The Old Testament: The Dead Sea Scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls are ancient manuscripts that were discovered in caves near Qumran. Qumran is an archaeological site located approximately a mile from the Dead Sea’s Northern Shore. The Dead Sea is actually a salt lake that is bordered by the countries of Jordan and Israel. It is one of the saltiest lakes in the word, with a salinity, or percentage of salt, at 34.2%, making it uninhabitable for animal life, hence the name “Dead Sea.”
The scrolls are believed to be some of the original copies of the writings that went into the Bible. However, only 40% of these writings are actually canonical, with 30% of the discovered scrolls rejected and another 30% being secular. The 40% that is Hebrew Canon, or as we call it, the Old Testament, contains
parts of nearly every book that make it up today, excluding only the Book of Esther. These scrolls include previously unknown hymns and prayers, as well as the first version of the Ten Commandments, among other parts of the Bible. The identity of the human authors of the scrolls has been debated by archaeologists, but it is believed that a breakaway Jewish sect called the Essenes, who occupied Qumran at the time that the scrolls were predicted to have been written, between 250 B.C. and 68 A.D, could have been the authors.
These writings are important today because they are believed to be the original writings that make up Jewish beliefs, as well our Old Testament. It is very hard to make a completely accurate translation, and when the Bible was translated from Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic into Latin and later English, some of the words may have been lost or misinterpreted. This leaves the reader with an only somewhat accurate translation of their faith. With these original texts, one who is fluent in Hebrew can better understand God’s word.
The scrolls are believed to be some of the original copies of the writings that went into the Bible. However, only 40% of these writings are actually canonical, with 30% of the discovered scrolls rejected and another 30% being secular. The 40% that is Hebrew Canon, or as we call it, the Old Testament, contains
parts of nearly every book that make it up today, excluding only the Book of Esther. These scrolls include previously unknown hymns and prayers, as well as the first version of the Ten Commandments, among other parts of the Bible. The identity of the human authors of the scrolls has been debated by archaeologists, but it is believed that a breakaway Jewish sect called the Essenes, who occupied Qumran at the time that the scrolls were predicted to have been written, between 250 B.C. and 68 A.D, could have been the authors.
These writings are important today because they are believed to be the original writings that make up Jewish beliefs, as well our Old Testament. It is very hard to make a completely accurate translation, and when the Bible was translated from Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic into Latin and later English, some of the words may have been lost or misinterpreted. This leaves the reader with an only somewhat accurate translation of their faith. With these original texts, one who is fluent in Hebrew can better understand God’s word.