Reconstructing Biblical Dead Sea Scrolls

The author develops a battery of scientifically based tools to aid the reconstruction of biblical Dead Sea Scrolls. Their effectiveness is then demonstrated by applying them to the reconstructions of the important non-masoretic, but fragmentary, biblical Scroll, 4QSama.

The first part of the book develops a battery of scientifically based tools to aid the reconstruction of biblical Dead Sea Scrolls, which, when applied together, substantially improve the quality of reconstruction attainable. The focus then moves to the important non-masoretic but fragmentary biblical scroll, 4QSama, for which sixty-two new fragment identifications and an analysis of the character of the scroll are presented. Based upon this, a detailed reconstruction of the 4QSama fragments of 2 Samuel is undertaken, revealing 55% more deviations from the Masoretic text than had previously been identified. The effectiveness of the new method is thus demonstrated. Data concerning the support of key Hebrew and Greek witnesses provides a valuable foundation for the study of the history and development of the biblical text.

"Six of the seven chapters in The Dead Sea scrolls and the Bible began as the Speaker's Lectures at Oxford University, delivered during the first two weeks of May 2009"--Introd.

From the dramatic find in the caves of Qumran, the world's most ancient version of the Bible allows us to read the scriptures as they were in the time of Jesus.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are one of the most important finds in biblical archaeology, and have profound implications for our understanding of Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity. Timothy Lim discusses the leading interpretations of the scrolls, and how they have changed the way we understand the emergence of the Old Testament.

The author is convinced that the early Byzantine Church deliberately cut out sections from an historic text to conceal the truth about the crucifixion of a man they were promoting as their Messiah. She solves the mystery by reconstructing the deleted sections. King pieces together what happened in Jerusalem during the trial and attempted crucifixion of the real Messiah and shows that the key passages that were tampered with are actually the missing link that connects the Dead Sea Scrolls to the New Testament Gospels. Using those passags and the history of the period, she identifies the figures mentioned in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Contains new information about unpublished Dead Sea Scrolls recently brought to light with translations of key passages and recent discovery of the movement behind the Scrolls in their own words.

Under the auspices of the Museum of the Bible Scholars Initiative, teams of scholar-mentors and students working collaboratively present the thirteen fragments of Dead Sea Scrolls in this volume. The fragments are part of the Museum of the Bible Collection in Oklahoma City.

Exposing the truth behind the Dead Sea Scrolls, known as 'the academic scandal of the twentieth century'. The Dead Sea Scrolls were unearthed in 1947, and were quickly hailed as the greatest cultural discovery of the twentieth century. They can tell us a great deal about how to read and interpret the Bible as well as throwing light on the origins of the literary and philosophical traditions of the Western world. Ensuring the Scrolls are understood correctly is the urgent duty of the scholarly world. But this is not happening. Instead, there is procrastination, intrigue and secrecy surrounding their publication. Robert Feather seeks to clarify what they really say and how they illuminate a sound interpretation of the Bible. He levels many criticisms about the archaeological methods, the political complexities, and the obscure procedures of the scholarly community which brought the Scrolls to light. He argues that it is time for some courageous truth telling about the mystery that surrounds the Scrolls to this day. 'Robert Feather presents an incisive and informed view of a complex controversy and - never lacking in courage - reveals a secret agenda that persists as a barrier to free access to the Dead Sea Scrolls' - Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince, authors of The Forbidden Universe and The Templar Revelation