For many English readers of past generations. Cross’s volume formed the introduction to the study of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is a pleasure to welcome its reappearance, corrected and updated with a chapter on developments in paleography, orthography, history of the biblical text and additional information about the Qumran community. Those who wish news on the controversies surrounding publication of the Scrolls will want to look elsewhere. Those who seek a reliable first step in the study of these texts and their authors will want to read this work.

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