The character of the Shark makes a reference to a famous pool player named "Three Fingers" Yarmy. Don Adams' real last name, in fact, is Yarmy.
Although Max is depicted in this episode as a buffoon when it comes to pool, according to Barbara Feldon in her introduction to Time-Life's DVD of this episode,Don Adams was actually an expert pool player. This can be seen when Max sinks some difficult pool shots - supposedly with the help of a remote-controlled cue ball - and the camera angle shows that it is Don Adams, and not a stand-in, actually making the shot.
The title is from the archaeological discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Leonard Nimoy appears as KAOS agent Stryker.
During the early 1970s, Don Adams, endorsed a toy called "Pendulum Pool".
It was targeted to children as a small scale version of a billiard pool table.
An image of Don Adams wearing a white business suit and black dress shirt is displayed on the box which contains the toy.