Hebrew Exegesis of the Dead Sea Scrolls

This course begins with exegesis of the Hebrew text of the three "Rules" found in the Qumran caves and in the Cairo geniza: the Community Rule (1QS), the Rule for the Congregation (1QSa), and the Damascus Rule (CD). We will also survey passages from other sectarian texts devoted to interpretation of scripture and history, esp. the pesharim. Students with ability to read Aramaic will read selections from the Aramaic DSS that complement the Hebrew texts, and all will read the entire corpus of non-biblical mss. in English translation.