Thoughts on viewing the Great Isaiah Scroll - opinion

The Israel Museum is currently exhibiting the Great Isaiah Scroll, the oldest known complete manuscript of a biblical book. The 7.17-meter scroll is on display at the Bella and Harry Wexner Gallery until mid-September, marking the first time it has been viewable in its entirety since 1968. Due to conservation concerns, only small portions are typically accessible to the public.

Access to the exhibit requires pre-registration after purchasing an entrance ticket, with viewing limited to 10-minute intervals. Before entering the viewing room, visitors can engage with informational panels, computers, and a film detailing the scroll's discovery, its journey through various hands, and elements of its Hebrew text. The exhibit also highlights Isaiah's significance in the New Testament.

The article prompts a deeper look into the scroll's history, including its acquisition from Bedouins by antiquities dealer Kando and subsequent sale. The author uses this narrative to question the historical accuracy of terms like "East Jerusalem" and "West Bank," arguing they emerged after the 1948 Jordanian conquest and annexation, contradicting the ancient geography referenced in texts like Isaiah, which speaks of "Judah and Jerusalem."