Strugnell and Israeli Committee Struggle for Control of Unpublished Dead Sea Scrolls

A struggle for control of the unpublished Dead Sea Scrolls between the Israeli Dead Sea Scroll oversight committee and chief scroll editor John Strugnell may end with Strugnell’s removal before these words appear in print.

According to committee member Shemaryahu Talmon of Hebrew University,^a Emanuel Tov, also of Hebrew University, has now been appointed associate editor of the Dead Sea Scroll publication team. Others describe the position as co-editor-in-chief. Tov, who is now on a sabbatical in Holland, claims not to know about the appointment. According to committee member Jonas Greenfield, the committee is still looking for a proper English title for Tov; “Associate Editor-in-Chief,” says Greenfield, does not have the ring of equality with Strugnell that the committee wants Tov’s position to have.

Tov, the author of the latest volume in the official Dead Sea Scroll publication series,^b was appointed without obtaining Strugnell’s approval. Strugnell was simply “informed” of the appointment. “He can’t do very much about it,” according to a highly knowledgeable source.

Although Tov is now associate editor, Strugnell is still chief editor. However, according to Talmon, “Strugnell is not in charge of Tov.”

“The question of the chief editor is now pending,” Talmon said in a telephone interview.