The Dead Sea Scrolls:The Dead Sea Scrolls:A Historic Discovery A Historic Discovery
What are the Dead Sea What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?Scrolls?
When were they Discovered?When were they Discovered?Who Wrote them?Who Wrote them?
Why are they so Important?Why are they so Important?
The Dead Sea Scrolls are a The Dead Sea Scrolls are a
collection of fragments of collection of fragments of almost 900 documentsalmost 900 documents
Scrolls were gathered by a Scrolls were gathered by a sect at Qumransect at Qumran
The sect lived there from The sect lived there from 150 BCE – 68 CE when the 150 BCE – 68 CE when the Romans destroyed the Romans destroyed the TempleTemple
Qumran was also Qumran was also destroyed at that timedestroyed at that time
How, Where & When were the How, Where & When were the Scrolls Discovered?Scrolls Discovered?
The Discovery The Discovery
In 1947 Bedouin Arabs In 1947 Bedouin Arabs discovered an untouched discovered an untouched cave near the Dead Sea cave near the Dead Sea containing ancient scrollscontaining ancient scrolls
The Key PlayersThe Key Players
Yigal Yadin
Eleazar Sukenik
What kinds of Writings are contained in What kinds of Writings are contained in the Dead Sea Scrolls? the Dead Sea Scrolls?
Biblical, Apocryphal and Sectarian
Contents Contents
Subject Matter: Biblical,Subject Matter: Biblical,Apocryphal (non- biblical) Apocryphal (non- biblical) & sectarian writings& sectarian writings
Condition: Thousands of Condition: Thousands of Fragments; Remains of Fragments; Remains of almost 900 manuscripts almost 900 manuscripts
Only 2 caves produce Only 2 caves produce intact manuscripts; the intact manuscripts; the rest are fragmentsrest are fragments
More ContentsMore Contents
Scope: Fragments Scope: Fragments of every book of the of every book of the TanachTanach except except Megillat EstherMegillat Esther
Language:Hebrew Language:Hebrew and Aramaicand Aramaic
Date: Hasmonean Date: Hasmonean (152-63 BCE) – Early (152-63 BCE) – Early Roman(63 BCE – 68 Roman(63 BCE – 68 CE)CE)
The Isaiah ScrollThe Isaiah Scroll Dated at 100 BCDated at 100 BC Oldest copy of IsaiahOldest copy of Isaiah 21 Isaiah texts were 21 Isaiah texts were
found, only 1found, only 1completecomplete
The Great Isaiah The Great Isaiah Scroll is 24 ft. long Scroll is 24 ft. long
Rule of the CommunityRule of the Community
Lists members Lists members obligationsobligations
Basic theological Basic theological beliefsbeliefs
Initiation ritesInitiation rites One of the One of the
original scrolls original scrolls found in 1947found in 1947
The War ScrollThe War Scroll
Describes the Describes the eschatological eschatological last battle last battle between the between the Sons of Light and Sons of Light and Sons of Darkness Sons of Darkness
Describes Describes scenarios for the scenarios for the end of days end of days
The Copper ScrollThe Copper Scroll
Discovered by Discovered by archaeologists it archaeologists it describes vast describes vast amounts of amounts of buried treasure buried treasure
Some scholars Some scholars say it refers to say it refers to Temple treasures Temple treasures hidden before hidden before the destruction the destruction of theof theTemple in 70 CE. Temple in 70 CE.
Mystery of the Copper Scroll
MMT: MMT: Miqsat Ma’aseh ha-TorahMiqsat Ma’aseh ha-Torah
“ “ Some Rulings Some Rulings Pertaining to the Pertaining to the Torah” Torah”
Author asserts sect Author asserts sect broke away due to broke away due to differences in differences in religious lawsreligious laws
Unwilling to accept Unwilling to accept legal rulings of legal rulings of Hasmonean high Hasmonean high priestspriests
Religious Artifacts FoundReligious Artifacts Found at Qumran at Qumran
What kinds of objects are these?
More Qumran FindingsMore Qumran Findings
0
50
100
1stQtr
3rdQtr
East
West
North
Who Wrote the Scrolls?Who Wrote the Scrolls? Excavations done at Excavations done at
Qumran near the caves Qumran near the caves at the Dead Seaat the Dead Seaindicate occupation indicate occupation dating 130 BCE to 68 CEdating 130 BCE to 68 CE
Qumran believed to be Qumran believed to be the Wilderness retreat the Wilderness retreat of the Dead Sea Sect - a of the Dead Sea Sect - a separatist Jewish sect of separatist Jewish sect of the Second Temple the Second Temple Period Period
Identity of the Sect : Who were they? Identity of the Sect : Who were they? A Scholars Debate: A Scholars Debate:
- Some Christian Scholars - Some Christian Scholars say : Essenessay : Essenespre-cursors to early pre-cursors to early Christianity Christianity - Other scholars say - Other scholars say Sadducee opponents of Sadducee opponents of the Phariseesthe Pharisees
separatistsseparatists SectariansSectarians Apocalyptics – Focus on the Apocalyptics – Focus on the
End of DaysEnd of Days MessianicMessianic Ascetics Ascetics
Dating the Scrolls: How do we Dating the Scrolls: How do we Date the Scrolls?Date the Scrolls?
Carbon 14 datingCarbon 14 dating Paleography – the Paleography – the
study of shapes, study of shapes, letters and writingletters and writing
Archeology of the Archeology of the Qumran ruinsQumran ruins
NumismaticsNumismatics
Qumran FindingsQumran Findings
Mikvaot(Ritual Mikvaot(Ritual baths)baths)
PotteryPottery
Question: Why were many of the vessels made of stone?
The Scrolls & ChristianityThe Scrolls & Christianity Christian scholars believed them to Christian scholars believed them to
be documents of an early Christian be documents of an early Christian sect and reflect Christian beliefs. sect and reflect Christian beliefs. These claims, in fact, are without These claims, in fact, are without basis. basis.
There were no New Testament documents There were no New Testament documents found. Nor is Jesus or John the Baptist found. Nor is Jesus or John the Baptist mentionedmentioned..
Most likely, early Christianity evolved from Most likely, early Christianity evolved from sect like the Eseenes who may have sect like the Eseenes who may have been celibate, used ritual baths been celibate, used ritual baths
(baptism), etc.(baptism), etc.
Importance of the ScrollsImportance of the Scrollsfor Judaismfor Judaism
Authenticate the Authenticate the accuracy of the accuracy of the Hebrew TanachHebrew Tanach
Slight variations Slight variations in the Textsin the Texts
More than 1000 More than 1000 years older than years older than previous oldest previous oldest copy of Tanach – copy of Tanach – the Aleppo Codexthe Aleppo Codex
Importance of the ScrollsImportance of the Scrolls Validates the oral law Validates the oral law
(rabbinic tradition) as seen (rabbinic tradition) as seen in the Mishna(200 CE): it in the Mishna(200 CE): it was already the norm was already the norm among the Phariseesamong the Pharisees
Oral Tradition of the Oral Tradition of the Pharisees seen as Pharisees seen as dominant as early as dominant as early as Hasmonean periodHasmonean period
Fills in gap between Fills in gap between written Torah: Daniel:150 written Torah: Daniel:150 BCE) and Oral Law BCE) and Oral Law (Mishna: 200 CE) (Mishna: 200 CE)
Validates Earlier Rabbinic TraditionValidates Earlier Rabbinic Tradition Teachings of rabbis post Teachings of rabbis post
Temple destructionTemple destructioncan be traced much can be traced much earlier earlier
Pharisaic teachings seen Pharisaic teachings seen from Sect’s Polemics from Sect’s Polemics against themagainst them
Ex. Oppose halachic Ex. Oppose halachic principle of Tevul principle of Tevul Yom(MMT)Yom(MMT)
Sect refers to Pharisee Sect refers to Pharisee leaders as “Builders of leaders as “Builders of the Wall”the Wall”
Importance of the ScrollsImportance of the Scrolls
Oral Tradition seenOral Tradition seenartifacts found at artifacts found at Qumran: TefilinQumran: Tefilin
Written Law gives Written Law gives no details no details
Importance of the Scrolls Importance of the Scrolls
Window to 2Window to 2ndnd Temple Temple JudaismJudaism
Sectarianism : Variety Sectarianism : Variety of approaches to of approaches to Judaism during 2Judaism during 2ndnd Temple PeriodTemple Period
Messianism & Messianism & Apocalyptic Ideas Apocalyptic Ideas seen in War Scrollseen in War Scroll“Sons of Light..to “Sons of Light..to attack..the Sons of attack..the Sons of Darkness” Darkness”
The Scrolls TodayThe Scrolls Today The Scrolls are The Scrolls are
housed in the Shrine housed in the Shrine of the Bookof the Bookat the Israel Museumat the Israel Museumin Jerusalemin Jerusalem
Conferences all over Conferences all over the worldthe world
Pacific Science Center: Seattle 2007
Newscasts
Questions & Discussion PointsQuestions & Discussion Points•What were the basic beliefs of the Essenes?
•Why did they leave Jerusalem?
•Why did it take so long (from 1947) for the scrolls to be published?
• Did the Vatican seek to suppress the Scrolls?•What was the role of Yigal Yadin?
•What do textual differences in Biblical texts signify?
Lets Hear it !
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