Wondering about the history behind the history of From the Dead Sea Scrolls to the Bible in America? Gain some background knowledge on the discovery and importance of the artifacts before arriving at the exhibit.

Why are the Dead Sea Scrolls important?

The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Qumran caves between 1947 and 1956 is considered the most important discovery ever made in the study of Biblical texts. In the 19th Century, scholars began to question the extent to which the modern world could rely upon the textual tradition of the Hebrew Bible since existing manuscripts could not be traced back any further than the 10th and early 11th centuries. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls suddenly pushed the existing manuscript tradition more than a thousand years further back into ancient history. As these books of the Hebrew Bible were thoroughly studied, the fact emerged that the manuscript tradition had been miraculously accurate.

Who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls?

The origin of the Dead Sea Scrolls has been a long debate amongst scholars. The dominant theory is that the scrolls are the product of a sect of Jews, known as the Essenes, living in Qumran. This theory has recently been challenged by several modern scholars.

When were the Dead Sea Scrolls written?

The Dead Sea Scroll manuscripts date from about 250 B.C. to no later than 68 A.D., the date that the Jewish community at Qumran was destroyed by the Roman army. They are written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.

A BiblicalPseudeSectarian what?

The Dead Sea Scrolls are traditionally broken into three groups: Biblical manuscripts, Apocryphal or Pseudepigraphical manuscripts, and Sectarian manuscripts. Biblical manuscripts include texts from the Old Testament and make up approximately 30% of the discovered scrolls. Acrocryphal or Pseudepigraphical manuscripts are made up of non-canonical psalms and comprise roughly 25-30% of the identified scrolls. Sectarian manuscripts consist of previously unknown documents. These are made up of scrolls that contain rules of beliefs within Judaism and commentaries that reflect their beliefs. These also include letters, hymns, prayers, and other writings. These manuscripts make up the other 30% of the scrolls. Approximately 15% of the Dead Sea Scrolls remain unidentified.

Who discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls?

In 1947, several Bedouin shepherd boys were looking for lost sheep when one of them threw a stone into a cave. They heard a cracking sound and fled. The boys later returned with several adults to explore the contents of the cave. From this first cave, they retrieved seven substantial scrolls, including the great Isaiah scroll. Ten more caves brought forth the whole collection known today as the Dead Sea Scrolls.

What else will the exhibit feature?

From the Dead Sea Scrolls to the Bible in America is one of only a handful of exhibits of its kind in the United States. This exhibition begins with pictographs scribed into clay tablets, the earliest form of hand-made communication. Parchment scrolls of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament) and fragments from the Dead Sea Scrolls also bring ancient history to life. Following these artifacts, you’ll be introduced to rare manuscript Bible leaves and choral sheets. You’ll also view the Bible in a new light as you experience the Gutenberg Bible firsthand, the very first book ever printed. We’ll then take you throughout history and bring you to the Bible that we possess today. This history includes the King James Bible, the Eliot Indian Bible, the “Bible of the Revolution,” and the Bible that flew to the moon on Apollo 14. We will also feature several archaeological artifacts throughout the exhibit that highlight life in the region during the times the scrolls were written and Bibles printed.