pt. 1. Otherworldly priesthood in the Dead Sea scrolls. Otherworldly priesthood in non-sectarian writings -- Otherworldly priesthood in the songs of the sabbath sacrifice: imago templi and liturgical time at Qumran -- Otherworldly priesthood in sectarian writings -- pt. 2. Eschatological priesthood in the Dead Sea scrolls. The image of eschatological priesthood in the Dead Sea scrolls -- The historical roots of the eschatological priesthood -- The traditional roots of the eschatological priesthood -- Summary and conclusions
Summary
Departing from scholarship dedicated to the socio-historical realities of priesthood at Qumran, this book explores, in two parts, the most pervasive literary representations of priesthood in the Dead Sea Scrolls as a reflection of the religious worldview of the Qumran community and broader segments of Second Temple society. Part one compares depictions of otherworldly priesthood in non-sectarian and sectarian documents. Part two examines the historical and traditional roots of portrayals of messianic/eschatological priesthood. The study reveals a fresh understanding of the integral role of priestly imagery in the tension-filled eschatological identity of the Qumran community. It concludes with a consideration of the relationship of the evidence treated to the phenomenon of democratization of priestly holinesses in rabbinic Judaism and Christianity. --From publisher's description
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 311-350) and indexes
