The Damascus Document is the most important witness to the origins of the Qumran community. The author surveys previous research, with particular emphasis on the syntheses of H. Stegemann and J. Murphy-O'Connor. A more comprehensive view of the redaction and ideology of the document is offered, leading to the conclusion that it is originally a product of a community which traced its origins to the Babylonian exile. The extant Cairo manuscripts represent a Qumran recension, confirming the opinion of many scholars that the Qumran community originated as a splinter movement from an earlier and larger community. The Hebrew text and a translation are provided.

Philip R. Davies is Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at the University of Sheffield, UK.