The Qumran Psalter: The Thanksgiving Hymns among the Dead Sea Scrolls
In 68 CE, devout Jews left more than one thousand handwritten documents in caves northwest of the Dead Sea. The cave that most defined the beliefs and hopes of these Jews is Cave I. In it were placed many manuscripts, including two copies of the Qumran Psalter or Thanksgiving Hymns. In 1947, Bedouin shepherds found Cave I and retrieved scrolls, including a copy of the Qumran Psalter. It proves Jews created new psalms to complement the Davidic Psalter (the "Psalms" usually attributed to David). We learn for the first time how Jews prior to Hillel and Jesus imagined the universe, articulated unworthiness, and despite suffering were devoted to God's covenant. One author imagines that though his ear was inattentive to God's words he felt a message penetrate his being so that his stone heart palpitated. Throughout and especially in the Self-Glorification Hymn, the authors express transcendence, and a oneness with angels through God's continuing acts of compassion and acceptance. Though confessing unworthiness, the authors thank the Lord for forgiving those who turn from transgression; this theme is the keynote of the symphonic poetry. Jews, Christians, and all interested in spirituality will find insight and comfort studying these psalms and poems.
"Charlesworth brings both a scholarly and artistic eye to the
translation of one of the greatest hymnic works among Western
religions. His painstaking and sensitive translation of the
Thanksgiving Hymns will fascinate poets, scholars, and people of
faith."
--C.D. Elledge, Gustavus Adolphus College, Saint Peter, MN
"The present translation of the Thanksgiving Hymns marks the
culmination of more than five decades of work that has given
meticulous attention to the reading and reconstruction of the text.
Offered in beautiful English, the Hymns, one of the most
theologically significant collections of compositions from the
Second Temple period, can be read and 'heard' anew by an interested
generation of readers. Charlesworth should be congratulated on this
achievement."
--Loren Stuckenbruck, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen,
Germany
"A superb advanced translation of the Qumran Thanksgiving Hymns
that includes well-informed introductions and helpful footnotes
that expose clearly the piety of Covenanter Jews of Late Second
Temple Judaism and reflect the best of current Qumran scholarship.
This is similar to Charlesworth's earlier translation of the Odes
of Solomon--masterful, moving, and rooted in the best of
scholarship. Highly recommended!"
--Lee Martin McDonald, Acadia Divinity College, Acadia University,
Nova Scotia, Canada
"For more than fifty years, Professor J. H. Charlesworth has
studied the Thanksgiving Hymns among the Dead Sea Scrolls. Based on
a new critical edition, translation, and commentary he here
presents a poetic translation of the Thanksgiving Hymns and the
Self-Glorification Hymn. He unites the various manuscripts to a
composite text, giving the reader a much fuller text than earlier
available. Some sort of a sensation is Professor Charlesworth's
discovery of the handle sheet of the Thanksgiving Hymns with the
title of the hymn-scroll: 'To the God of
Knowledge--Blessings.'"
--Hermann Lichtenberger, University of Tubingen, Tubingen,
Germany
"This literature gives a poetic voice to the heart-rendering
suffering of members of the sect, along with their expressions of
gratitude and adoration of God. His clarifying comments on the
Self-Glorification Hymn, a lament of a rejected and despised
individual who reckons himself as being elevated to the rank of
divine beings, also sheds further light on the background of the
New Testament. The lay reader will be highly indebted to Professor
Charlesworth for this volume of hymns composed by the
Qumranites."
--Shalom Paul, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
Israel
"With this new and masterful translation of the Thanksgiving Hymns,
Charlesworth enables a wide audience to enjoy one of the most
difficult texts of the Qumranic corpus. Charlesworth is at present
one of the leading scholars in Qumranic literature in general and
the Thanksgiving Hymns in particular. The hymns printed in this
collection constitute a significant bridge between the Psalter of
the Hebrew Bible and the hymns of Christianity in the first
centuries CE; hence they should be read by every Christian."
--Doron Mendels, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
Israel
"Charlesworth brings both a scholarly and artistic eye to the
translation of one of the greatest hymnic works among Western
religions. His painstaking and sensitive translation of the
Thanksgiving Hymns will fascinate poets, scholars, and people of
faith."
--C.D. Elledge, Gustavus Adolphus College, Saint Peter, MN
"The present translation of the Thanksgiving Hymns marks the
culmination of more than five decades of work that has given
meticulous attention to the reading and reconstruction of the text.
Offered in beautiful English, the Hymns, one of the most
theologically significant collections of compositions from the
Second Temple period, can be read and 'heard' anew by an interested
generation of readers. Charlesworth should be congratulated on this
achievement."
--Loren Stuckenbruck, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen,
Germany
"A superb advanced translation of the Qumran Thanksgiving Hymns
that includes well-informed introductions and helpful footnotes
that expose clearly the piety of Covenanter Jews of Late Second
Temple Judaism and reflect the best of current Qumran scholarship.
This is similar to Charlesworth's earlier translation of the Odes
of Solomon--masterful, moving, and rooted in the best of
scholarship. Highly recommended!"
--Lee Martin McDonald, Acadia Divinity College, Acadia University,
Nova Scotia, Canada
"For more than fifty years, Professor J. H. Charlesworth has
studied the Thanksgiving Hymns among the Dead Sea Scrolls. Based on
a new critical edition, translation, and commentary he here
presents a poetic translation of the Thanksgiving Hymns and the
Self-Glorification Hymn. He unites the various manuscripts to a
composite text, giving the reader a much fuller text than earlier
available. Some sort of a sensation is Professor Charlesworth's
discovery of the handle sheet of the Thanksgiving Hymns with the
title of the hymn-scroll: 'To the God of
Knowledge--Blessings.'"
--Hermann Lichtenberger, University of Tubingen, Tubingen,
Germany
"This literature gives a poetic voice to the heart-rendering
suffering of members of the sect, along with their expressions of
gratitude and adoration of God. His clarifying comments on the
Self-Glorification Hymn, a lament of a rejected and despised
individual who reckons himself as being elevated to the rank of
divine beings, also sheds further light on the background of the
New Testament. The lay reader will be highly indebted to Professor
Charlesworth for this volume of hymns composed by the
Qumranites."
--Shalom Paul, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
Israel
"With this new and masterful translation of the Thanksgiving Hymns,
Charlesworth enables a wide audience to enjoy one of the most
difficult texts of the Qumranic corpus. Charlesworth is at present
one of the leading scholars in Qumranic literature in general and
the Thanksgiving Hymns in particular. The hymns printed in this
collection constitute a significant bridge between the Psalter of
the Hebrew Bible and the hymns of Christianity in the first
centuries CE; hence they should be read by every Christian."
--Doron Mendels, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
Israel
Product Details
- Title : The Qumran Psalter: The Thanksgiving Hymns among the Dead Sea Scrolls
- Author: Charlesworth, James H.
- Publisher: Cascade Books
- Publication Date: 2014
- ISBN: 9781630876579