The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of over 900 ancient texts found in the Judean Desert, near the Dead Sea, in 1947. They were discovered by three young Bedouin shepherds, who sold them to a merchant for $28 (equivalent to $325 today). The scrolls are approximately 2,000 years old and include the oldest known Hebrew Bible, as well as other texts such as apocryphal books and scrolls written by the Essene community.
The scrolls were initially stored in humid places and handled carelessly, leading to damage and some becoming unreadable. In 1967, Israel gained control of the scrolls and began to study them seriously.
The texts include biblical books, such as the Hebrew Bible, as well as non-biblical books like the Book of Enoch and the Book of Jubilees. One of the most significant discoveries is the "Scroll of the Son of God," which predicts the coming of the Messiah and was written 100 years before the birth of Jesus.
The scroll describes the Messiah as the "Son of the Most High" and contains language similar to the New Testament. However, the text was kept secret for many years and was only revealed to the public in 1993.
The Dead Sea Scrolls have revolutionized the understanding of the Bible, providing evidence that the text has not been altered over time. They also offer insights into the lives and beliefs of the Essene community and provide a unique window into the history of Judaism and early Christianity.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of over 900 scrolls found inside caves in the Judean Desert, near the Dead Sea.
2. The scrolls are approximately 2,000 years old.
3. The oldest Hebrew Bible ever found is among the Dead Sea Scrolls.
4. The scrolls were found in 1947 by three young Bedouin shepherds in a cave in the Judean Desert.
5. The shepherds initially tried to sell the scrolls to a merchant in Bethlehem, but he declined, thinking they were worthless.
6. The scrolls were eventually sold for $28, equivalent to $325 today.
7. The scrolls were passed from hand to hand before their significance was realized.
8. In 1948, the War of Independence of Israel began, and the region where the scrolls were found was conquered by Jordan.
9. Jordan conducted archaeological excavations in the region and found more scrolls, totaling over 900.
10. The scrolls were not well-preserved by Jordan and were stored in humid places, causing damage.
11. In 1967, Israel conquered the region and took possession of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
12. The scrolls are written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, and are mostly written on leather.
13. One of the scrolls, the Copper Scroll, is a list of the treasures of the Temple of Jerusalem.
14. The scrolls were written by the Essene community, a group of Jews who lived in the desert and sought a pure life.
15. The scrolls include biblical texts, apocryphal books, and other writings.
16. The scrolls include the oldest known copies of biblical texts, including the Great Isaiah Scroll.
17. The scrolls were reassembled from over 15,000 fragments.
18. The Book of Noah, the Book of Mysteries, and the Book of the Son of God are among the apocryphal books found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.
19. The Book of the Son of God was written around 100 B.C. and speaks of the coming of the Messiah.
20. The Book of the Son of God was only revealed to the public in its entirety in 1993, after being discovered in 1958.
21. Only one copy of the Book of the Son of God was found, and part of the text is missing.
22. The Dead Sea Scrolls are the oldest known version of the Bible, dating back to Jesus' time.
23. The scrolls are nine hundred years older than the second-oldest version of the Bible.