Portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls are now on public display at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., giving visitors rare access to some of the oldest known copies of biblical texts. Discovered beginning in 1947 in caves near Qumran, the scrolls date back as early as 300 B.C. and include portions of 38 of the 39 books of the Old Testament, along with other ancient writings.
Dr. Bobby Duke of the Museum of the Bible said, “The Dead Sea Scrolls still impact the way people read Scripture today.” The texts were transcribed by the Essenes, a Jewish community that lived during the time of Jesus and the apostles.
Now stewarded by the Israel Antiquities Authority, the scrolls are carefully preserved under strict climate and lighting conditions. Dr. Joe Uziel explained each scroll is displayed for only three months at a time before resting for five years.
Scholars say the scrolls closely match modern biblical manuscripts. The exhibition highlights the historical reliability and enduring message of Scripture.
