The Temple Scroll—Is It More Or Less Biblical?

Abstract

This chapter suggests a method for investigating how closely the Temple Scroll and the existing biblical textual traditions are related to each other. The author summarises the results of his studies on the Temple Scroll. One is a textual critical study on two sections of the Temple Scroll that prescribe and describe the Temple and the cult. The other analysis seeks to define the closeness of the Scroll to the biblical traditions, ranging from direct and literal quotation to individual creative composition with only a hint of indirect dependence on the biblical texts. The analysis shows the free creativity that the authors felt in forming their message - perhaps one evidence of the prophetic activity touched upon earlier in this volume. Keywords: biblical textual traditions; prophetic activity; Temple Scroll