Martin Abegg: Difference between revisions

'''Martin Abegg''' Jr. is a notable [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] scholar and researcher. Abegg is responsible for digitizing the Dead Sea Scrolls concordance, which broke the lengthy publication monopoly held on the scrolls.<ref name="BIB">[{{cite web|url=http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/dead-sea-scrolls/cast-of-characters/|title=Cast biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/dead-sea-scrolls/cast-of-characters/] Characters|work=Biblical Archaeology Society}}</ref> He went on to found the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea_Scrolls Dead Sea Scrolls] Institute at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_Western_University Trinity Western University].<ref name="BIB" /> Abegg currently resides in Abbotsford, British Columbia with his wife, Susan. Together they have two daughters.<ref name="TWU">[{{cite web|url=http://twu.ca/directory/faculty/martin-abegg.html|title=Martin Abegg - Trinity Western University|work=twu.ca/directory/faculty/martin-abegg.html]}}</ref>

Abegg first became acquainted with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea_Scrolls Dead Sea Scrolls] during his graduate work at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.<ref name="TWU" /> In 1987 he returned to the states, and completed his dissertation at the [Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion|Hebrew Union College]] in Cincinnati on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Sons_of_Light_Against_the_Sons_of_Darkness War Scroll] from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qumran Qumran] Cave 1.<ref name="TWU" /> During his time at the Hebrew Union College, Abegg began to collaborate with Professor Ben Zion Wacholder.<ref name="TWU" /> John Strugnell, chief editor of the scrolls, has sent Wacholder a copy of the secret concordance of the Dead Sea Scrolls the editors were usingat the time.<ref name="BIB" /> Using this concordance, Abegg created a computerized database for the Dead Sea Scrolls] texts.<ref name="BRI">[{{cite web|url=http://brianwdavidson.com/2013/09/20/interview-with-martin-g-abegg-on-electronic-dead-sea-scrolls/|title=Interview http://brianwdavidsonwith Martin G.com/2013/09/20/interview-with-martin-g-abegg- Abegg on-electronic-dead-sea-scrolls/] Electronic Dead Sea Scrolls|work=Brian W. Davidson}}</ref> Abegg decided to publish this material while he was completing his dissertation.<ref name="HUC">Hebrew Union College and the Dead Sea Scrolls, Jason Kalman</ref> Though this made Dead Sea Scrolls studies more convenient, Abegg was met with fury. Many influential scholars had been kept away from the materials while the editorial team worked on their first edition of scroll translation.<ref name="HUC" /> Those who had the privilege of working with the scrolls were angry that their work had been undermined.<ref name="HUC" /> However, the publication broke a forty-year monopoly on the scrolls, allowing scholars of all kinds access to examine the artifacts.<ref name="BIB" />