Last of Two Remaining Dead Sea Scrolls Decoded

Researchers at the University of Haifa in Israel have decoded one of the last two Dead Sea Scrolls. Dr. Eshbal Ratson and Professor Jonathan Ben-Dov of the Department of Bible studies at the University spent nearly a year reassembling the scroll. The researchers meticulously pieced together 60 sections that were written in code on parchment paper. Many of the pieces were smaller than 1 sq. cm.

The first dead sea scrolls were discovered in 1947, near the ancient settlement of the Qumran Caves in Israel. Two Bedouin teenagers were out with their goat and sheep. One of them threw a rock into a cave and after hearing a shattering sound, entered the cave to investigate the noise. They found a collection of clay jars, some of which contained leather and papyrus scrolls.

The boys sold their findings to a local antique dealer for a minuscule sum of what they were worth. After noticing that the leather actually had writing on it, the dealer took them to Syrian Orthodox archbishop Athanasius Yeshue Samuel. Samuel was able to identify the writing as Aramaic, but could not decipher what would later prove to be religious writings dating back to 200 B.C. He traveled to the United States intending to sell the scrolls and help Palestinians who were victims of the Arab-Israeli War of 1948. By 1954, he sold the scrolls in a private sale for $250,000. Unfortunately, the trust he setup for the proceeds was not done correctly and most of the money went to taxes.

The Bishop’s inquiries into the scrolls drew scholarly attention and eventually nearly 900 scrolls were found in 11 local caves in the Qumran area. While it is not clear who the authors of the scrolls are, some scholars have attributed the writings to an ascetic desert sect called the Essenes, while others credit the scrolls to early Christians and Jews who were fleeing the Romans while passing through Qumran.

The latest deciphered scroll show details of a 364-day calendar, which outlines special occasions celebrated by the ancient Jewish sect. The University of Haifa expressed their gratitude to the hard work and dedication of the researchers. “The reward for their hard work is fresh insight into the unique 364-day calendar used by the members of the Judean Desert sect, including the discovery for the first time of the name given by the sect to the special days marking the transitions between the four seasons”. Dr. Eshbal Ratson and Professor Jonathan Ben-Dov plan to turn their attention to working on the last Dead Sea Scroll.