Posted on 02/27/2010 11:06:45 AM PST by Between the Lines
Two parts of an ancient biblical manuscript separated across centuries and continents were reunited for the first time in a joint display Friday, thanks to an accidental discovery that is helping illuminate a dark period in the history of the Hebrew Bible.
The 1,300-year-old fragments, which are among only a handful of Hebrew biblical manuscripts known to have survived the era in which they were written, existed separately and with their relationship unknown, until a news photograph of one's public unveiling in 2007 caught the attention of the scholars who would eventually link them.
Together, they make up the text of the Song of the Sea, sung by jubilant Israelites after fleeing slavery in Egypt and witnessing the destruction of the pharaoh's armies in the Red Sea.
The enemy said: 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil. My lust shall be satisfied upon them, I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them,' reads the song, which appears in the Book of Exodus. Thou didst blow thy wind, the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
An exhibit at Israel's national museum dedicated to the Song of the Sea is now bringing together the two long-separated pieces.
One page of the song, known as the Ashkar manuscript, was previously housed in a rare books library at Duke University in North Carolina and was first displayed at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem in 2007.
That's when a photograph of the manuscript in a local newspaper caught the eye of two Israeli paleographers, Mordechay Mishor and Edna Engel, who noticed it resembled a different page of Hebrew writing known as the London manuscript, presently part of the private collection of Stephan Loewentheil of New York.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
Even as the enemies of the Nation he helped to raise up on his Word (America) gain the numbers and the strength they need finally to destroy it (60 vote 'Rat Senate), and when all hope seems finally lost, He delivers the victory to those who still believe (Scott Brown takes the "Camelot" throne).
Call me names, throw your darts, but know this: His Truth is eternal, and is planted deep in the heart of every man, that none shall claim ignorance on that great and terrible Day of The Lord. His Truth is proven in everything we can see or touch. Deny it at your eternal peril.
:-/
Bookmark
Rest assured the enemies of Israel shall be smote... just make sure you do not stand to close to the White House!
;-/
Fascinating article, and thanks for sharing!
On a separate but related topic, I know there are a number of other biblical texts that are not included in the modern bible, and I am wondering if there has been a single publication of those other books? Does anyone have a good recommendation as to what would be the best published (and translated) version of these books to get??
Thanks!
If you find one that is pre-Christian biblical, please let me know.
Thank you for the links!!!
Biblical manuscript ping!
I’m checking it now...Thanks!
I must have missed something. Did someone think God not exist because this manuscript was missing its middle for awhile?
The Internet Sacred Text Archive has a huge collection of electronic (HTML) copies of public-domain books of this kind.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.