7 JUNE 1957, Page 27

Shorter Notices

The Scriptures of the Dead Sea Sect in English Translation, by T. H. Gaster (Seeker and War- burg, 30s.; unabridged paper-bound edition, 10s. 6d.), should have the same kind of effect on popular knowledge of the Dead Sea Scrolls as the open English Bible had on the layman's knowledge of Holy Scripture. The public is no longer at the mercy of experts, and the Scrolls can now be read for themselves in a fresh, imaginative and scholarly translation with the minimum of annotation. The main effect of all this is to bring out the spiritual value of the Qumran hymns, which now take their place among the religious literature of the world. Dr. Gaster provides an eminently sensible introduc- tion, the cautious tone of which is only broken by the suggestion that James the Lord's brother was one among a succession of 'Teachers of Righteous- ness.' All the essential documents for the under- standing of this monastic community are in-