On this day in 2012, the world of biblical scholarship lost Frank Moore Cross Jr., one of the foremost scholars of the Hebrew Bible and ancient Near Eastern studies. Cross passed away at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking work, particularly in his interpretation of the Dead Sea Scrolls and his 1973 Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic. He was also a renowned authority in Northwest Semitic epigraphy, with many of his essays collected in Leaves from an Epigrapher’s Notebook.
Born in 1921, Cross earned his PhD from Johns Hopkins University under the legendary William F. Albright. His early career included teaching positions at Johns Hopkins, Wellesley College, and McCormick Theological Seminary. In 1957, Cross was appointed Associate Professor of Old Testament at Harvard Divinity School. A year later, he became Harvard University’s Hancock Professor of Hebrew and Other Oriental Languages—a chair he held from 1958 until his retirement in 1992, after which he served as Professor Emeritus. Cross also directed the Harvard Semitic Museum and mentored over a hundred doctoral students, many of whom have become leading scholars in their fields.
His association with the Dead Sea Scrolls began in 1953, when he joined the international team responsible for their publication. Over the years, Cross’s work helped shape modern Qumran studies, and his introduction to the subject, The Ancient Library of Qumran, remains a seminal work. His contributions earned him numerous accolades, including the prestigious William Foxwell Albright Award and a Lifetime Award in Textual Studies from the National Foundation for Jewish Culture.
In a 2004 interview with Biblical Archaeology Review, Cross reflected on his personal connection to the Hebrew Bible. Although his academic tradition gave equal weight to both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, he revealed that his own spiritual and scholarly focus lay more with the Hebrew Bible, a sentiment that guided his life’s work.
“I find myself a little uncomfortable in the New Testament environment. And this is also true of what I would call late Judaism, the Judaism of the Second Temple and later. With the Hebrew Bible, you’re living in an austere world. When you come to the New Testament you can’t even swing a cat without hitting three demons and two spirits. And magic becomes something that is everywhere. In the Hebrew Bible, this sort of thing doesn’t go on.” (BAR July/August, 2004)
His studies have contributed to our understanding of the Hebrew Bible. May his memory be for a blessing, and his work benefit students of Scripture for many years to come.
Frank Moore Cross, Jr. (July 13, 1921 – October 16, 2012)
I recommend Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic for those interested in exploring his work. As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases, but there is no additional cost to you.
