| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| | [[Image:Dead Sea Scrolls.jpg|thumb|Dead Sea Scrolls]] | | [[Image:Dead Sea Scrolls.jpg|thumb|Dead Sea Scrolls]] |
| − | The '''Dead Sea scrolls''' include several of the oldest extant manuscripts of the [[Old Testament]], found in a remarkable modern discovery near the [[Dead Sea]] in [[Israel]]. This discovery proved the accuracy of the copying and preservation of [[Scriptures]] over thousands of years, because the ancient contents of these scrolls are virtually identical to the modern content today. In addition, these scrolls and fragments -- totaling nearly a thousand -- are an important source of information about the [[Holy Land]] in the first century after [[Jesus Christ]]'s ministry on earth. '''''These Dead Sea Scrolls predate prior oldest complete copies of the [[Old Testament]] by a millennium, and yet confirm every detail perfectly'''''. | + | The '''Dead Sea Scrolls''' include several of the oldest extant manuscripts of the [[Old Testament]], found in a remarkable modern discovery near the [[Dead Sea]] in [[Israel]]. This discovery proved the accuracy of the copying and preservation of [[Scriptures]] over thousands of years, because the ancient contents of these scrolls are virtually identical to the modern content today. In addition, these scrolls and fragments -- totaling nearly a thousand -- are an important source of information about the [[Holy Land]] in the first century after [[Jesus Christ]]'s ministry on earth. '''''These Dead Sea Scrolls predate by a millennium other complete copies of the [[Old Testament]], and yet confirm every detail perfectly, and [[AI]] discovered they are older than previously thought'''''.<ref>[https://nypost.com/2025/06/04/world-news/dead-sea-scrolls-much-older-than-previously-thought-ai-based-study-finds/ "Dead Sea Scrolls much older than previously thought, AI-based study finds" (''NY Post'')]</ref> |
| | + | |
| | + | The significance of [[Psalms]] is demonstrated by how the ''Dead Sea Scrolls' contain by far the greatest number of copies of this important book, with 35 copies. A complete copy of the [[Book of Isaiah]] (called the "Great Isaiah Scroll") as discovered in this collection, along with 20 additional near-complete copies, reinforces the importance of the Book of Isaiah also. |
| | | | |
| | A surprising amount of [[Greek]] in the Dead Sea Scrolls suggests that it was more commonly used by [[Jesus]] and his [[Apostles]] than previously thought: | | A surprising amount of [[Greek]] in the Dead Sea Scrolls suggests that it was more commonly used by [[Jesus]] and his [[Apostles]] than previously thought: |
| Line 18: |
Line 20: |
| | Many of the scrolls are now conserved in [[Jerusalem]], although some are in the hands of the [[Jordanian]] government. Among those looked after by the Jordanian government is the famous [[Copper scroll]].<ref>Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit, San Diego, Sept 30 2007</ref> | | Many of the scrolls are now conserved in [[Jerusalem]], although some are in the hands of the [[Jordanian]] government. Among those looked after by the Jordanian government is the famous [[Copper scroll]].<ref>Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit, San Diego, Sept 30 2007</ref> |
| | | | |
| − | Most part of ''the biblical books that have survived two millennia in the caves are extremely fragmented; many are no larger than the size of a postcard, and some fragments are as small as a postage stamp. Even the smallest fragment, however, can add to our knowledge of the Bible.''... ''With the exception of the [[book of Esther]], every book of the Old Testament has been found in the Qumran caves.'' <ref>[http://byubroadcasting.org/deadsea/book/chapter2/sec1.html Old Testament Texts at Qumran]</ref> All told, 230 Biblical manuscripts have been found (of course many are copies of the same books).<ref>http://www.sdnhm.org/scrolls/history.html</ref> | + | Most part of ''the biblical books that have survived two millennia in the caves are extremely fragmented; many are no larger than the size of a postcard, and some fragments are as small as a postage stamp. Even the smallest fragment, however, can add to our knowledge of the Bible.''... ''With the exception of the [[book of Esther]], every book of the Old Testament has been found in the Qumran caves.'' <ref>[http://byubroadcasting.org/deadsea/book/chapter2/sec1.html Old Testament Texts at Qumran]</ref> All told, 230 Biblical manuscripts have been found (of course, many are copies of the same books).<ref>http://www.sdnhm.org/scrolls/history.html</ref> |
| | | | |
| − | Among the many copies of the Bible found were:<ref>exhibit</ref> | + | Among the many copies of the Bible found were: |
| | | | |
| | * 35 copies of the [[Psalms]] | | * 35 copies of the [[Psalms]] |
| Line 27: |
Line 29: |
| | | | |
| | Much of the writing was on [[parchment]] made from the Ibex, a goat native to that area. | | Much of the writing was on [[parchment]] made from the Ibex, a goat native to that area. |
| − | Other scrolls were on [[papyrus]] and one scroll was on [[copper]] (the Copper Scroll).<ref>exhibit</ref> | + | Other scrolls were on [[papyrus]] and one scroll was on [[copper]] (the Copper Scroll). |
| | | | |
| | All sixteen of [[Museum of the Bible]]'s [[Dead Sea scrolls|Dead Sea Scroll]] parts are [[Falsifiable|falsifications]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/all-16-dead-sea-scroll-fragments-at-museum-of-the-bible-are-forgeries.html|title=All 16 Dead Sea Scroll fragments at Museum of the Bible are forgeries|date=March 14, 2020|accessdate=March 16, 2020|author=Anugrah Kumar|publisher=[[The Christian Post]]}}</ref> | | All sixteen of [[Museum of the Bible]]'s [[Dead Sea scrolls|Dead Sea Scroll]] parts are [[Falsifiable|falsifications]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/all-16-dead-sea-scroll-fragments-at-museum-of-the-bible-are-forgeries.html|title=All 16 Dead Sea Scroll fragments at Museum of the Bible are forgeries|date=March 14, 2020|accessdate=March 16, 2020|author=Anugrah Kumar|publisher=[[The Christian Post]]}}</ref> |
| | + | |
| | + | == Insights Gained == |
| | + | [[File:512px-Antonio Balestra - Prophet Isaiah.jpg|thumbnail|250px|Painting of [[Isaiah (prophet)|Isaiah]] by Antonio Balestra]] |
| | + | Insights gained from analyzing the Dead Sea Scrolls include: |
| | + | #[[Psalms]] and the [[Book of Isaiah]] are very important books of the [[Bible]], and always have been. |
| | + | #the [[Jewish]] community was more varied and diverse in opinion than portrayed today, with the [[Essenes]] and [[Samaritans]] having significantly different views from the [[Judea]]ns. |
| | + | #the [[monastery|monastic]] way of life was as important in the [[Jewish]] religion as it is in the [[Christian]] and [[Buddhist]] religions. |
| | + | #enormous care was taken to preserve [[Scripture]] with the result of virtually perfect preservation for millennia |
| | + | #the [[Septuagint]] was considered as authorative as the [[Hebrew]] [[Masoretic]] [[Bible]], as illustrated by how the Jeremiah incomplete scrolls found in the Dead Sea Scrolls match up more closely with the Septuagint than with the longer [[Book of Jeremiah]] in the Masoretic text.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/AcademicBiblical/comments/258y4y/about_what_percentage_of_the_old_testamenthebrew/</ref> |
| | + | #The Dead Sea Scrolls reinforce the authenticity of the [[Epistle to the Hebrews]], as both relied on the [[Septuagint]] rather than the [[Masoretic Text]]: "Some of the Dead Sea Scrolls actually have more in common with the Greek Septuagint than the traditional Hebrew Masoretic Text."<ref>https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/bible-versions-and-translations/the-original-bible-and-the-dead-sea-scrolls/</ref> |
| | + | #the Septuagint was more accurate than previously thought, as it was carefully based on previously unknown Hebrew manuscripts.<ref name="C">https://catholicproductions.com/blogs/blog/the-dead-sea-scrolls-and-the-canon-and-text-of-the-bible?srsltid=AfmBOopkMQ1HRd6GcCPEng9IWYWYIyYHQcVSaT-IWNep1l7NOP5g5jLY</ref> |
| | + | #the [[Book of Sirach]] was found, in multiple fragments, in the Dead Sea Scrolls, which reinforced the acceptance of this controversial book despite the modern exclusion of it from [[Protestant]] and Jewish [[Bible]]s. |
| | + | #the [[Book of Tobit]] was considered to be canonical (completely authoritative) by the [[Essenes]] community at [[Qumran]], which had at least 5 manuscript copies of it, in contrast with the view by some today that it is [[Apocrypha]].<ref name="C"/> |
| | + | #the Dead Sea Scrolls were not exclusively limited to the [[Bible]] used today, as the Dead Sea Scrolls incuded Aramaic Proverbs<ref>https://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/explore-the-archive/manuscript/4Q569-1?locale=en_US</ref> and other many other manuscripts of wisdom, which illustrates that the [[Essenes]] did not view ancient [[Hebrew]] [[Scriptures]] as the only and exclusive authority. |
| | | | |
| | ==Contents== | | ==Contents== |
| | The language breakdown of the scrolls is as follows:<ref>https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/mystery-of-the-dead-sea-scrolls</ref> | | The language breakdown of the scrolls is as follows:<ref>https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/mystery-of-the-dead-sea-scrolls</ref> |
| − | • 790 (85%) are written in Hebrew
| + | * 790 (85%) are written in Hebrew |
| − | • 120 (13%) are written in Aramaic
| + | * 120 (13%) are written in Aramaic |
| − | • 20 (2%) are written in Greek
| + | * 20 (2%) are written in Greek |
| | | | |
| | The subject matter of the scrolls is this: | | The subject matter of the scrolls is this: |
| Line 43: |
Line 59: |
| | •100 (11%) are without any classification | | •100 (11%) are without any classification |
| | | | |
| | + | == Dating == |
| | + | An analysis by [[AI]] reported in June 2025 found that: |
| | + | {{cquote|One scroll, which contains a fragment from the [[book of Daniel]], was carbon dated to between 230 and 160 BC — up to 100 years older than previous estimates. |
| | + | |
| | + | This means it overlaps with when the text was believed to be written, based on historical events it refers to. ... |
| | + | |
| | + | Another scroll, containing text from Ecclesiastes, was dated with the Enoch [[AI]] to the third century BC. ... |
| | + | |
| | + | [T]hese two fragments would be the first-known examples of biblical texts from the time when the work was composed.<ref>https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2025-06-05/dead-sea-scrolls-ai-dating-palaeography/105374410</ref>}} |
| | ==Support for Samaritan view== | | ==Support for Samaritan view== |
| | The Dead Sea Scrolls provide some support for the [[Samaritan]] interpretation that the true first holy temple had been properly built on Mount Gerizim, rather than in [[Jerusalem]]. Also, some of the writing in the Dead Sea Scrolls is in a Samaritan-style of script. | | The Dead Sea Scrolls provide some support for the [[Samaritan]] interpretation that the true first holy temple had been properly built on Mount Gerizim, rather than in [[Jerusalem]]. Also, some of the writing in the Dead Sea Scrolls is in a Samaritan-style of script. |
| Line 49: |
Line 74: |
| | | | |
| | == Insight as to conflicting manuscripts == | | == Insight as to conflicting manuscripts == |
| − | {{bibleref|Psalms|22|16}} (ESV) is translated differently from different manuscripts as to the prophecy of "pierced": "they have pierced my hands and feet" | + | {{bibleref|Psalms|22|16}} (ESV) is translated differently from various manuscripts as to the prophecy of "pierced": "they have pierced my hands and feet." The Dead Sea Scrolls contain the [[Hebrew]] for "pierced" as a full prophecy of the [[Crucifixion]] of [[Jesus]].<ref>https://dssenglishbible.com/psalms%2022.htm</ref> |
| | | | |
| | + | == Book of Jeremiah == |
| | + | |
| | + | Fragments of the [[Book of Jeremiah]] found in the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] line up better with the shorter version found in the [[Septuagint]] and Bibles used in Eastern Orthodox Christianity, as opposed to the longer version in the Masoratic Text that is typically incorporated into Protestant Bibles. |
| | + | |
| | + | == Book of Daniel == |
| | + | The [[Book of Daniel]] is among the Dead Sea Scrolls, and use of [[AI]] tools to date it more accurately than [[carbon dating]] has caused scholars to rethink its origin.<ref>https://www.abc.net.au/religion/carbon-dating-dead-sea-scrolls-apocalyptic-visions-book-daniel/105534586</ref> |
| | + | |
| | + | == Ruth 3:15 controversy == |
| | + | The [[Ruth, Chapter 3|Ruth 3:15]] controversy about whether a [[Hebrew]] pronoun refers to the man or the woman in the story remains unresolved by the Dead Sea Scrolls, which do not contain this particular book while containing every other one except the [[Book of Esther]]. |
| | ==See also== | | ==See also== |
| | *[[Codex Sinaiticus]] | | *[[Codex Sinaiticus]] |
| Line 63: |
Line 97: |
| | *[http://www.centuryone.com/25dssfacts.html 25 Facts] | | *[http://www.centuryone.com/25dssfacts.html 25 Facts] |
| | *[http://home.flash.net/~hoselton/deadsea/deadsea.htm Dead Sea Scrolls & Qumran] | | *[http://home.flash.net/~hoselton/deadsea/deadsea.htm Dead Sea Scrolls & Qumran] |
| − | | + | *[https://dssenglishbible.com/genesis%201.htm Translations directly from the Dead Sea Scrolls, easily searchable] |
| | ==References== | | ==References== |
| | <references/> | | <references/> |
| Line 69: |
Line 103: |
| | * Vermes, G., The Dead Sea Scrolls (Penguin, 1968). | | * Vermes, G., The Dead Sea Scrolls (Penguin, 1968). |
| | [[Category:Archaeology]] | | [[Category:Archaeology]] |
| | + | [[category:Bible]] |
| | [[Category:Biblical Documents]] | | [[Category:Biblical Documents]] |
| | [[category:Dead Sea Scrolls]] | | [[category:Dead Sea Scrolls]] |
| | [[Category:Old Testament]] | | [[Category:Old Testament]] |