Biblical Archaeology & Beyond Presents The Dead Sea Scrolls

The Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947 and they discovered more items in caves right on up to 1979. They were discovered in eleven caves in the west bank of the Wadi Qumran. Consisting of about one thousand documents they include texts from the Hebrew Bible.

These texts have religious and historical importance. They are just about the only known copies made before 100 AD of Biblical documents. Written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek most are written on parchment although some are written on papyrus.

An interesting scroll is the Copper Scroll. It is a list of 67 different underground places throughout Israel where gold, silver and manuscripts were hidden. The Copper Scroll was found in cave three. Most likely these are treasures from the Temple in Jerusalem and were hidden to be kept safe.

The Temple Scroll is interesting as more than half of it is talking about the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Found in cave eleven at 26.7 feet it is the longest scroll.

Photo: Remains of living quarter's at Qumran

Over two thousand years have passed since the scrolls were hidden in the caves around the Dead Sea and their discovery in 1947.

They survived for twenty centuries and were found quite by accident.They are the biggest and oldest body of manuscripts pertaining to the Bible and also to the time of Jesus. They are a really incredible archaeological find.

The Dead Sea is located in Israel and Jordan about fifteen miles east of Jerusalem. Deep and very salty it is the lowest body of water in the world. It has a number of springs and streams that supply it and also the Jordan River.

Because it has a low elevation and is positioned in a deep basin the Dead Sea is in an unusual area. It has a high evaporation rate which causes a haze yet the humidity in the atmosphere is low. The areas around it are very arid and are good for the preservation of the kind of materials like the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Qumran settlement ruins

"Luke 19:38 BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD Peace in heaven and glory in the highest ! Some of the Pharises in the crowd said to him,"Teacher, rebuke your disciples" But Jesus answered,. "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out !".

Herodian lamp
Linen cloth
Plates
Leather Scroll fasteners
Stacked Goblets
Thongs
Vases, Jug
Phylactery cases
Cooking pot
Wooden Artifacts
Basket fragments
Combs
Cords and Ropes
Bowls
Sandals
Pottery
Measuring cups
Jar with lid
Large Goblet
Two handled jar
Coins

Photo: The Psalm Scroll
Psalms Scroll
Phylactery
The Community Rule
Calendrical Document
Some Torah Precepts
Enoch
Hosea Commentary
Prayer for King Jonathan
Leviticus
Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice
Damascus Document
The War Rule

Photo: Isaiah Scroll fragment

Discovered in cave 1 in 1947 The Great Isaiah Scroll was identfied as the Biblical Book of Isiah in 1948.

It has been displayed at the Shrine of the Book museum since 1965. A partial Isaiah Scroll was also discovered in cave 1 in 1947 all told about 17 other fragments of Isaiah scripture have been discovered in other caves at Qumran.