THE PRIEST

Updated, with new introduction. When young archaeology professor David Rothmeyer gets a cryptic invitation to do secret research for a mysterious Israeli group calling themselves the Temple Consortium, he accepts, hoping the assignment will displace his grief over the recent loss of his wife. He has no idea that his research, if successful, could trigger a world crisis of unprecedented proportions. The Consortium is eager to possess a certain missing Dead Sea Scroll that reveals the genealogical line from Aaron that will pinpoint the identity of Judaisms true high priest. With the authentic priesthood in place, they will rebuild their temple and, for the first time in two millennia, reinstate their ancient Levitical worship in its pristine form. But powerful forces are determined to block Davids research