Since the Dead Sea Scrolls were first identified in 1947, they have fascinated not only scholars but also a much broader public, eager to unravel the mysteries of this unparalleled archaeological find.
Thousands of books, articles, documentaries and exhibits have been realized with the purpose of solving many of the mysteries that surround one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the world.
But it is surprising that, despite the fact that the texts themselves were translated into most of modern languages, there is no publication to date that has the purpose of bringing their contents closer to the general public. This project fills this prominent void.
The Dead Sea Scrolls Project
> Watch a video with Dr. Adolfo Roitman who gives his introduction to the Dead Sea Scrolls Project
Pesher Habakkuk was among the first, best preserved, and most important manuscript to be discovered. It decodes the words of a seventh-century BCE biblical prophet according to the worldview of a Jewish community that emerged half a millennium later, in a time of religious rivalry, social conflict, and political upheaval. Within this turbulent setting, the interpreter reads Habakkuk as a message to his own era and a warning that judgment is at hand.
For the first time ever, this extraordinary scroll is presented in a way that can be appreciated both by scholars and by general readers interested in understanding ancient Judaism that served as the matrix of the origins of Christianity.
Prof. Noam Mizrahi of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is a biblical scholar and a leading expert in the field of the Dead Sea Scrolls. His translation and commentary are introduced by Adolfo Roitman, who unfolds the story of the Scrolls and the desert community of Qumran.
Dr. Adolfo Roitman is Head of the Shrine of the Book at The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, home to Pesher Habakkuk and other key Dead Sea Scrolls.
