The Dead Sea Scrolls on Sexuality: Attitudes towards Sexuality in Sectarian and Related Literature at Qumran

by William R. G. Loader

Publisher:

Eerdmans

, 2009

Overview

The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls brought to light the richest collection of early Jewish writings ever retrieved from the ancient world, including copies of biblical writings centuries older than other surviving manuscripts. The gradual publication of these writings unleashed a flurry of research and considerable speculation. One area of speculation concerns the understanding of sexuality in the ancient Jewish world.

In The Dead Sea Scrolls on Sexuality, William Loader investigates the Temple Scroll; 4QMMT; the Damascus Document; and a number of legal, liturgical, wisdom, and exegetical documents. These texts treat a wide range of matters pertaining to sexuality, from ritual and cultic concerns to visions of human community and family in future expectation. Far from the common view that the writers of the Scrolls held a low view of sexuality and marriage, Loader concludes that most of these sources reflect an affirmative stance towards sex and marriage within a framework of clear boundaries marking out where sex did and did not belong.

In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.

Contents

• Attitudes Towards Sexuality in the Temple Scroll
• Attitudes Towards Sexuality in 4QMMT
• Attitudes Towards Sexuality in the Damascus Document
• Attitudes Towards Sexuality in the Legal Texts
• Attitudes Towards Sexuality in the Liturgical and Related Material
• Attitudes Towards Sexuality in Biblical Exposition and Related Material
• Attitudes Towards Sexuality in the Wisdom Texts
• Attitudes Towards Sexuality in the Dead Sea Scrolls: Concluding Assessment

Praise for the Print Edition

An excellent, much-needed study. I especially appreciate Loader’s engagement with others’ research—a particular strength of the work—and his up-to-date bibliography. This book will generate lively discussion among Scrolls scholars.

—Kelley Coblentz Bautch, associate professor of religious studies, St. Edwards University

Product Details

• Title: The Dead Sea Scrolls on Sexuality: Attitudes towards Sexuality in Sectarian and Related Literature at Qumran
• Author: William R. G. Loader
• Series: Attitudes towards Sexuality in Judaism and Christianity in the Hellenistic Greco-Roman Era
• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Print Publication Date: 2009
• Logos Release Date: 2014
• Pages: 458
• Era: era:Contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Sex › Religious aspects--Judaism; Qumran community; Dead Sea Scrolls
• ISBNs: 9780802863911, 0802863914
• Resource ID: LLS:DDSSCRLLSSXLTY
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T23:14:45Z

About William R. G. Loader

William Loader is professor emeritus of New Testament at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia. He is the author of numerous books including Philo, Josephus, and the Testaments on Sexuality, The Pseudepigrapha on Sexuality, The Dead Sea Scrolls on Sexuality, and Enoch, Levi, and Jubilees on Sexuality.