The Importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls are ancient Jewish religious manuscripts discovered between 1946 and 1956 at the Qumran Caves located near Ein Feshkha in the West Bank , on the northern shore of the Dead Sea . Dating from the 3rd century BC to the 1st century AD, the Dead Sea Scrolls may be considered the most significant archaeological find in history for many reasons, not the least of which they include the oldest surviving manuscripts of entire books later included in the biblical canons . One of the most notable of these is a complete copy of the Book of Isaiah, providing the world with clear evidence that the Scriptures we use today are accurate. Also found are deuterocanonical and extra-biblical manuscripts, which preserve evidence of the diversity of religious thought in late Second Temple Judaism . Many of these provide great historical insights into the events covered in Scripture by its wr...