This volume presents texts from sites in the Judaean Desert other than Qumran, mainly Aramaic and Greek documentary papyri with the addition of a few Hebrew papyri. It also includes several literary texts which are mainly leather fragments of the Hebrew Bible. Unlike the documents from Qumran itself, these have the advantage of being found in a well-recorded archaeological context. There is an archaeological introduction. The sites are (listed from north to south): A. Ketef Jericho (archaeological missions of 1986 and 1993, part of 'Operation Scroll'); B. Nahal Sdeir (= Nahal David); C. Nahal Hever and Nahal Hever/Seiyal; D. Nahal Mishmar; E. Nahal Se'elim; F. Unknown Provenance.

Volume XXXVIII presents texts from several sites in the Judaean Desert other than Qumran, including Jericho. The documents are mainly Aramaic and Greek documentary papyri, together with several literary texts from the Hebrew Bible.