Manuscript Types

Before the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, this psalm was known only as a single composition in the Septuagint and in the Latin and Syriac translations made from it. A Hebrew copy of Psalm 151 is found in the Great Psalms Scroll, but as two separate compositions—Psalms 151A and 151B. The Dead Sea Scrolls is History, the Bible is NotThe period 76-67 BCE is the history of Jesus leadership as the Teacher of Righteousness. The Qumran Community was Conservative Judaism and became Christianity under Paul and Rome. Pharisaism became today’s Judaism, under Queen Salome and Shimon ben Shetah. Its surface is approximately 1300 feet (395 meters) below the Mediterranean Sea. The cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, and Zoar or Bela were near its shores (Gen. In fulfillment of prophecy and as one of the signs of the Second Coming of the Savior, the waters of the Dead Sea will be healed, and life will flourish there (Ezek. The Dead Sea scrolls have given up fresh secrets, with researchers saying they have identified a previously unknown technique used to prepare one of the most remarkable scrolls of the collection. This website aims at sharing the palaeographic work achieved on the Paleo-Hebrew texts from Qumran. This work was carried out during the EAJS-Lab workshop entitled 'Research Approaches in Hebrew Bible Manuscript Studies », which took place in Aix-en-Provence in June of 2016.

The majority of the Dead Sea Scrolls are religious works, divided on thiswebsite into 'Biblical' and 'Non-Biblical' compositions, with a specialcategory for 'Tefillin and Mezuzot'. The non-literary records in the corpus(mostly papyrus manuscripts from sites other than the Qumran caves) are groupedinto 'Documents' and 'Letters', and a small number of 'Scribal Exercises'. The'Unidentified Texts' are tiny fragments in such poor condition that they cannotbe categorized. There are also 'Multiple Compositions'. In most cases, amanuscript label refers to a single text. However, sometimes a single label wasassigned to more then one composition. In some cases, this is due to the re-useof a scroll in antiquity-- when writing was superimposed over existing text (apalimpsest) or there are separate texts written on the two sides of a scroll(recto and verso). Other cases of 'multiple compositions' with a single labelmanuscript number reflect modern errors and disagreements about classifyingfragments.

Occasionally, scholars mistakenly thought that different fragments came fromthe same manuscript and grouped them together. Sometimes the fragments are thesame composition, e.g., the book of Leviticus, but originate from differentcopies. In such cases, the texts are given an extra letter to distinguish them,such as 4Q26, 4Q26a, 4Q26b, 4Q26c, which represent different copies ofLeviticus that were placed together.

Composition Types

The literary compositions among the Dead Sea Scrolls are conventionallycategorized according to their content or genre. Scholars differ in theiropinions about specific categories and labels, and the terms used here aredesigned to help the user navigate this unique site rather than to contributeto the on-going and complicated scholarly debates. One text can have more thanone label describing it.

Biblical Compositions

Scripture (מקרא) – These manuscripts contain material now consideredto be part of the Hebrew Bible. Every book is represented among the Dead SeaScrolls, except the book of Esther. These are the oldest known copies ofbiblical works.

Translation of Scripture (תרגום מקרא) – These are translations ofscriptural texts into Aramaic and Greek.

tefillin and mezuzot

Tefillin ('phylacteries') and Mezuzot are ritual objects, small slips of parchment containing excerpts of biblical texts in keeping with
Deut 6:6-9:

⁶And these words, which I command you this day, shall be upon your heart…⁸ you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.. ⁹And thou shall write them upon the door-posts of your house, and upon your gates.

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Tefillin (תפילין) - These parchment slips, folded and placed incapsules, are understood to be the 'frontlets between your eyes.' About twodozen tefillin slips were recovered from the Qumran caves, and additionaltefillin were found at Wadi Murabba'at, Nahal Hever, and Nahal Se’elim.

They are identified by the biblical passages they contain, and some specialscribal features such as tiny script. The texts are the same as those requiredby later rabbinic halakha that has been passed down to modern Jewish practice,but some contain additional biblical passages. Since the Qumran tefillin arethe only examples we have from the Second Temple period, we cannot know whethertheir distinctive features reflect the traditions of a specific community orwhether they represent a more widespread tradition. Fulfilled

Mezuzot (מזוזה) - These are placed on doorposts of houses. Eightmezuzot were found in the Qumran caves, and one was discovered at WadiMurabba'at. Chapter 3newtons laws of motionmr.s learning website. The biblical passages on the mezuzot often include the same textsthat appear on doorposts of Jewish homes today.

Non-Biblical Compositions

Non-biblical compositions refer to texts that are not considered part of themodern Hebrew Bible. Some may have been considered sacred by their contemporarywriters and readers.

Apocrypha (אפוקריפה) – The term 'Apocrypha' is used here to refer tothe specific collection of books considered to be canonical in the Catholic andEastern Orthodox traditions, but not part of the Hebrew Bible or Protestantcanon. Three works of the Apocrypha are found among the Dead Sea Scrolls: BenSira (also known as the Wisdom of Ben Sira, Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus), thebook of Tobit, and the Epistle of Jeremiah.

Calendrical Texts (חיבורים קלנדריים) – 'Calendrical texts' found inthe Qumran caves rely mainly on solar rather than lunar calculations. Thecalendars are useful sources of information about festivals and priestlycourses (mishmarot). The cryptic script (a type of unusual Hebrew writing) ofsome of the calendars may imply that the information was secret and esoteric.These manuscripts are especially valued for their orderly and systematic listsof days and months, enabling scholars to recreate missing pieces of thecalendar. The most prominent calendar consists of 364 days divided into 4seasons of 13 weeks each.

Exegetical Texts (חיבורים פרשניים) – The term 'Exegetical texts' usedhere refers to texts that analyze and interpret biblical works through explicitreference. The most well-known of these texts are the pesharim; others includea 'halakhic midrash' and commentaries on Genesis.

Pesher (פשר) – This type of exegetical literature applies biblicalprophecy to the history and experience of the sectarian community known as theYahad, with a special focus upon the End of Days. These commentaries are easilyrecognized by the use of the word pesher in the written formulas that link thecitation of the biblical text to its interpretation.

Historical Texts (חיבורים היסטוריים) – Historical texts relate tohistorical events; some of these works feature moral and theologicalinterpretations of the events. These fragments mention historical people suchas Queen Salome and Greek kings, and many of the events described are set inthe midst of war and rebellion.

Legal Texts (חיבורים הלכתיים) – Legal texts (also referred to ashalakha, a term used in later rabbinic texts), deal with matters of religiouslaw. Biblical legal texts cover a broad range of subjects including: civilmatters; ritual requirements such as festivals, Temple service and physicalpurity; ethical behaviors; and more. Many Qumran texts interpret and expandupon biblical laws. 'Rules' texts like the Community Rule, or portions of theDamascus Document, deal specifically with sectarian rules and regulations. Somelegal texts, most notably Miqsat Ma'aseh haTorah (MMT, also known as theHalakhic Letter), reflect polemics with opposing groups.

Parabiblical Texts (חיבו

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