A View of the Original Dead Sea Scrolls

Timing is everything, and it worked in our favor this Summer! While on an archaeological dig at Shiloh, on our days off, we visited amazing places. But one place I have visited many times (The Israel Museum), was exhibiting the original Dead Sea Scrolls.

These ancient texts were found by accident. In 1947, a young Bedouin shepherd tossed a stone into a cave near the northwest shore of the Dead Sea. Instead of hearing it hit the ground, he heard the sound of pottery breaking.

Inside, he found ancient clay jars that contained leather scrolls. He took them to Bethlehem and sold them to an art dealer.

Qumran Caves where the Isaiah Scrolls were Found

The scrolls eventually made their way to one of Israel’s leading archaeologists, Professor Eleazar Sukenik. He was the first to understand that these scrolls were genuine treasures from the Second Temple period and one of the greatest discoveries in history!

Over the next ten years, nearly a thousand manuscripts and fragments were recovered from 11 caves around Qumran. They are collectively known as the Dead Sea Scrolls and are now housed in the Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book.

Normally at the museum, you will see a large replica of the most famous scroll, the Great Isaiah Scroll. It is the centerpiece of the display. The original is not normally displayed in order to protect the fragile parchment. Isaiah is one of Jewish history’s most famous prophets. His words were spoken in Jerusalem around 2,700 years ago. One of the copies, called the Great Isaiah Scroll, was carefully written by a scribe while the Second Temple still stood. In order to preserve it from thieves, it was packed tightly into a clay jar and placed in a cave near the Dead Sea (at Qumran),

This original copy is the oldest complete copy of the Book of Isaiah and the oldest complete book of the Bible ever discovered. This summer, for the first time since 1968, the entire Book of Isaiah can be seen, rolled out for all to see! It will soon be rolled back up and secured in safety for another 60 years.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the famous Dead Sea Scroll of Isaiah. Enjoy the photos! In addition to Isaiah (rolled out), there were other Scriptures and documents from the Essenes at Qumran on display.

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