Download What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?

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FAQS
What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?
The Dead Sea Scrolls are ancient manuscripts that were discovered between 1947 and 1956 in 11 caves near Khirbet
Qumran, on the northwestern shores of the Dead Sea in Israel.
How old are the Dead Sea Scrolls?
The Dead Sea Scrolls date from the 3rd century before the Common Era (BCE) to the 1st century of the Common
Era (CE). The scrolls contain some of the oldest-known copies of biblical books, as well as hymns, prayers, and
other important writings.
How many scrolls were found?
Over 100,000 fragments of text were discovered, and scholars have pieced these together into over 900 separate
documents.
What is the significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls?
The Dead Sea Scrolls are widely acknowledged to be among the greatest archaeological treasures linking us to the
ancient Middle East, and to the formative years of Judaism and Christianity. Over 200 biblical manuscripts are more
than a thousand years older than any previously known copies of the Hebrew Bible. In addition, there are scrolls that
appear to represent a distinct form of Judaism that did not survive the Roman destruction of the second Temple in 70
CE. These "sectarian scrolls" reveal a fascinating stage of transition between the ancient religion of the Bible and
Rabbinic Judaism, as well as the faith that would become the world's largest, Christianity. Both of these traditions,
in turn, influence Islam.
How do the scrolls relate to the Koran?
Many Westerners are not aware of the many ways in which the Koran is influenced by the Hebrew Bible and the
Christian New Testament. The Koran does not borrow from these scriptures; however, it does contain some of the
same history, most notably from the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible). Those familiar with these
biblical books will recognize figures in the Koran such as Abraham, Moses, Lot, Noah and others. The scrolls are
important to Islam because they contain the earliest-known text of part of their history, as well as the history of Jews
and Christians.
What material are the Dead Sea Scrolls?
The majority of the scrolls are written on leather parchment, but there are also some texts written on papyrus (reed
paper). One scroll, known as the Copper Scroll, is inscribed upon copper.
In what languages have the Dead Sea Scrolls been written?
The majority of the scrolls are written in Hebrew; there are also texts in Aramaic and in Greek.
Who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls?
Many, but by no means all scholars, believe the scrolls were created by the Essene sect, a group of Jews who broke
away from mainstream Judaism to live a communal life in the desert. When the Romans invaded their community
around 68 CE, the Essenes hid the manuscripts in nearby caves. The ruins of Qumran, near the base of the caves, are
believed by many to be the communal quarters of the Essenes. However, some scholars believe the Essenes were not
the only authors of the scrolls; they assume that some of the manuscripts were written in Jerusalem and later
deposited in the caves at Qumran when the Romans threatened Jerusalem.
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What kind of texts are the Dead Sea Scrolls?
The manuscripts fall into three major categories: biblical, apocryphal, and sectarian. The biblical manuscripts
comprise some 200 copies of biblical books, representing the earliest evidence for the biblical text in the world.
Among the apocryphal manuscripts (works that were not included in the biblical canon) are works that had
previously been known only in translation, or that had not been known at all. The sectarian manuscripts reflect a
wide variety of literary genres: biblical commentary, religious legal writings, liturgical (prayer) texts, and
compositions that predict a coming apocalypse.
Where are the Dead Sea Scrolls now?
The majority of the scrolls are housed in Israel under the care and custody of the Israel Antiquities Authority (eight
manuscripts at the Shrine of the Book and all others at the IAA State Collections). There are also some scrolls in
Jordan and in Europe.
Are the scrolls coming to The Franklin Institute authentic Dead Sea Scrolls?
Yes. The Israel Antiquities Authority has approved the loan of these documents to The Franklin Institute. They are
the same scrolls excavated from the caves surrounding Qumran in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
What was ancient Israel like more than 3,000 years ago?
Ancient Israel was a place, a nation, and the fount of a new faith that has had an enormous impact
on our world. Its Torah (Hebrew for “teaching” or “instruction”), also known as the Hebrew Bible
or the Old Testament, has served as a source for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—religions
whose followers make up a third of the world’s present population.
Over three thousand years ago the tribes of Israel appeared in the land of Canaan where they shaped their national
and religious identity first during the reigns of David and Solomon and afterwards in the kingdoms of Judah and
Israel. Here the Hebrew Bible was composed and the monotheistic basis of the Jewish faith was born.
The winds of history buffeted the ancient Israelites and their tiny land, forcing them to learn to worship and maintain
their faith away from their physical center that lay besieged or conquered, often in ruins, or at too great a distance
from their exile. For many centuries powerful empires sought to dominate this vital intersection of the ancient Near
East, leaving behind their influence and causing the Israelite nation and its faith to transform and be transformed, but
also ensuring the wide dispersal of its ideas. Thus ancient Israel is not the product of one or a few events, but rather
of evolving and unique conditions that even today continue to find new life and expression. Israel’s archaeological
sites and the artifacts they have yielded provide a record of extraordinary human achievement. The pots, coins,
weapons, jewelry, and other artifacts on display in this exhibition constitute a momentous contribution to our
cultural legacy.
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The dates cited use the convention BCE (Before the Common Era) and CE (Common Era) instead of BC and AD,
respectively.