Biblical Scrolls

    * Genesis.4Q4 (Gen 1:18-27)
      1st c. B.C.; Parchment; Hebrew
      Making its public debut at Pacific Science Center, this scroll fragment begins with the fourth day of creation and the dividing of light from the darkness. The last line of the fragment details the sixth day reading "and God created humankind.."

    * Exodus.4Q13 (Exod 1:1-6 , 1:16-21, 2:2-18, 3:13-4.8, 5:3-14)
      1st c. B.C.-1st c. A.D.; Parchment; Hebrew
      Another manuscript appearing for the first time before the public, these scroll fragments include the burning bush incident where God reveals his name (Yahweh) for the first time to Moses, as well as, detailing a portion of the Passover story.

    * Isaiah.4Q58 (Isa 52:4-7, Isa 53:8-54:2, Isa 54:2-11, Isa 57:9-17, Isa 57:18-58.7)
      1st c. A.D.; Parchment; Hebrew
      This scroll is rather young by Dead Sea scroll standards and was written not long after the death of Christ. This scroll is special in a few ways; the first passage forms the center of perhaps the most performed musical composition of all time: Handel's Messiah.

    * Ezekiel.4Q73 (Ezek 10:5-16, 10.16-11:11)
      50-25 B.C.; Parchment; Hebrew
      This is the third biblical scroll undergoing conservation for its first public appearance. One piece contains a slice extending from Ezek 10:5-10:16. The second fragment is in the following column: Ezek 10:16-11:11. These sections of Ezekiel detail the Chariot of God.

    * Psalms.11Q5 (Psa 132:8-18, 119:1-6, Psa 119:15-28, Psa 119:37-49, Psa 119:59-73, Psa 119:82-96, Psa 119:105-20, Psa 119:128-42, Psa 119:150-64) 1st c. A.D.; Parchment; Hebrew with Paleo Hebrew

      The most frequently found book of the Bible in the caves at Qumran (37 in all), this manuscript is the largest Psalms scroll found and this piece has never before traveled outside Israel. The Psalms in this manuscript are not found in the same order as they are in the traditional Hebrew Bible. The scribe of this scroll clearly distinguished the name of God (YHWH) in this scroll by writing it in Paleo-Hebrew, a more archaic set of letter forms.