The Great Isaiah Scroll, one of the most significant biblical archaeological discoveries, is on full display in Jerusalem for the first time since 1968. The exhibition, A Voice From the Desert, commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Israel Museum and its Shrine of the Book.
Dating to approximately 125 B.C., the 23-foot-long manuscript contains all 66 chapters of Isaiah, preserving ancient Hebrew Scripture for more than 2,000 years.
Discovered near Qumran in 1947, the scroll emerged as the Jewish people prepared for the establishment of modern Israel. Four Dead Sea Scrolls, including Isaiah, were eventually transported to the United States before Israeli archaeologist Yigael Yadin arranged their purchase in 1954.
The exhibition highlights the manuscript’s preservation and its historical connection to Israel’s biblical heritage. For Christians, Isaiah contains significant prophecies concerning the Messiah, including the promise of Emmanuel.
The rare display offers visitors an opportunity to examine one of the oldest surviving biblical manuscripts.
