Qumran Scrolls of Discord

The discovery of the Qumran Scrolls in 1947 revolutionized our understanding of early Judaism and the origins of Christianity. The texts found in caves near the Dead Sea, dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 1st century CE, contain valuable information about the Essene sect, as well as fragments of the Gospel of Mark, suggesting a close connection between the two traditions. The scrolls, a treasure trove of biblical and extra-biblical knowledge, are the subject of controversy and research that could transform our understanding of religious history.

Qumran is an ancient settlement located 13 kilometers from the city of Jericho, approximately 1 kilometer from the Dead Sea.

The story of the famous Qumran Scrolls began in 1947, when the Bedouin Muhammad edh-Dhib set out in search of his missing goat. Wandering the desert, he discovered a cave. Curious about what lay within, he threw a stone inside and heard a strange noise. Curious, he entered the cave and discovered that his throw of the stone had shattered a huge vase full of strange scrolls written in Hebrew and Aramaic. These scrolls had survived in this place for several thousand years.

Unaware of the value of his find, he boasted about it to other Bedouins. Soon, the nomads cut the priceless papyri into pieces and sent them to the Jerusalem bazaars. No one came to Qumran here, so they hoped to sell the goods to foreign tourists—the more pieces, the better. As luck would have it, a few pieces fell into the hands of an antiquities dealer, who contacted Professor Sukenik of the Hebrew University.

Interested in the find, Professor Sukenik sent an archaeological expedition to Qumran, which soon discovered additional scrolls hidden in ten other caves. The scrolls were determined to belong to the Essenes, a Jewish sect that settled on the desert shores of the Dead Sea. The Essenes, wishing to preserve their library during Roman times, hid the scrolls in the hope of discovering them when better times came.

The manuscripts date to the period between the 3rd century BC and the 1st century AD, as confirmed by carbon decay tests.