The Modern Scholar

The Dead Sea Scrolls: The Truth behind the Mystique

By: Professor Lawrence H. Schiffman

Narrated by: Professor Lawrence H. Schiffman

Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

In this course, Professor Lawrence H. Schiffman presents the real Dead Sea Scrolls. In doing so, this widely published authority on Judaic studies imparts a clear understanding of what the Scrolls are, and even more importantly, what they are not. The discovery of the Scrolls is itself a thing of legend. As the story goes, a Bedouin boy discovered the Scrolls in a cave in 1947 while looking for a missing goat. But as Professor Schiffman explains, even this simple story is more complicated than it first appears. Indeed, everything about the Scrolls, from their long, torturous road to full publication to the contentious haggling over dating, meaning, and translation of the Scrolls, has been shrouded in controversy - so much so that even otherwise respected academics have succumbed to the "curse of the Scrolls" by committing serious errors in their Dead Sea Scrolls scholarship.

The Dead Sea Scrolls have been the subject of numerous sensationalistic articles in tabloid publications. All manner of people with outrageous theories, including apocalyptic groups and those who believe that the Scrolls contain some hidden message that will lead to man's salvation, have used the Scrolls to further their agenda. In these lectures, Professor Schiffman engages listeners with a fascinating explanation of the content of the Scrolls, the times in which the Scrolls were kept, and the Jewish sectarians who lived in the Dead Sea community. First and foremost, Professor Schiffman clarifies one of the biggest and most widespread misunderstandings about the Scrolls, which is simply this: The Scrolls were not Christian texts nor do they contain any references to Jesus or John the Baptist. The Scrolls, in fact, pre-dated Christianity by many years. By dispersing this myth of the Scrolls as Christian texts, the invaluable insights the Scrolls provide can finally be appreciated.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2007 Lawrence H. Schiffman (P)2007 Recorded Books, LLC

A Great Course to Listen to Over and Over Again

I have listened to this course over 20 times and I'll listen to it again. Schiffman is a no nonsense professor who tells it like it is trouncing all the wacky people who have wacky ideas about the scrolls. my suggestion is to listen to Gary Renbergs course first for you need to know about the scrolls before you take this course. I bought Schiffman's book Reclaiming the Dead Sea Scrolls used and autographed. I got all the books in the suggested reading but one, as well. I'd love to get the Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls set but too pricey for me right now but it's on my list. I will suggest the Oxford Handbook of the DSS because you'll get to hear more views on the scrolls and some updated info...this course will ground you and end any wacky ideas unless you lack the education to fully understand everything or you're mentally ill. so many people believe what the NY times puts in print and their irresponsible journalism has gotten so bad, one day soon they'll be sold or out of business. I'd love to produce and direct a series on the DSS with correct information since my background is in TV and FILM to set the record correct. thanks for the hard work professor. This is one of my favorite audio courses of all time.

Seriously Academic

I certainly understand the subject much better now, but I did have to give up trying to keep track of some of the details along the way. The lecturer's style took some getting used to as well. It took me a while to decide how I felt about the whole package, but by the end of it I was quite enthusiastic. And much better informed on the subject.

There's nothing like an unbiased course...

and this; is nothing like an unbiased course.

Leaving aside the fact that Schiffman seems to believe that he is lecturing un-mic'd in a large stadium (he yells through the entire course), he also veers off topic several times to "debunk" the validity of Christianity; claiming that the foundational doctrines are a series of single lines of scripture that have been taken out of context, but clearly not understanding Christian beliefs himself well enough to properly dispute them.

Not too bad

I enjoyed this series of lectures even if biblical scholarship is not one of my main interests. It helps if you have a little Old Testament understanding when listening to these lectures. This book was worth the money but I'm not sure I would buy it twice.

Worth the time

I found the information extreamly helpful in broading my understanding of first century Christianity and the three questions I believed they struggled with, i.e. Who was Jesus, what was his message, and whom was it for.

A good introduction into The Dead Sea Scrolls

Fourteen lectures about the Dead Sea Scrolls by a professor who has been actively researching in this field for many years. He is passionate about the subject and has interesting theories and suggestions regarding many topics, but, unlike some other Modern Scholar lecturers, Lawrence H. Schiffman always takes care mentioning competing theories instead of stating his own position wrapped into "it is obvious that" or "as everybody knows".

Good information- annoying narration

Very interesting course but I found it challenging to listen to because of the delivery style of the Professor. It sounded like he was yelling all the time and I had to listen in small chunks of time. But I did learn a lot!

Detailed

WOW! The first few chapters should me made into a movie...it had me hanging onto the edge of my seat.The rest was the book was very detailed for those looking for a deep look into the scrolls and their background. I thought the entire presentation was awesome.

Really Enjoyed This

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Absolutely. The investigation and lecture was not entirely subjective, but Prof. Schiffman is a well known Jewish scholar and he handled the subject well.

If you’ve listened to books by Lawrence H. Schiffman before, how does this one compare?

Yes. This one is to par with his others that I am familiar with.

What does the narrator bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Added authority and vocal emphasis on what matters and what is conjecture and what is not at all important

Could you see The Modern Scholar being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No. It's a lecture.

Excellent

I enjoyed listening to it, and I learned a lot.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are fascinating and this was a good review of them.