The Covenanters of Damascus: A Hitherto Unknown Jewish Sect

Moore, George Foot, 1851-1931Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 4.0

Word count: 119K words
Chapters: 12

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Covenanters of Damascus; A Hitherto Unknown Jewish Sect by George Foot MooreAuthor: Moore, George Foot, 1851-1931,Language: English, Class: BM: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Judaism, Release Date: Apr 12, 2010

Editor's review

This book is George Foot Moore's focused study of "The Covenanters of Damascus," discussing a Jewish sect and its literature previously unknown to scholarship. Its value lies in situating scattered materials within the context of Jewish history and philology, showing how the author infers the group's identity, legal concepts, and organizational form from internal textual clues. For readers interested in religious history, Jewish studies, and the criticism of ancient texts, it is an exemplary piece for observing "how to pose questions from materials." It is not long but argumentatively dense, suitable as focused reading or classroom discussion material. A caveat: the book was written early, and later research has advanced; readers should treat it as a link in the history of scholarship rather than the final word on the subject. Attending to the author's steps of reasoning is more rewarding than memorizing specific conclusions.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Undergraduate and graduate students in religious history and Jewish studies
Readers interested in the criticism of ancient texts and the inference of sectarian identity
Teachers and book club members in need of classroom discussion materials
General readers who wish to understand a classic focused discussion in the history of scholarship

Not a good fit for

Readers who only want light stories and lack the patience to follow an argument
Readers expecting coverage of the latest research and a comprehensive survey
Complete beginners with no familiarity with religious history or ancient texts and no background knowledge

Reading tips

Read the opening and conclusion first to grasp the author's core questions and claims, then return to the argument.
While reading, mark the textual clues and steps of reasoning the author relies on and make a brief outline.
After reading, consult modern research surveys on related topics to learn about subsequent discussion and revisions.
Read alongside an introductory work on the history of Second Temple Judaism to fill in the background.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What does "The Covenanters of Damascus" refer to?

This is the term the author uses for an ancient Jewish sect, whose related materials are called the "Damascus Document." The book discusses the group's legal concepts, organizational form, and place in Jewish history; the precise definition must be understood in light of the argument in the text.

Do the book's conclusions still hold today?

The book was written early and is one of the early studies of the subject. Later scholarship has made new advances in textual organization and historical interpretation, so its conclusions should be viewed within the history of scholarship and not taken directly as current consensus; reading it against modern research is recommended.

Can I understand it without background knowledge of Judaism?

It will be somewhat difficult. The book involves specialized discussion of law, sects, and ancient texts, and without background it is easy to lose the thread of the argument. It is advisable to read an introductory book on Jewish history first, or to read it alongside relevant surveys, before tackling this book.

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About the author

Moore, George Foot, 1851-1931 Author

George Foot Moore (1851–1931) was a scholar of ancient Judaism and the Hebrew Bible, though public information about his life and academic career is limited. Two of his works are held here: The Covenanters of Damascus: A Hitherto Unknown Jewish Sect and The Literature of the Old Testament. The former examines the Damascus document within the historical context of Jewish sectarianism, discussing the sect's teachings and organization; the latter systematically reviews the composition, literary forms, and literary value of the books of the Old Testament. Both works are grounded in documentary scholarship, clearly written, and attentive to historical context and textual detail. They have had some influence in the relevant fields and are useful for readers studying Jewish sects and biblical literature.