This book offers a fresh look at the status of the scribe in society, his training, practices, and work in the biblical world. What was the scribe's role in these societies? Were there rival scribal schools? What was their role in daily life? How many scripts and languages did they grasp? Did they master political and religious rhetoric? Did they travel or share foreign traditions, cultures, and beliefs? Were scribes redactors, or simply copyists? What was their influence on the redaction of the Bible? How did they relate to the political and religious powers of their day? Did they possess any authority themselves? These are the questions that were tackled during an international conference held at the University of Strasbourg on June 17-19, 2019. The conference served as the basis for this publication, which includes fifteen articles covering a wide geographical and chronological range, from Late Bronze Age royal scribes to refugees in Masada at the end of the Second Temple period.

This special edition large format LSTS volume presents, over half of them for the first time, ten biblical and five non-biblical fragments from the Judean Desert. The text features 42 photographs of the fragments. The publication of seven new fragments from the Judean Desert will supplement the Discoveries in the Judean Desert series and bring new material to scholars regarding the full textual situation. Two of the new biblical fragments suggest the preservation of substantial textual variants. The new Aramaic fragment reveals the use of interesting linguistic forms. The book includes a 10 page essay by Martin Schoyen about how he has tracked down and acquired Judean Desert fragments and artifacts since 1994. The collection of images, photographs of the fragments, and scholarly commentary from some of the leading experts in the field gives the reader a comprehensive picture of the artifacts from Qumran. The fragments included are: 4QLeviticusi, 4QSamueld, 4QDeuteronomy, and 4Q Twelve prophets; New (additional) fragments of 4QPsalmsq and 4QExodusc; improved version of XJudges frg 3, 4QJoshuac, 1QDanielb, and 4QJoshuac; Apochryphal fragments - 4QTobita and 1QapocrGenesis; and, Other fragments - 1QSb (Rule of Blessings, reedition), 11QTemplea, and 4QAramaic frg.

This special edition large format LSTS volume publishes ten biblical and five non-biblical fragments from the Judean Desert, more than half of them for the first time. The fragments will be published with 42 adjoining photographs (including a four-page colour plate section). The publication of seven new fragments from the Judean Desert will supplement the Discoveries in the Judaean Desert series and update scholars on the full textual situation. Two of the new biblical fragments preserve substantial textual variants. The new Aramaic fragment demonstrates interesting linguistic forms. The book will include a 10 page essay by Martin Schoyen about how he tracked down and acquired Judean Desert fragments and artifacts from 1994, and another (15-20 pages) by Hanan Eshel on the present state of affairs with regard to Judean Desert fragments in private hands. The manifold material included in this volume will give the reader a comprehensive picture of texts and artifacts from Qumran seen together. The fragments are as follows: Biblical fragments - First edition - 4QLeviticusi, 4QSamueld, 4QDeuteronomyt, and 4QTwelwe prophetsh; New (additional) fragments of 4QPsalmsq and 4QExodusc; Improved edition of XJudges frg 3, 4QJoshuac, 1QDanielb, and 4QJoshuac; Apochryphal fragments - 4QTobita ar (reedition) and 1QapocrGenesis (reedition); and, Other fragments - 1QSb ( Rule of Blessings, reedition), 11QTemplea, and 4QAramaic frg . The book will also include images and discussion of the following items, probably deriving from the Qumran site: Incense altar, inkwell, scroll jar, palm leaf stylus, sandal sole, and scroll wrapping. These items will be presented in the context of the Qumran site and relevant contemporary material parallels from the Levant. The Library of Second Temple Studies is a premier book series that offers cutting-edge work for a readership of scholars, teachers, postgraduate students and advanced undergraduates in the field of Second Temple studies. All the many and diverse aspects of Second Temple study are represented and promoted, including innovative work from historical perspectives, studies using social-scientific and literary theory, and developing theological, cultural and contextual approaches.