Tyler, you've done a great job writing about these fragments. But I
wish that scholars would step back from their excitement about this new
text to think more carefully about the conditions under which this
text, and the others that the Eshels have recently published in DSD
12/2, have come to light. None of them were discovered in controlled
excavations, and in fact, the DSD fragments were acquired privately by
antiquities collectors Bruce Ferrini and Lee Biondi from the family of
Kando. I wouldn't presume to comment on the legality of these
acquisitions, but Messrs. Ferrini and Biondi have been involved in
several antiquities deals that have raised eyebrows internationally,
and their traveling Qumran exhibit has a troubled history.
Hanan and Esti Eshel are fine scholars, but some questions have to be
asked about their judgment in becoming involved with these people. Can
we all stop drooling and start wondering why 4Q texts are being peddled
at this late date to American wheeler-dealers or their surrogates? Can
we ask what reasons Hanan has to believe that the new Leviticus scroll
was "discovered" (looted) where his informant stated that it was?
Edward Cook
On Friday, July 29, 2005, at 02:03 PM, Tyler Williams wrote:
FYI: I have uploaded a new photograph of the Leviticus scroll
fragments to
my blog. The picture was taken by Hanan Eshel on the night he first
saw the
fragments (23 August 2004).
http://biblical-studies.ca/blog/index.html
Apologies for the cross-postings.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
-Tyler
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::
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Tyler F. Williams
Home Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | Work:
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Codex: Resources for Biblical Studies: http://biblical-studies.ca
Chair, Religion & Theology Department, Assistant Professor of Old
Testament
Taylor University College | 11525 - 23 Avenue, Edmonton, AB Canada T6J
4T3
Phone: (780) 431-5217 | Fax: (780) 436-9416
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