A Quick look at the Dead Sea Scrolls

Overview:  The Dead Sea Scrolls - at "From Jesus to Christ" on-line at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/portrait/scrollindex.htmlYou can read about the discovery and the history of scholarship on the scrolls by clicking on "The Mystery and Meaning of the Scrolls." 

For a description of the War Scroll and an excerpt click on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/portrait/scrolltranslation.html  Below are some notes to help you understand the reading:

A scroll from Qumran is   numbered by the number given to the cave where it was found. 1Q tells scholars that this is a scroll found at Qumran Cave 1.  The following letters come from the title given to the scroll.  Sometimes numbers follow to indicate which fragment (if any), which column, and which line.

Levi, Benjamin, and Judah are three of the traditional twelve tribes of Israel. Edom, Moab, Assyria, etc. were traditional enemies of Israel.  Note the strong dualism of the Sons of Light (us) and the Sons of Darkness (them).

For a description of and excerpt from The Community Rule go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/portrait/community.html

The authors of this piece associate the community with the Essenes.  This is a majority view, but not absolutely certain.  Why do they hold that this work is central to understanding the scrolls as a whole?  What is the Yahad?  A Gentile proselyte is a convert to Judaism.  Aaron, Moses' brother, is the ancestral founder of the priestly group in Israel.  Note:  that two messiahs are expected.  Messiah means anointed one in Hebrew.