Press Room

Dead Sea Scroll in Stone Published in English for the First Time

September 2, 2008

CONTACT: Sarah Yeomans
The Biblical Archaeology Society
Phone: 1.202.364.3300 ext. 230
E-mail: syeomans@bib-arch.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 2, 2008)—DEAD SEA SCROLL IN STONE PUBLISHED IN ENGLISH FOR THE FIRST TIME. Several months ago, a significant splash was made in the academic community by Biblical scholar Israel Knohl of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, whose interpretation of an ancient text caused scholars to look at early Christianity and Judaism in a different light. Dr. Knohl’s research has concluded that certain passages indicated that there had been a precedent for the three-day death and resurrection paradigm. His research may be a new chapter in the study of the relationship between Jewish and Christian messianism.

Professor Knohl’s findings were first announced at the Israel Museum’s conference in early July. However, just this month he has published his research and his full translation of the text in the United States. His article and translation can be found in the current issue of the Biblical Archaeology Review (September/October 2008), published by the Biblical Archaeology Society.

Called “Gabriel’s Revelation,” the ancient passage written in ink on a stone tablet is an apocalyptic text in the voice of “Gabriel,” presumed to be the well-known angel Gabriel referred to in the Book of Daniel and the Gospel of Luke. The tablet, which came into the hands of a private collector after being discovered in Jordan over a decade ago, was first examined by Hebrew writing scholar Ada Yardeni several years ago. However, in re-examining the tablet Professor Knohl concluded that certain passages refer to a resurrected messiah, a concept that was thought to be unique to Christianity. As this tablet is dated to the first century B.C., Knohl’s research would suggest that the concept of death and resurrection was an established part of Jewish tradition at the time.

Knohl’s article and the English translation of the Dead Sea Scroll in Stone can be found in the current issue of the Biblical Archaeology Review. Please see www.biblicalarchaeology.org or call the call the Biblical Archaeology Society at 1.202.364.3300 for more information.