Why the Dead Sea Scrolls are SO IMPORTANT | Post-Biblical Aramaic Literature | Dr. Daniel Machiela

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Daniel Machiela, Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible and Old Testament at the University of Notre Dame. We discuss the extraordinary importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls for understanding the biblical text, ancient Judaism, and early Christianity. Dr. Machiela explains how the discovery of these ancient manuscripts has dramatically altered our view of biblical textual history, revealing significant variations and insights into the religious beliefs and practices of the period.

We also explore the scrolls' connection to the Essene community, the fascinating prominence of Aramaic—the language spoken by Jesus—in post-biblical Jewish literature, and what the scrolls tell us about key biblical figures such as Noah, Levi, and Daniel.

Dr. Machiela's Book on the Aramaic Scrolls (Open Access!): https://brill.com/display/title/57106...

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Chapters

00:00 The Significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls
05:02 Discovery of the Scrolls
10:15 The Essenes and Their Connection
14:43 Biblical Texts and Variants
20:25 Understanding Aramaic Scrolls
23:50 The Significance of Deuteronomy, Psalms, and Isaiah
24:54 Exploring the Aramaic Language
27:22 The Relationship Between Hebrew and Aramaic
29:16 Understanding the Aramaic Texts of the Dead Sea Scrolls
32:52 Chronological Context of Aramaic Texts
35:26 The Role of Aramaic in Jewish Literature
39:03 Cultural Implications of Writing in Aramaic
41:15 Focus on Early Biblical Characters
46:20 The Exilic Context of Aramaic Literature


#deadseascrolls #bible #judaism #aramaic #christianity #archaeology #religion #Qumran #Essenes #DanielMachiela