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Why should we care about the dead sea scrolls?

The Dead Sea Scrolls are significant ancient manuscripts discovered in the Qumran caves and other locations, providing insight into early Judaism and biblical texts. They include a variety of writings in different languages and scripts and the oldest known biblical manuscripts, dating from 167 BC to 233 AD. The scrolls were studied by various scholars and have contributed to our understanding of the texts' preservation and interpretation, revealing connections to early Christian thought.

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The Dead Sea Scrolls
Agenda • What was found • The way they were studied • Why are they so significant? • What do they show us?
What was found • A large number of scrolls • Lots of fragments • Different locations • At Qumran site no scrolls were found – Only in the 11 caves – This location was found earlier
At the Qumran site • Several inkwells were found • Scrollery where scrolls were written • Writing on pottery – Same handwriting found in scrolls • No scrolls within the compound
The Scrolls were found earlier • Some found in the Cairo Geniza – Published by Solomon Schlechter • The Damascus Document – Published as “Zadokite Fragments” by Schlecther – Two copies from 9-10th century • This ties up with Timotheus 1 - 805 A.D – He was the Patriarch of Seleucia – He mentions that earlier books that were found in a cave near Jericho
Lots of fragments • Text in different languages & scripts – – – – Hebrew - Assyrian Block, Cryptic, Paleo ~80% Aramaic - Square Script ~17% Greek - Uncial Script ~ 3% Nabataean ~0.2% • Different writings – 12 with same handwriting -> same Scribe • Parts of Scrolls
Type of documents found • Biblical text – Most fragments found were Biblical canon 40% • Oldest ever commentary was found - Habakkuk – Non canonical text from 2nd Temple period 30% • Secular documents - 30% – shed light on the rules and beliefs of a particular group or groups within greater Judaism
Most common texts found • Psalms 34 copies • Reason – Prayers – Messianic • Deuteronomy 27 copies • Reason – New Covenant – Renewal ceremonies • Isaiah 24 copies • Reason – “Messiah”
Correlation with other collections • Mishna – Pentateuch – Psalms – Isaiah • Quotes in the Apostolic Scriptures – – – – – Isaiah Psalms Genesis Exodus Deuteronomy
Other theories about the scrolls • Geniza – Too many same authors • Same opinions – Documents were preserved • In pots • Wrapped in linen • Scattered among caves & sites • Storage for Jerusalem scrolls – Too many that do not agree with Pharisees – They speak against the temple – No Rabbinic Halacha was found
Agenda • What was found • The way they were studied • Why are they so significant? • What do they show us?
The way they were studied • 2 of groups of experts studied different scrolls – Israeli Scholars - 7 Scrolls – International Group - all other scrolls
Scrolls in Israeli hands • First 3 scrolls bought from Arabs • 4 More scrolls bought in US • Recovered another scroll - Temple Scroll – After the liberation of Jerusalem in 1967 • Now housed in Shrine of the Book
First Three scrolls • Bought by prof Elazaer Sukenik • Head of Dept Archeology at Hebrew University Jerusalem • Collected them from Bethlehem • Day before Israel's independence • 3 Scrolls & 2 jars • Book of Isaiah (Second Isaiah Scroll) • Thanksgiving Scroll - 40 previously unknown hymns • War Scroll - Describes the war preceding the “Day of yhVh”
Book of Isaiah • Copy of the Great Isaiah Scroll • Fragmented compared to the other one • Different style - less pedantic with spelling, text is coarser, exchanging words • Close to Masoretic text
War Scroll • Describes a war between Sons of Light and Sons of Darkness • Describes the war preceding the Day of YHVH – Would continue 49 years divided in periods of 7 years – Cease-fire would come in the sabbatical years – At the end, Angels would join the Sons of Light – They overcome the Sons of Darkness
Scrolls bought later in the US • Advertisement in Wall Street Journal 1June 1954 – 4 Scrolls from the Dead Sea Scrolls • Bought by Yigael Yadin for $250k – Shipped individually to Israel • From the Syrian Metropolitan – Archbishop Athanasius Yeshua Samuel
4 Scrolls bought in the US • Genesis Apocryphon • Commentary on Habakkuk • Community Rule • Book of Isaiah
Genesis Apocryphon • Found by the Bedouin in cave 1 • Written in Aramaic • Most likely not originally from Qumran • Expands on the text of Genesis – Exegetical way – Reflects on Jewish literary work of 2nd Temple period • Some of this text later appears in the Midrash
Commentary on Habakkuk • Verses with “true interpretation” • Tried to proof that most prophecies have been fulfilled • Best preserved commentary • Avoids using the name of YHVH – Preserves it in First Temple Script
Community Rule • Includes the Manual of Discipline – Contains the rules they accepted when they joined – Punishments for transgressing the rules – Roles of the members • Gave a good explanation of their daily live – Common meals – Dedicated study at night
Recovered another scroll • After the 1967 war – Jerusalem is again in hands of Israel – Also Jericho and Bethlehem • Temple Scroll – hidden by Kando in his house for 11 years • Published in 1977 • Kando was paid $125,000 after the war
The International group • Mainly comprised of Roman Catholics • Members of Ecole Biblique • Father de Vaux • Father Josef Milik • Father Jean Starcky • Father Pierre Benoit • Albright Institute • Monsignor Patrick Skehan
The International group - Non Catholic • Other original team members included – Prof. Frank Cross – John Marco Allegro – Dr. Claus-Hunno Hunzinger • Prof. John Strugnell
Secular Scrolls found • Community Scroll • Copper Scroll • War Scroll • Damascus Document • Temple Scroll
Copper Scroll • Only copper scroll ever found – Scroll was found in two fragments • Theory: Contains a map to Temple treasures – Treasures were never found – Anointing oil was found • Found in 1988 near Qumran • Different than any other known oil • From the Temple of Jerusalem
Damascus Document • Number of fragments found in Cairo Geniza • Name was caused by references to Damascus – Not a literal reference to Damascus in Syria – Possible based on Amos 5:27 • Can be divided into two separate sections – the Admonition – the Laws
Temple Scroll • It is like a 6th book of the Law • Temple of Jerusalem – Furnishings & fixtures – Fittings of the structure • Contains laws – Ritual purification – Marriage & sexual practices – The king of Israel • character • comportment • behavior obligations • obligations
Agenda • What was found • The way they were studied • Why are they so significant? • What do they show us?
Why are they so significant? • Were found in Israel – Khirbet Qumran & other places in Judean Desert • Written in the languages of the Bible • Contains the oldest Manuscripts • New information on early Judaism • New information on the time of Apostolic Scripture
Written in the languages of the Bible • Hebrew – Paleo Hebrew used in 11Q1 – 4Q41contains oldest copy of the 10 Commandments • Aramaic • Greek – Minor Prophets
Contains the oldest Manuscripts • Before - oldest was 1,000 years old • After - oldest are 2,250 years old – Prior to Masoretic Texts
Dating of the Scrolls • External Evidence – Supported by the International team • Internal Evidence – First proposed by Roth & Driver – Later further expanded by Prof. Robert Eisenman • Chairman of Dept. of Religious Studies – California State University • Published - Maccabees, Zadokites, Christians and Qumran - 1983
External Evidence • Methods used – Carbon dating • 167 BC to 233 AD – Paleography • Use analysis of the fonts and spelling • 8 Scrolls were dated – By three different groups
Theory of Roth & Driver • Scroll were all written after Y'Shua • Published books on their interpretations – Roth - The historical background of the DSS - 1958 – Roth & Driver - The Judean Scrolls - 1965 • They were well respected Jewish Historians
Scroll were all written after Y'Shua • Not pre-Christian writings – written between 66 and 74 AD • Assume 2 periods of occupation – Pre 37 BC by the Essenes – After 4 BC by the Zealots • Connection with Masada – Points to date of 68 - 72 AD – Proof was found by Yigael Yadin 8 years later • Destruction of the community
Internal evidence (content of the scrolls) • “Kittum” – Described in War Scroll • Must be Romans of the Empire (worship a king) • Tendencies – Messianic – Militant nationalism – More in common with Zealots & less with Essenes • Laws for King described Temple Scroll – May not marry his niece
Post 1990 • Accelerator Mass Spectrometry used • Eight scrolls dated • Confirmed the dating by Paleography
Agenda • What was found • The way they were studied • Why are they so significant? • What do they show us?
What do they show us? • Bible has been well preserved – Very little difference to the Masoretic text • Septuagint is a good translation – More accurate in some cases than the Masoretic text • Book of Samuel • Apostolic Writings are not all new concepts
Apostolic Scriptures • No Apostolic Scripture fragments • Lots of speculations – John the Baptists – Y'Shua as the Teacher of Righteousness • Some concepts/sayings do line up – Y'Shua – Peter – Paul
Luke 1:32-35 vs. 4Q426 Luke 1:32 -35 4 Q426 1.9 - 2.1 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Elohim YHVH will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I am a virgin? The angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. Col 1.9 [Also his son] will be called great, and be designated by his name. Col. 21 He will be called the Son of God, they will call him the son of the Most High.
Matthew 5 (Beatitudes) vs 4Q525 Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see Elohim. Matthew 5:11- 12 Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. 4Q525 Col 2.1 [Blessed is the one who speaks truth] with a pure heart. 4Q525 Col 2.2 Blessed are those who rejoice in it. 4Q525 Col 2.3-6 Blessed are those who seek it with pure hands, and do not search for it with a deceitful [hea]rt. Blessed is the man who attains wisdom, and walks in the law of the Most High: establishes his heart in its ways, restrains himself by its corrections, is continually satisfied with its punishments, does not forsake it in the face of [his] trials, at the time of distress he does not abandon it, does not forget it[in the day of] terror and in the meekness of his soul he does
Do not always agree! Luke 14:5 And He said to them, “Which one of you will have a son or an ox fall into a well, and will not immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?”• 4Q265 7 1.6-9 Let no one raise up an animal which has fallen into the water on the Sabbath day. But if it is a man who has fallen into the water [on] the Sabbath [Day], one shall extend his garment to him to pull him out with it, but he shall not bear an implement [to pull him
Jewish Messiah • Not everybody was expecting a new king • The Messianic Apocalypse (4Q521) – Based on Isa 61:1-2 & Isa 35:5-6 – Confirms expectation of prophecies • Heal the wounded • Open the eyes of the blind • Raise the dead • Bring good news to the poor
The Pierced Messiah Text • 4Q285- The Pierced Messiah text • Part of the Book of War – Translation differences based on vowel pointings – Could refer to: • and they put to death the leader of the community, the B[ranch of David - Eisenmann - 1991 OR • and the Prince of the community will have him put to death, the B[ranch of David - Vermes 1992
Conclusion • Why we need to know about these Scrolls? • Why should you use modern translation • Also accept the Septuagint as good translation • Confirmation that what we believe has it's roots in Judaism
Reference Materials • • • • • • • • Baiget, Michael &Lane, Richard. The Dead Sea Scrolls Deception. ISBN 978-0-099-25703-5 Eshel, Hanan. Qumran - Scrolls, Caves & History - A Carta Field Guide. ISBN 978-965-220-757-9 Desalvo, John. De Dode Zeerollen - geschiedenis en geheimen. ISBN 978-90-5764-128-2 Eisenman, Robert. The Dead Sea Scrolls and the first Christians. ISBN 978-0-9758-1885-4 Scanlin, H. P. (1993). The Dead Sea Scrolls & Modern Translations of the Old Testament. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers. VanderKam, J. C., & Flint, P. W. (2002). The Meaning of the Dead Sea Scrolls: Their Significance for Understanding the Bible, Judaism, Jesus, and Christianity (1st ed.). New York: Harper San Francisco. Shanks, H. (Ed.). Biblical Archeology Review. Sept/Oct 1982, Nov/Dec 1991, Nov/Dec 1992, March/April 1993, Abegg, M., Jr., Flint, P., & Ulrich, E. (1999). The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible: The Oldest Known Bible Translated for the First Time into English. New York: Harper One.