SCRIBAL ACTIVITY DURING THE SECOND TEMPLE PERIOD

In order to give an outline of the scribal activity in the Second Temple period, this paper will begin by delineating the figure of the scribes, that is to say those who were mainly in charge of the scribal activity. From a number of sources we may assume that the soferim covered a wide spectrum of functions. Subsequently some examples of scribal activity within and outside what is today the Hebrew Bible will be given, highlighting how and to what extent this scribal acritivity is responsible of the textual fluidity that characterizes the Second Temple literature. Moreover a possible link between Enochic and Qumran literature will be investigated through the shared interest in the scribal activity.