Rethinking the Materiality of Biblical Texts: From Source, Tradition and Redaction to a Scroll Approach

This article shows how attention to the dynamics surrounding production and revision of ancient Near Eastern scrolls can help scholars develop better models for the development and early use of the Bible. Though pioneers pursing such a scroll approach were confined to limited data in the Bible and rabbinic literature, we now have a wealth of data on scrolls from Egypt, Levantine sites like Deir ʿAlla, and Qumran. After discussing the use of scrolls for ancient literary compositions, the article illustrates how this information can reframe and inform analysis of the Pentateuch’s formation.