The Use of Sobriquets in the Qumran Dead Sea Scrolls: (The Library of Second Temple Studies)

This book constitutes an examination of key sobriquets found among the Qumran Dead Sea Scrolls. Its primary focus is literary rather than historical and concentrates on the function of the sobriquets as labels utilised positively or negatively within the sectarian compositions. Noting the presence of ‘standard' and ‘variant' forms of these designations, this study examines the differing form and function of the sobriquets across the range of texts in which they appear. More specifically, it attempts to demonstrate that over time they underwent a developmental process, changing in form and perhaps denotation. Adopting a chronological schema that posits a Formative, Early and Late Sectarian Period, and concentrating on the sobriquets ‘the Teacher of Righteousness' and ‘the Spouter of the Lie', this investigation observes a development from contextualised scriptural typologies towards titular forms constituting discrete elements of sectarian terminology. A more general evolutionary trend towards a definite (‘standard') form is also highlighted, with so-called variants representing earlier stages in this process (further demonstrated by means of a supplementary case study involving the sobriquet, ‘the Seekers of Smooth Things').Comparison of these results with sociological insights, drawing upon the sociology of deviance and ‘labelling theory', suggests that this phenomenon can be understood against a wider context of labelling practices. Thus it is demonstrated that the sobriquets function as tools for labelling deviance and affirming positive counterparts. Furthermore, it is suggested that the move towards definite titular forms reflects a process of role engulfment, increased prototypically and the ultimate acquisition of ‘master status'.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Chapter One: The Sobriquets and the Scrolls 1.1. Introduction 1.2. Contextualising the Scrolls 1.3. Re-evaluating the Use of Sobriquets in the Scrolls 1.4. Chronologically Ordering the Key Texts 1.5. Conclusions Chapter Two: Formative Sectarian Period 2.1. Introduction 2.2. Sobriquets in the Formative Sectarian Period 2.3. Conclusions Chapter Three: Early Sectarian Period 3.1. Introduction 3.2. Sobriquets in the Early Sectarian Period 3.3. Conclusions Chapter Four: Late Sectarian Period 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Sobriquets in the Late Sectarian Period 4.3. Conclusions Chapter Five: The Development of the Qumran Sobriquets 5.1. Introduction 5.2. The Evidence for Sobriquet Development 5.3. The Qumran Sobriquets and the Sociology of Deviance 5.4. Conclusions Conclusions Bibliography

About the Author :
Dr Matthew A. Collins is Senior Lecturer in Hebrew Bible and Second Temple Judaism at the University of Chester, UK.

Review :
'This book represents a significant development in the study of the use of sobriquets in the Scrolls, and, more generally, it is an important step forward in the field of Qumran studies.' - H-Judaic: Jewish Studies Network