN SITE AND VICINITY 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Architectural Evidence 6.3 Numismatic Evidence 6.4 Ceramic Evidence 6.5 Other Material Evidence 6.6 Osteological and Grave Evidence 6.7 Qumran-like Settlements in the Vicinity 6.8 Theories about the Use of the Site 6.9 Conclusions CHAPTER 7 WEALTH IN DOCUMENTARY MATERIALS FROM THE JUDEAN DESERT 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Commercial Instruments 7.3 Commercial Language 7.4 Commercial Practices 7.5 Commercial Agents 7.6 Commercial Practices Criticized by the Sectarians 7.7 Documentary Texts from Qumran 7.8 Conclusions CHAPTER 8 SECONDARY TESTIMONY TO ESSENE ECONOMIC PRACTICES 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Sources for the Secondary Testimony 8.3 Philo 8.4 Josephus 8.5 Pliny the Elder 8.6 Conclusions CHAPTER 9 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS APPENDIX A PARALLEL PASSAGES ON WEALTH IN ALL DAMASCUS DOCUMENT MANUSCRIPTS APPENDIX B PARALLEL PASSAGES ON WEALTH IN ALL RULE MANUSCRIPTS APPENDIX C OUTLINE OF THE RULE OF THE COMMUNITY (1QS) BASED ON PARAGRAPH MARKINGS APPENDIX D ARRANGEMENT OF THE RULES OF COMMUNAL DISCIPLINE IN 1QS VI 24-VII 25 APPENDIX E ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE PLAN OF THE QUMRAN COMPOUND c.31 B.C.E. APPENDIX F COMPARATIVE STRUCTURE OF VARIOUS TYPES OF DOCUMENTARY TEXTS APPENDIX G TRANSCRIPTIONS OF PLATES APPENDIX H THE DEAD SEA REGION BIBLIOGRAPHY Critical Editions of the Dead Sea Scrolls (DJD Series) Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Evidence: Other Editions, Translations and Study Tools Economic Institutions and Practices in Antiquity The Dead Sea Scrolls and Second Temple Judaism Ancient Secondary Testimony INDICES Significant Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek Terms Scriptural Citations and Ancient Sources Modern Authors A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z Subjects A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z PLATES