- The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of ancient manuscripts that were found hidden in the Qumrun caves next to the Dead Sea in Israel.
- A third are texts from the Hebrew Bible and the remainder are other texts of Judaism. They have been dated as being between 200 BCE and 200 CE.
Description
- The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of 981 manuscripts found between 1946-1956 in 11 of the Qumrun Caves near the Dead Sea.
- Over one third are the second oldest surviving manuscripts of works included in the Hebrew Bible and another third are texts that were not included, the remainder consist of rules and beliefs of sects within Judaism.
History
- Excavated between 1946-1956, from the Qumrun caves located one mile from the Dead Sea, Israel.
- Most texts are written on Parchment, some on Papyrus, some on Bronze, and one on Copper.
- They are written in Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic and Nabatean.
- Over one third are copies of texts of the Hebrew Bible, another third are unknown texts, and the remainder are texts from the Second Temple Period.
Dating the Scrolls
- Carbon dating showed one scroll to be between 200 BCE and 200 CE. Scholars consider the Scrolls to date from 200 BCE to 100 CE.
Reason for Burial
- One theory is that before the end of the First Jewish-Roman War and the destruction of the Second Temple of Jerusalem in 70 CE by the Romans, the Temple Library was hidden at Qumrun.
- Jerusalem is approximately 30 miles (50km) from Qumrun.
The Silver Scrolls
- Found at Ketef Hinom, Israel, contain Texts from the Hebrew Bible dating to 700-650 BCE.
Museum
- The Dead Sea Scrolls are are mostly held in the Shrine of the Book in the Israel Museum, Givat Ram, Jerusalem.
Qumran National Park, Israel