Haifa, Israel, Jan 22, 2018 / 12:35 pm (CNA).- The Dead Sea Scrolls, which are among the oldest extant biblical manuscripts, have been a topic of interest since they were discovered in the Qumran Caves in the West Bank beginning in 1946.
More recently, Israeli scholars have pieced together some of the last fragments of the ancient documents, revealing new information about the scrolls.
Dr. Eshbal Ratson and Professor Jonathan Ben-Dov of Haifa University decoded 60 previously unread fragments over the course of a year to discover a festival marking each changing season which was celebrated by the Jews. The researchers also found the name for the festival: the Hebrew word “tekufah,” meaning “period.”
These fragments, some of which were smaller than a centimeter, identified the seasonal celebrations, which included the festivals of New Wheat, New Wine, and New Oil, which are linked to the Jewish festival of Shavuot. These celebrations were based on the 364-day Jewish calendar.
Additionally, the researchers found that a second scribe made additional notes on the scroll, correcting some mistakes and omissions made by the original author. According to Ratzon, these notes made it easier for them to decode the ancient scrolls.
“What’s nice is that these comments were hints that helped me figure out the puzzle – they showed me how to assemble the scroll,” said Ratzon, according to the BBC.
While it is not known who penned the ancient texts, some have attributed them to the Essenes – a Jewish sect who lived in the desert. The scrolls, around 900 in number, contain Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic writing, and are thought to date to between 300 BC and AD 100.
According to The Telegraph, a statement from Haifa University said that both Ratson and Ben-Dov have moved on to decoding the last remaining scroll.
Poster Comment:
There's been a battle among factions both political and religious on why it has taken so long to publish all of the scroll manuscripts.
#1: Liberator To: redleghunter (#0)
Exciting news...
Show vat are ya vaitin for?? Let's have it!
Liberator posted on 2018-04-01 17:26:43 Reply Private Reply
#2: redleghunter To: Liberator, TooConservative, *Archeology and Digs* (#1)
Great Isaiah Scroll
A translation here:
Isaiah translations of DSS vs. Masoretic
redleghunter posted on 2018-04-02 15:10:48 Reply Private Reply
#3: Liberator To: redleghunter (#2)
(any yuge or noteworthy surprise from what you can see?)
Liberator posted on 2018-04-02 15:18:32 Reply Private Reply
#4: BorisY To: Liberator (#3)
IT was an april fools joke
EaT aT joes
Love
boris
BorisY posted on 2018-04-02 15:24:09 Reply Private Reply
#5: Liberator To: BorisY (#4)
How's the weather in Maui today?
Liberator posted on 2018-04-02 15:28:05 Reply Private Reply
#6: BorisY To: Liberator (#5)
Rainyier
More than usual
Too
Couldn'T be happier
Love
boris
Ps
Did you read The kaThy griffin Threads
Libs are on a major melTdown
pss
Stephen colberT Threads too
psss
Trump's poll numbers are sky high now
BorisY posted on 2018-04-02 15:41:26 Reply Private Reply
#7: sneakypete To: Liberator (#5)
I'm not within thousands of miles,but I'm guessing it can be be described as "Wowie".
sneakypete posted on 2018-04-02 16:44:22 Reply Private Reply
#8: redleghunter To: Liberator (#3)
Other than some grammatical issues the two versions are very close.
redleghunter posted on 2018-04-02 17:17:43 Reply Private Reply
#9: Liberator To: BorisY (#6)
Yup, despite the Media 24/7 assault on him, Trump continues to defy the constant undermining. The MSM is losing their propaganda war. They also lost all their cred.
Maui does get its share of rain, doesn't it? What's it -- about 80 degrees regardless?
Liberator posted on 2018-04-04 13:51:08 Reply Private Reply
#10: Liberator To: sneakypete (#7)
Heh.
Or, "Duuuuuuuuuude!!!"
(yeah, I'm jealous.)
Liberator posted on 2018-04-04 13:52:16 Reply Private Reply