John C Trever

The Isaiah Scroll, also known as 1QIsaa or the Great Isaiah Scroll, is one of the Dead Sea Scrolls found in Qumran Cave 1 in 1947. It is the oldest known complete version of the Book of Isaiah, predating previous oldest Hebrew manuscripts by approximately a millennium. Written on 17 sheets of parchment, the scroll measures about 734 cm (24 feet) in length and contains all 66 chapters of Isaiah, with only minor damage to a few portions. Its discovery by Bedouin shepherds marked a significant moment in biblical archaeology. The scroll's precise authorship and date of creation remain unknown, but scholarly consensus, supported by radiocarbon and paleographic dating, places its creation between approximately 356 and 103 BCE. This aligns with the theory that the scroll was associated with the Essenes, a Jewish sect known for their mystical practices, given the presence of other Essene texts in nearby caves and parallels between Essene beliefs and the Qumran site's structures. Some scholars suggest the same scribe who wrote the Community Rule (1QS) also made corrections to the Isaiah Scroll. The scroll was eventually acquired by various dealers and religious figures before being published by the American Schools of Oriental Research in 1950 and later purchased by Yigael Yadin, now residing at the Shrine of the Book in Jerusalem.

The Great Isaiah Scroll was discovered in 1947 by Bedouin shepherds in Qumran Cave 1, near the Dead Sea. The find occurred when one shepherd, searching for a lost sheep, heard pottery shatter after throwing a rock. Investigating further, he found jars containing scrolls, including the Great Isaiah Scroll. Initially kept by the shepherds and later transferred to an antiques dealer, the scroll eventually came into the possession of Kando, an antiquities dealer, and then Mar Athanasius Yeshue Samuel, the Syrian Archbishop of Jerusalem. Scholars like Professor J. van der Ploeg and Professor Eleazar Sukenik recognized its significance as a Hebrew copy of Isaiah. Dr. John Trever of the American Schools of Oriental Research photographed the scroll and sent images to Professor William F. Albright, who dated it to around 100 BCE.

The exact origin date of the Isaiah Scroll is uncertain, but dating methods like radiocarbon analysis and paleography suggest a period between 356 and 103 BCE. This timeframe supports the widely accepted theory that the scroll is linked to the Essenes, a mystical Jewish sect. Evidence for this connection includes the discovery of numerous Essene sectarian texts in the same Qumran caves and the alignment of Essene beliefs, such as ritual purity and communal living, with archaeological findings at Qumran, like ritual baths and numerous plates. Further support comes from the observation that the scribe who corrected the Isaiah Scroll may also have copied another known Essene text, the Community Rule (1QS).

The Great Isaiah Scroll contains all 66 chapters of the Book of Isaiah and is remarkably well-preserved, differing little from the Masoretic Text in sequence and content. However, it exhibits a scribe's hand typical of 125–100 BCE, with a tendency towards longer spellings. Analysis suggests the scroll may have been copied by two scribes, each responsible for half the text. While generally consistent with later versions, the scroll presents over 2600 textual variants. Some are minor, involving spelling or word order, while others are more significant, potentially reflecting textual evolution or scribal errors. For instance, the absence of certain verses in chapter 2 and variations in chapter 40 are noted, with some variants even influencing modern biblical translations.