22/07/2025
Bill Gates bought the Dead Sea Scrolls
In 1947, a young Bedouin shepherd searching for a missing goat near the Dead Sea accidentally made one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. While exploring the rocky cliffs of Qumran, he tossed a stone into a cave and heard the sound of pottery breaking. Intrigued, he climbed inside to investigate, and what he found changed our understanding of ancient history forever.
Inside the cave were large clay jars containing ancient scrolls, later named the Dead Sea Scrolls. These fragile, rolled-up parchments were over 2,000 years old and included some of the oldest known copies of the Hebrew Bible. The scrolls had been hidden away by a Jewish sect, believed to be the Essenes, around the 3rd century BCE to the 1st century CE, during a time of great political and religious upheaval.
Over the next decade, archaeologists discovered a total of 11 caves in the area containing thousands of scroll fragments, piecing together more than 900 manuscripts. These texts included parts of nearly every book in the Old Testament, as well as writings that gave deep insights into the beliefs, practices, and daily life of Jewish communities during the Second Temple period.
What made the Dead Sea Scrolls so remarkable was not just their age, but their accuracy. When compared to modern versions of the Bible, many of the texts matched closely, confirming the careful transmission of scripture through the centuries. The discovery also revealed previously unknown writings, shedding light on ancient religious debates and messianic expectations.
Today, the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed in museums and carefully preserved in climate-controlled environments. They remain one of the most powerful links we have to the distant past, offering a glimpse into the spiritual and historical roots of Judaism and Christianity.
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