Science breakthrough as Dead Sea Scrolls code ‘cracked’ to reveal biblical writings | History | News
A scientist believes he has cracked the writing system in the Dead Sea Scrolls after more than 70 years of mystery. The ancient ‘Cipher B’ manuscript was made from badly damaged fragments and was covered with scriptures in an unusual alphabet.
The scrolls, discovered in caves near the West Bank between 1947 and 1956, are among the oldest surviving biblical manuscripts, written in Hebrew, Aramaic and sometimes Greek. While the ‘Cipher A’ scroll was deciphered in 1955, Cipher B was long thought to be impossible to read. But researcher Emmanuel Oliveiro from the University of Groningen believes he can match each symbol with a letter to reveal biblical writings.
These are believed to relate to familiar Biblical phrases about the end of days, including divine judgment and the coming of a Messiah. Daily Mail.
There are reportedly references to Judah, Jacob, and Elohim (meaning “God”) and the word Yisrael (meaning “Israel”).
One of the passages references the “tents of Jacob” found in Jeremiah 30:18 and Malachi 2:12. Although he does not directly quote the passages, it is believed to have an affinity with biblical themes. Another track references “Elohim” and “your glory.”
The fragments also contained references to dates and rulers, such as the use of “second year” and “fifth month”, which may reflect certain historical dating conventions.
The manuscripts were produced by Qumran, a Jewish community known for preserving religious texts that lived near the Dead Sea more than 2,000 years ago.
These parts, labeled 4Q362 and 4Q363, are quite damaged and worn, with some parts measuring only millimeters. The leather is cracked, darkened, or worn.
The distorted letter shapes on Cryptic B made it appear undecipherable for decades. There is significant variation between manuscripts, and the use of an unfamiliar alphabet may indicate that it was intended for a select audience, such as the priestly elite, reinforcing the sacred status of the text.
