Editing Copper Scroll (section)

==Claims==
<!---This section needs to be rewritten using Wolters' classification, rather than Gaster's, as a guideline.--->
The treasure of the scroll has been assumed to be treasure of the Jewish Temple, presumably the Second Temple, among other options.

The theories of the origin of the treasure were broken down by [[Theodor H. Gaster]]:<ref>{{cite book|author=Theodor H. Gaster|title=The Dead Sea Scriptures|publisher=Peter Smith Publishing Inc |year=1976|isbn=0-8446-6702-1|author-link=Theodor H. Gaster}}</ref>
* First, the treasure could be that of the Qumran community. The difficulty here is that the community is assumed to be an [[ascetic]] brotherhood, with which vast treasures are difficult to reconcile. (Yet community, as opposed to individual, wealth for a future hoped-for temple is possible. Such is proposed by, among others, [[André Dupont-Sommer]], Stephen Goranson, and Emile Puech.)
* Second, the treasure could be that of the Second Temple. However, Gaster cites Josephus as stating that the main treasure of the Temple was still in the building when it fell to the Romans, and also that other Qumranic texts appear to be too critical of the priesthood of the Temple for their authors to have been close enough to take away their treasures for safekeeping. (The [[Arch of Titus]] shows some Temple items taken to Rome.)
* Third, the treasure could be that of the [[First Temple]], destroyed by [[Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon|Nebuchadnezzar]], King of [[Babylon]], in 586 BCE. This would not seem to fit with the character of the other scrolls, unless perhaps the scroll was left in a cave during the [[Babylonian Exile]], possibly with a small community of caretakers who were precursors of the Dead Sea Scrolls community. (The scroll was written too late for this proposal.)
* Fourth, Gaster's own favourite theory is that the treasure is a <!---But Gaster DID say this. Gaster is a scholar and not a television personality. The media is usually wrong anyway. Scholars speaking to a camera for money. Leave this in until we find out that Gaster didn't know what he was talking about and is superseded by a better expert.--->hoax.

There are other options besides those listed by Gaster.{{efn|See Wolters in Bibliography pp.&nbsp;15–17 for a more up-to-date list}} For instance, Manfred Lehmann considered it Temple contributions collected after 70 CE.

Scholars are divided as to what the actual contents are. However, metals such as copper and bronze were a common material for archival records. Along with this, "formal characteristics" establish a "line of evidence" that suggest this scroll is an authentic "administrative document of Herod's Temple in Jerusalem."<ref name="autogenerated212"/> As a result, this evidence has led a number of people to believe that the treasure really does exist. One such person is John Allegro, who in 1962 led an expedition. By following some of the places listed in the scroll, the team excavated some potential burial places for the treasure. However, the treasure hunters turned up empty handed,<ref name="vanderkam92"/> and any treasure is yet to be found.

Even if none of the treasures come to light, 3Q15, as a new, long ancient Hebrew text, has significance; for instance, as comparative Semitic languages scholar [[Jonas C. Greenfield]] noted, it has great significance for lexicography.<ref>See Greenfield's review of Milik "The Small Caves of Qumran" in ''Journal of the American Oriental Society'' Vol. 89, No. 1 (Jan.–Mar., 1969), pp.&nbsp;128–141).</ref>

It is more than plausible that the Romans discovered the treasure. Perhaps, when the temple of Herod was destroyed, the Romans went looking for any treasure and riches the temple may have had in its possession.<ref name="autogenerated212"/> The Romans might easily have acquired some or all of the treasure listed in the Copper Scroll by interrogating and torturing captives, which was normal practice. According to Josephus, the Romans had an active policy regarding the retrieval of hidden treasure.<ref name="autogenerated212"/>

Another theory is that, after the Roman army departed, Jewish people used the Copper Scroll to retrieve the valuables listed, and spent the valuables on rebuilding Jerusalem.<ref>British TV program: [[Channel 5 (UK)|Channel 5]], 21 April 2018, "The Dead Sea Treasure Map Mystery", 4/6</ref>