G — Biblically Based Apocryphal Works

The Copper Scroll (3Q15)

1The Copper Scroll (3Q15), which has stimulated much curiosity and speculation, was found by archaeologists in Cave 3 during the excavations of 1952, but the metal had become so badly oxidized during the course of the centuries that the scroll could not be unfolded. It was therefore sent to Professor H. Wright Baker of the Manchester College of Science and Technology who, in 1956, carefully divided it into longitudinal strips and, in the same year, returned it to Jordan. It is part of the treasures of the Archaeological Museum of Amman. The Hebrew text, representing twelve columns of script, was published by J. T. Milik in 1962. It was preceded by a less trustworthy edition by J. M. Allegro, The Treasure of the Copper Scroll, London, 1960. The inscription lists sixty-four hiding-places, in Jerusalem and in various districts of Palestine, where gold, silver, Temple offerings, scrolls, etc., are said to have been deposited. Allegro reckoned that the treasure amounted to over three thousand talents of silver, nearly one thousand three hundred talents of gold, sixty-five bars of gold, six hundred and eight pitchers containing silver, and six hundred and nineteen gold and silver vessels. In other words, using the post-biblical value of the talent as a yard-stick, the total weight of precious metal must have added up to sixty-five tons of silver and twenty-six tons of gold. Who could have possessed such a fortune? Was there ever any truth in it? The answer is in the negative, according to J. T. Milik. In his view, the exaggerated sums indicate that the scroll is a work of fiction and that its chief interest to scholars lies in the fields of linguistics and topography. He dates it from about 100 CE, thus ruling out any connection with the rest of the Qumran writings since the latter were

2placed in the caves not later than 68 CE. The treasure was a real one according to other scholars, representing the fortune of the Essenes (A. Dupont-Sommer, S. Goranson) or the Temple treasure (J. M. Allegro, N. Golb, A. Wolters). According to Allegro, the Zealots were responsible for the concealment of the gold and silver and for the writing of the scroll. It has also been suggested that we are dealing here with funds collected for the rebuilding of the Temple after 70 CE, or with the hidden treasure of Bar Kokhba, leader of the second Jewish revolution against Rome in 132-5 CE. Milik's argument would certainly seem to account for the vast quantities of treasure mentioned. It does not, however, explain two of the document's most striking characteristics, namely, the dry realism of its style, very different from that of ancient legends, and the fact that it is recorded on copper instead of on the less expensive leather or papyrus. For if it is, in fact, a sort of fairy-story, the present text can only represent the outline of such a tale, and who in their senses would have engraved their literary notes on valuable metal? The contention that the treasure was a real one is supported by the very arguments which undermine Milik's. From the business-like approach, and the enduring material on which the catalogue is inscribed, it might sensibly be supposed that the writer was not indulging some frivolous dream. Again, in view of the fact that the Copper Scroll was found among writings known to come from Qumran, Dupont-Sommer and Goranson would appear justified in allocating the fortune to the Essenes. It requires, by comparison, a strong feat of the imagination to accept that all this wealth belonged originally to the treasure chambers of the Temple, and that it was placed in hiding, in a hostile environment, in 68 CE, before, that is to say, there was any immediate danger to the capital city of Jerusalem. Allegro bypassed this objection by presuming that, as Qumran was by then in the hands of the Zealots, it was no longer unfriendly to the Jerusalem authorities. But it has not yet been explained why the sack of the Temple and city should have been foreseen, and provided for, so early. In favour of the Temple treasure hypothesis, it is nevertheless possible to envisage that the Jerusalem sanctuary possessed such riches as these,

3whereas, despite Dupont-Sommer's undoubtedly true remarks concerning the apparent compatibility of religious poverty and fat revenues, it is still hard to accept that the Essenes, a relatively small community, should have amassed such disproportionate wealth. This is all that can safely be said of the Copper Scroll at the present time. Further study of the original will allow scholars to improve many of the readings. Meanwhile students of Qumran are considerably in J. T. Milik's debt for his pioneering decipherment of an extremely difficult text. For the editio princeps, see J. T. Milik, DJD,III, 199-302. Further works to consult: A. Dupont-Sommer, The Essene Writings from Qumran, Oxford, 1961, 379-93; N. Golb, 'The Problem of Origin and Identification of the Dead Sea Scrolls', Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 124 (1980), 1-24; S. Goranson, 'Sectarianism, Geography and the Copper Scroll', JJS 43(1992), 282- 7; A. Wolters, 'The Copper Scroll and the Vocabulary of Mishnaic Hebrew', RQ14 (1989-90), 483-95; 'Literary Analysis of the Copper Scroll', in Z. J. Kapera, ed., Intertestamental Essays in Honour of J. T. Milik, vol. 1, Cracow, 1992, 239-54; The Copper Scroll. Overview, Text and Translation, Sheffield, 1996; 'Copper Scroll', in Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls, ed. L. H. Schiffman and J. C. VanderKam, Oxford and New York, 2000, 144-8.

4Col. I 1. A Horebbah which is in the Vale of Achor under the stairs which go eastwards forty cubits: a box (filled with) silver weighing in all seventeen talents. KEN. 2. In the tomb of... the third: 100 gold bars. 3. In the great cistern which is in the courtyard of the little colonnade, at its very bottom, closed with sediment towards the upper opening: nine hundred talents. 4. At the hill of Kohlit, containers, sandalwood and ephods (priestly garments). The total of the offering and of the treasure: seven (talents?) and second tithe rendered unclean. At the exit of the canal on the northern side, six cubits towards the cavity of

5immersion. XAΓ 5. In the hole of the waterproofed refuge, in going down towards the left, three cubits above the bottom: forty talents of silver. Col. II 6. In the cistern of the esplanade which is under the stairs; forty- two talents. HN 7. In the cave of the old Washer's House, on the third platform: sixty-five gold bars. ΘE 8. In the underground cavity which is in the courtyard of the House of Logs, where there is a cistern: vessels and silver, seventy talents. 9. In the cistern which is against the eastern gate, which is fifteen cubits away, there are vessels in it. 10. And in the canal which (ends) in it: ten talents. ΔI 11. In the cistern which is under the wall on the eastern side, at the sharp edge of the rock: six silver bars; its entrance is under the large paving-stone. 12. In the pond which is east of Kohlit, at a northern angle, dig four cubits: twenty-two talents. Col. III 13. In the courty[ard of] ... in southerly direction [at] nine cubits: silver and gold vessels of offering, bowls, cups, tubes, libation vessels. In all, six hundred and nine. 14. In the other, easterly direction dig sixteen cubits: 40 tal. of silver. TP 15. In the underground cavity of the esplanade on its northern side: vessels of offering, garments. Its entrance is in the westerly direction. 16. In the tomb on the north-east of the esplanade three cubits under the trap(?): 13 tal. Col. IV 17. In the great cistern which is in the ... , in the pillar on its northern side: 14 tal[ents]. °K

618. In the canal which goes [towards ... ] when you enter for[ty-o]ne cubits: 55 tal. of silver. 19. Between the two tamarisk trees in the Vale of Akhon, in their midst dig three cubits. There there are two pots full of silver. 20. In the red underground cavity at the mouth of the 'Aslah: 200 tal. of silver. 21. In the eastern underground cavity at the north of Kokhlit: 70 tal. of silver. 22. In the heap of stones of the valley of Sekhakha dig (...) cubits: 12 tal. of silver. Col. V 23. At the head of the water conduit ... [at] Sekhakha, on the northern side under the large ... dig [thr]ee cub[its]: 7 tal. of silver. 24. In the split which is in Sekhakha in the east of the reservoir of Solomon; vessels of offering. 25. Quite close to them above the canal of Solomon sixty cubits towards the great stone dig three cubits: 23 tal. of silver. 26. In the tomb which is in the wadi of Kippah (going) from Jericho to Sekhakha, at its entry from Jericho to Sekhakha, dig seven cubits: 32 tal. Col. VI 27. [In] the eastward-looking cave of the Pillar with two entrances, dig at the northern entrance three [c]ubits; there is a pitcher there, in it a book, under it 22 tal. 28. In the eastward-looking cave of the base of the Stone dig nine cubits at the entrance: 21 tal. 29. In the Dwelling of the Queen on the western side dig twelve cubits: 27 tal. 30. In the heap of stones which is at the Ford of the High Priest Col. VII dig nine [cubits]: 22 ... tal. 31. In the water conduit of Q ... [the grea]ter northern reservoir, in the four direc[tions] measure out twenty-[fo]ur cubits: four

7hundred talents. 32. In the nearby cave in the proximity of Bet ha-Qos dig six cubits: six silver bars. 33. At Doq under the eastern corner of the guard-post dig seven cubits: 22 tal. 34. At the mouth of the water exit of Koziba dig three cubits towards the rock: 60 tal., two talents of gold. Col. VIII 35. [In the wa]ter conduit on the road east of Bet Ahsor, which is east of Ahzor, vessels of offering and books and a bar of sil[ver]. 36. In the outside valley ... at the stone dig seventeen cubits underneath: 17 tal. of gold and silver. 37. In the heap of stones at the mouth of the Pottery ravine dig three cubits: 4 tal. 38. In the westward-looking stubble-field of ha-Sho, on the south side, at the underground chamber looking northwards dig twenty-four cubits: 66 tal. 39. In the irrigation of ha-Sho, at the stone sign in it, dig eleven cubits: 70 tal. of silver. Col. IX 40. At the 'dovecot' (small opening?) at the exit of ha-Notef, measure out from its exit thirteen cubits, two tusks and, on seven smooth stones, bars (corresponding to) four staters. 41. At 'Violet-scarlet' over (past?) the eastward-looking underground chamber dig eight cubits ... (?): 23½. 42. In the underground chambers of Horon, in the seaward-looking underground chamber in the narrow part (?) dig sixteen cubits: 22 tal. 43. At Qob'ah a large amount of money offerings (?). 44. At the 'sound of waters' (waterfall) close to the edge of the gutter on the east side of the exit dig seven cubits: 9 tal. 45. In the underground cavity on the north side of the mouth of the gorge of Bet Tamar in the parched land of ... (?), all that is in it

8is herem (= devoted to the Temple). 46. At the 'dovecot' which is at Mesad, at the [water] conduit, Col. X southward at the second stair descending from the top: 9 tal. 47. In the cistern next to the canals fed by the Great Wadi, at the bottom: 12 tal. 48. At the reservoir which is in Bet Kerem going to the left of ten notches: sixty-two talents of silver. 49. At the pond of the valley of 'YK (?) on its western side is a ma'ah coin coupled with two ma'ahs. This is the entrance: three hundred talents of gold and twenty pitched vessels. 50. Under the 'Hand' (= Monument) of Absalom on the western side dig twelve notches: 80 tal. 51. At the pond of the privy of Siloa under the watering-trough: 17 tal. 52. [At ... ] in the four Col. XI angles: gold and vessels of offering. 53. Next to them under the corner of the southern portico at the tomb of Zadok under the pillar of the covered hall: vessels of offering of resin and offering of senna. 54. Next to them at the ... (?) at the top of the westward-looking rock towards the garden of Zadok under the great closing stone which is at the conduit: devoted things. 55. In the tomb which is under the galleries (?): 40 tal. 56. In the tomb of the Sons of ... (?) the Yerahite, in it: vessels of offering of cedar, offering of resin. 57. Next to them, at Bet-Eshdatain (Bethesda), in the reservoir where you enter the small pool: vessels of offering of aloes, offering of ... (?) 58. Next to them, at the western entrance of the tomb is a channel over ... nine hundred [tal. of silver] Col. XII 5 tal. of gold. 59. Sixty talents at its entrance from the west under the black stone.

960. Near to them under the threshold of the sepulchral chamber: 42 tal. 61. On Mount Gerizim under the stairs of the higher underground cavity a box and its contents and 60 tal. of silver. 62. At the mouth of the spring of Bet-Sham vessels of silver and vessels of gold of offering and silver. In all, six hundred talents. 63. In the great underground duct of the sepulchral chamber towards the house of the sepulchral chamber. The whole weighing 71 talents and twenty minas. 64. In the underground cavity which is in the smooth rock north of Kohlit whose opening is towards the north with tombs at its mouth there is a copy of this writing and its explanation and the measurements and the details of each item.