This first published volume in the new Eerdmans Commentaries on the Dead Sea Scrolls explores in depth the numerous fragments of liturgical texts, shedding light on the ritual life of Jews at the turn of the common era. Beginning with a general introduction to the Qumran library and Jewish liturgical traditions, Davila (Jewish studies, University of St. Andrews, Scotland) situates the liturgical texts found at Qumran in their historical contexts in Second Temple Judaism. He then offers a translation of these texts, including notes on the original Hebrew, and provides a line-by-line exegesis of each document. The commentary shows how the Qumran liturgical texts draw on and develop traditions from the Hebrew Bible, and considers their significance to Jewish liturgy, Jewish mysticism, and the origins of Christianity. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
