10 Interesting Facts About The Old Testament

9. The Scroll of Isaiah was found in Perfect Condition

Among the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in 1947 was found the "Scroll of Isaiah" inside of a clay jar and well preserved, dating to the 2nd century BC. The entire Hebrew text of the prophet Isaiah was found in "perfect" condition. When compared with the oldest biblical manuscript of Isaiah at the time (around 980 AD) it was astonishingly accurate. This is because of the arduous process of scribal transmission and the numbering of letters and words. Old Testament scholars are unanimous that the Scroll of Isaiah is "word for word identical" with the modern Hebrew text we have today except for minor variations in spelling. The Scroll of Isaiah was discovered at the city of Qumran in Cave 1 about 7 miles south of the city of Jericho. The discovery of the Scroll of Isaiah revealed that the many prophecies in the Old Testament book of Isaiah regarding Jesus Christ were written before the events actually happened.

"But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

"Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began to tell them, "Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:16-21)

Also seeSummary of the Book of Isaiah

Photo of the Scroll of Isaiah Cave at Qumran

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