5 Surprising Details about the Initial Discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls

Several details about the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls are common knowledge. Many in the public, for example, are aware that approximately seventy years ago Bedouin accidentally discovered hundreds of ancient manuscripts near the Dead Sea. Although many understand a few general details about this discovery, several other details are less known, and perhaps even surprising. I discovered many of these details and many more while reading Weston W. Fields' Dead Sea Scrolls: A Full History. Here are five less known and surprising details about the initial discovery of these manuscripts and the subsequent few months of trying to sell them.

1) The discovery of these manuscripts in 1947 by Bedouin was not the first-time manuscripts were discovered near the Dead Sea. In the third century AD, Origen discovered a manuscript preserving psalms in a cave near Jericho (22). Then, again in the eighth or ninth century AD, several manuscripts with psalms attributed to David were discovered near Jericho (29 n38).

2) The Bedouin did not rush to sell their newly discovered treasure but waited until they “had occasion” in the words of Fields (26). Before making it to market, it has been reported that one manuscript was destroyed by children playing. The scraps of that manuscript were then thrown away (26)! Other reports claim that pieces were used as sandal straps, but Fields believes this story to be unlikely (26).

3) When the Bedouin finally arrived at market (roughly two months or so after the discovery), they had a difficult time selling these manuscripts. A suspicion that the scrolls were stolen led the first, or perhaps even the first two antiquities dealers to pass on purchasing these manuscripts, at less initially. Fields suggests that the Bedouin were only looking for a small amount of money in exchange for the manuscripts in their possession (26). These manuscripts were likely 1QIsa^a, the Habakkuk Commentary, and the Manual of Discipline in two pieces (29).

4) The Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan Mar Athanasius Yeshue Samuel purchased 1QIsa^a, the Habakkuk Commentary, and the Manual of Discipline. He, however, almost missed his opportunity to buy them when the monastery steward at St. Mark’s monastery in Jerusalem sent the Bedouin away because the manuscripts were written in Hebrew, not Syriac (29-30).

5) Kando, a Bethlehem merchant who became acquainted with the manuscripts because he could verify that they were written on leather, agreed to sell 1QIsa^a, the Habakkuk Commentary, and the Manual of Discipline for the Bedouin on consignment for commission (one-third of the purchase price). He sold these manuscripts to Samuel for roughly $97 saying, “Much dirty paper for little clean paper” (33 n52). Samuel later sold his scrolls in 1954 for $250,000.

First four columns of 1QIsa^a
http://dss.collections.imj.org.il/isaiah

The story of the discovery, collection, reconstruction, and publication of the Dead Sea Scrolls is a riveting tale that Weston Fields traces and narrates in Dead Sea Scrolls: A Full History. Anyone interested in these manuscripts will find the details recorded here quite fascinating and worth the time to read and enjoy.