The Scrolls attle: Zeitlin Replies to lieivin

after the destruction of the Sec- ceptance of them as fact, his ' er of righteousness and the
and Temple; hence, it is evident defense of his faith as "theol- Essenes would be mentioned
that the scrolls could not have ogy of the heart," in spite of there. Following their theories
been written in the pre-Chris- his assertion that now "the we must assume that the
. other study of Christian origins must authors of the New Testament
in his article refers to the exca- tian period. There are
(Continued from Page 1)
laws and terms in the Hebrew be drastically revised," adds his were not honest. They wanted
self did not see them in the vations made around Massada. Scrolls which clearly indicate name to the list of supporters to hide something. They pur-
jars. Furthermore, Yeivin did These excavations are irrelevant that they are of a late period.
posely • did not mention the
of the reality of the Scrolls.
not state that scientists main- to the question of the antiquity
name of the teacher of right-
Dr.
Yeivin
did
not
explain
eousness nor the Essenes. I
tam that the test of Carbon 14 of the scrolls which were bought
how
it
came
about
that
the
is unreliable. Dr. Arnold, a either from a Bedouin or a mer-
repeat, the theories that a
Dr.
Zeitlin
Makes
New
authors of the scrolls used
teacher of righteousness exist-
scientist, said, "There is • not chant. They were not excavated
ed during the Second Com-
much hope of determining the by archaeologists. Dr. Yeivin ellipses to indicate that a word Scrolls' Challenges
was omitted, or parentheses,
age of the scrolls by radio-car- also speaks of other excavations
Meanwhile Prof. Zeitlin monwealth and that the
connecting
lines
between
two
bon technique in the near fu- and says, "numerous disturbed
Scrolls were written by the
words, neither of which were makes new challenges to those
ture." (Catholic Biblical Quart- bodies were strewn about the known in the pre-Christian who speak of the Scrolls as his- Essenes are .false. Such views
erly, July 1951) cave . . • among these were the
torically revolutionary docu- can only emanate from those
remains of many women and period. They came into useage ments. In the July issue of Jew- who have no knowledge of
Dr. Yeivin also refers to the children." He adds, "There was at a much later period.
ish Quarterly Review, of which the history of the Second
so-called letters of Bar Kokba, a ghastly and most unexpected
In my articles I repeatedly
Jewish Commonwealth."
He says that my chief conten- confirmation . of ^ a story pre- asked the scholars to refute my he is the editor, Dr. Zeitlin calls
In Dr. Zeitlin's forthcoming
tion against the authenticity of served in midrashic literature contentions against the antiquity the defense of the antiquity of
this letter is based on "the argu- (Ekha Rabba, Ch. I, para. 16 of the scrolls; but they have not the Scrolls "A Travesty on article, which went to press
Scholarship." He disputes the
ment that the usual introductory
done so. The article by Dr. Yei- contentions of men like Dr. W. prior to the publication of Dr.
epistolary formula is 'X to Y,' (")) about
remnants
of
Bar
,Yeivin's article in The Jewish
vin is a great disappointment.
'
and not 'From X to Y' as in the Kokheba s defeated army that My contentions against the an- F. Albright, and in answer to News, Dr. Yeivin's views are
took refuge in caves and rock
case of the so far published doc- shelters and perished there from tiquity of the scrolls were un- the latter's assertion that "the challenged, especially on the
new discoveries prove that the score of Dr. Yeivin's acceptance
uments of this group. Now, hunger and thirst rather than answered.
New Testament Christianity was as fact the letter of Bar Kokba
that this statement is erroneous surrender to the Romans." The
I shall repeat the statement I even more intimately related with a signature at the end, and
is proved, quite independently, Midrash Ekha R. relates that
in my book The Dead Sea to parent Judaism than we were Dr. Zeitlin again points out that
both by Prof. R. Marcus and the Hadrian gave an order to his made
Scrolls and Modern Scholarship.
present writer. The former pub- generals to exterminate all the The error in assigning antiquity justified in thinking before "in antiquities no signature was
lished in the Journal of Near Jews and that those who hid to the Hebrew Scrolls should 1948 . . . ,our common heritage appended to the end of a let-
is greater than a great many
' Eastern Studies XIII (1954), p. themselves perished from
serve as • a warning to the Christians and Jews had be- ter."
51 a series of introductory sen- hunger. There is no mention of
Once again, also, Dr. H. L.
archaeologists. In the discov- lieved," he asserts:
tences from Greek letters writ- a cave nor any statement that
eries which they assigned to the
"Assuming that the Hebrew Ginsberg is challenged to an-
ten between the 'Ind cent. the men in hiding were the Stone, or Bronze, or Iron Age,
Scrolls were written by the swer "if this document was
B.C.E. and the 'Ind cent. C.E., remnants of Bar Kokba's de-
. accepted; Essenes in the pre-Christian composed • in the pre-Christian
their
views
may
be
choSen at random, which ex- feated army. How was Dr. Yei-
however, in judging the age of period, we cannot see new evi- period, how does it happen that
hibit the formula 'From X to yin able to determine that the
we find parentheses to indicate
discoveries of a period where
Y'; the latter pointed out at bones discovered in the cave we have an abundance of liter- dence for this statement. The that a word should not be read,
least one Hebrew example of are those of the men who served ary m a t e r i a 1, archaeologists baptism in the . scrolls consisted and connecting line to show
the same wording (ATIQOT I). in the army of Bar Kokba? should familiarize themselves in washing from _ physical un- that two words are connected?
cleanliness, whereas the bap-
"Neither Prof. Marcus nor Dr. Could they not be the bones of
first with the literary material tism in the New Testament was . . . It is the duty of Dr. Gins-
Yeivin has proved that I erred. , the Jews who hid in caves to
before making any statements. cleansing from sin and also berg to explain to the_ scholarly
Dr. Yeivin quoted Prof. Marcus save themselves from the perse-
world how the law of defile-
Apparently, the archaeologists
quotation erroneously. P r 0 f. cutions of Heraclius when he
baptist. by the holy spirit." He
not familiarize themselves adds t at "Josephus in his ac- ment of the blood of a pagan
Marcus quoted letters which be- conquered Palestine in the year did
with the literature and history count of the Essenes never occurs in this document, since
gin with to . . . from . . . "Here
we know definitely that this
of the Second Jewish Common- used the term baptism."
are a few examples of Greek 628
C.E.
and
perished
there
from hunger and thirst?
law was enacted in a later
wealth. The history and devel-
letters," he says, "written be-
Contrary to the views of Al- period."
In summarizing his article opment of Jewish law (Halaka)
– fore the end of the second cen-
bright,
Davis
and
others,
Dr.
to them.
Another vital point made by
tury A.D., and using the formula Dr. Yeivin says, "One may is a terra incognito
Zeitlin declares:
Dr. Zeitlin, in his July JQR
from N., •if not at the very be- say that even a cursory glance
"As a Jew who has made a article, is that "the question of
ginning, at least after the name at the archaeological evidence Scrolls Issue Pursued
life study of the history of the the antiquity of the so-called
the
recipient."
In
my
article
lately
collected
in
the
Judaean
of
Second Commonwealth and the
in the July issue of the AIR desert strongly supports the By Rev. Davies, Zeitlin beginnings of Christianity, I do Dead Sea Scrolls should be
authenticity and antiquity of
discussed and determined in
(1954) I said that Dr. Marcus
The Battle of the Scrolls is not see anything new about the scholarly publications." He de-
many documents found in the
failed to grasp my basic point.
being
pursued
and
wide
interest
Dead
Sea
Scrolls
which
will
The seven scrolls were
precates the fact that popular
I said that in ancient times no caves."
is being displayed in reports shed light on the common heri- magazines are being utilized for
letter ever began with the prep- not discovered in any cave by regarding the authenticity and
tage. Anyone who has made an sensational rather than scholar-
osition from before the name of archaeologists as he himself antiquity of the documents.
independent study of the Jew- ly discussions and that people
a d m i t s. No archaeological
the sender, whereas Marcus cited
A new book, a pocket edition, ish Apocryphal literature, e.g., without knowledge of the sub-
letters where the formula finds in other places can sub-
Second Book of Maccabeei,
"from" was used after the name stantiate the authenticity and paper-Covered, 35 - c e n t, 150- Fourth Book of Maccabees, ject suddenly have become
page,
scholarly
analysis
by
the
antiquity
of
the
seven
scrolls.
authorities on the Scrolls issue.
of the recipient. (I would like
The antiquity of the serails Rev. A. Powell Davies, of All- Enoch, the Testament of the
The copper scrolls, recently
to call attention to the criticism must be based on their face Saints Church, of Washington, Twelve Patriarchs, and the
a
publicized "still present
of Marcus' article by Dr. E. value, internal evidence.
Songs of Solomon, will readily
D.
C.,
under
the
title
"The
riddle," Prof. Zeitlin says.
Lacheman, Professor of Welles-
see
how
Christianity
grew
out
Meaning
of
the
Dead
Sea
ley .College, (JQR, April 1954). In reference to the internal
Regarding the release of the
Scrolls," evaluates all the evi- of and nourished itself on the
Prof. Marcus did not produce 'a evidence of the scrolls, Dr. Yei- dence offered thus far. This Apocalyptic Pharisaic sect. This story about the copper scrolls
single letter which began with vin concludes, "If some of the,
book, published by the New sect was the parent of the early and the hidden treasure, he
the preposition "from" before phrases or statements - in these Ameritan Library (501 Madison, Christians."
states that it was "in the style
the name of the sender. Dr. antique documents do not square
of Hollywood rather than in a
Prof.
Zeitlin
will
state
in
his
NY
22),
assumes
as
fact
the
Yeivin's statement that Prof. with some of the preconceived
scholarly manner." He makes
Marcus exhibited the formula notions of scholars, primarily view held by the majority that forthcoming article that "the a comparison by stating: "When
"from X to Y" is incorrect. The nurtured and reared in the tra- the Scrolls are authentic and early Christians were not aware Dr. Salk made, his epochal dis-
, letters from which Dr. Marcus ditions and methods • of purely belong to antiquity: But he does of the Essenes and that it would covery in connection with polio,
be absurd to assume that the
quoted are from the Greeks literary criticism, well --- tant challenge theological conten- Essenes left a lasting impres- he did not release his findings
Papyri Letters published by pis pour leur systeme." - Suppose tions. He offers the view that sion on the early Christians.
to the press but to his col-
Hunt and Edgar in the Loth the person who discovered the theologians may be en=
leagues, and the press received
An important assertion that
- Classics where all the docu- a ms: and claimed it to be that gaged in a battle they cannot
its news from the medical con-
win
in
the
question
of
"theology
challenges
Christian
accept-
ments begin with "to . . . of Shakespeare and it contained
vention."
versus
history,"
and
he
states:
ance
of
the
antiquity
of
the
from '. . ." There is not a single such words as telephOne, psy-
Dr. Zeitlin concludes his ar-
"The
truth
or
falsity
of
the
Scrolls is contained in this
- letter which begins with the chiatrist, Fabian, socialism, tele-
ticle by declaring that "the al-
. preposition "from" before the graph, etc. Could he when chal- main events recorded in the . statement by Dr. Zeitlin:
legations that the Hebrew
name of the sender; an achaeol- lenged on this ground as to the New Testament and the impli- "There are references to false Scrolls were written in the pre-
cation's
of
these
events
.
.
.
must
prophets
in
the
New
•
Testa-
ogist like Dr. Yeivin s h o u 1 d authenticity and antiquity of
Christian period and emanated
. have examined this document the ms. respond that these words be determined historically be- ment. We must assume that if
from the Essenes, and that
before making his statement. were used in the time of fore there can be enough reality there was a teacher of right- there was a teacher of right-
Dr. YeiviiVs assertion that he Shakespeare and conclude tant for Bible-based theology to rest eousness who was the leader eousness who was looked upon
°pointed out at least one He- pis for those who are reared in upon . . . You cannot make of the Essenes whose writings as a messiah and put to death
brew example of the same word- the traditions and methods of Christian origins something that greatly influenced the early
they may not have been merely Christians and have parallels by a 'wicked priest,' are not
, ing" is untrue. He did not point purely literary citicism?
only distortions of history but
out any example because none There was no attempt• made by believing what you wish in the New Testament, cer-
exists. In my article, "The Dead to refute my contentions that about them. You can make an tainly the name of the teach- travesties on scholarship."
Sea Scrolls: A Travesty on the term moreh zedek "teacher imaginary world that way, in
Scholarship," JQR, July 1956, of righteousness" Was coined by which to live and think and
pp. 18-20, I refer to Dr. Yeivin's the Karaites, and that the term worship, but you are out of
article in the ATIQOT where he Kez ha-Achron, "the last desig- touch with the real world. So
deals with the •so-called Bar nated time," i.e., the time of the the case for theology as arbiter
Kokba letter and makes refer- final redemption, was coined of history falls down."
PORTLAND, Ore., (JTA)—A that the 'convention resolutions
Dr. Davies, as .already indi-
ence to , an epistle which sup- after the time of Bar Kokba,
committee go on record as op-
cated,
works
on
the
assumption
move
to force the National Edu- posing sponsorship'. of the dis-
posedly was written by the and that the phrase "The Cove-
that
the
Essenes
wrote
the
Dead
cation Association to withdraw criminatory tours were ignored.
Jews of Jerusalem to the Jews nant of Abraham," as being
Sea Scrolls. This has been and
of Alexandria, and I showed synonymous with circumcision
sponsorship of four world tours However, the resolutions com-
that he misunderstood the text came into vogue among the continues to be challenged by from which Jewish teachers mittee promised to bring the
Dr. Zeitlin, on historical
of the Palestinian T a 1 m u d. Jews after the time of Paul in
were banned because Arab matter to the attention of the
There is no letter to be found opposition to him because he grounds.
countries which were included NEA board of directors in the
The
Rev.
Davies
replies
to
in the Talmud which begins denied circumcision and main- clergy who would meet the new on the itinerary refused to ad- fall.
with the preposition "from" be- tamed that God made a cove-
NEA sponsorship of the tours
mit them on religious ground,
fore the name of the sender. He nant with Abraham before his discoveries with hostility by failed this week-end as the 94th drew protests from major Jew-
by-passed my statement that circumcision and not by his cir- asking, "must churches always annual convention of the larg- ish and liberal groups since it
be defensive?" He declares that
in antiquity letters bore no sig- cumcision. Furthermore, t h e
est and most important teach- was revealed that teachers ap-
nature at the end, and the title law permitting a Jew to walk "a religion is not One whit less ers' group in the United States plying for the tours which
because
it
has
no
supernatural
of the sender was always in the two thousand cubits outside the
would visit the Arab countries
closed here.
beginning of the letter; whereas city was introduced shortly be- origin, no miracles and not too
had
been asked to bring state-
The
attempt
to
get
the
NEA
uniqueness."
in the so-called letter of Bar fore the destruction of the Sec- much
to withdraw from the tours ments from clergymen to the
Thus,
Dr.
Davies'
application
signature
at
and
Temple.
Again,
the
law
that
Kokba there is a
came to naught when a New effect that the applicants were
the blood -of a slain pagan de- of the Dead Sea Scrolls to the York State delegation requested I not Jewish.
the end.
Origin
of
Christianity;
his
ac-
Dr. Yeivin, an archaeologist, filed a priest was decreed shortly

JQI? Ed itor Insists There ore Errors
•
in Asst'ning
Antiquity to Documents
st,

or

NEA Parley Fails to Withdraw Tours
Through Boycotting Arab Countries

