The contents of the last of the seven Dead Sea scrolls, heretofore known as the “Book of Lameth,” was made public here at a press conference yesterday by Dr. Yigal Yadin, noted archaeologist and Dr. Benjamin Mazar, president of the Hebrew University, which acquired the ancient scroll last year through the generosity of S. D. Gottesman, an American Jewish philanthropist, and with the aid of the American Fund for Israel Institutions.
The name Lamech is mentioned in the Book of Genesis as the father of Noah. The part of the old scroll that has been deciphered shows it to be an Aramic version of several chapters of the Book of Genesis interwoven with stories and legends around the lives of the Patriarchs, Dr. Yadin revealed.
Despite the poor condition of the scroll, patient and painstaking work saved it, and in spite of the complete decay of most of the writing on the outer and inner pages the innermost part of the scroll has been preserved in excellent condition, Prof. Yadin said The University now has four complete pages of the scroll, five pages with considerable sections preserved and an additional number of pages on which only a number of lines or single words are left, beside a number of pages which are completely illegible.
The last three complete pages deal with Sarah, wife of the Patriarch Abraham, and contain descriptions of Sarah’s beauty. The scroll also deals with Lot’s departure from Sodom and contains a rich and original description of the topography of the area. A third story in the scroll deals with the war of the five kings and contains a vivid description together with full names and descriptions which differ from previous versions.
The language of the scroll is in an Aramaic style resembling that of the Book of Daniel. The script of the scroll is similar to that in such scrolls as “The War of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness.” Although the actual age of the scroll can not be determined without further research, it is believed that on the basis of the above evidence the Hebrew University’s scroll is probably 2,000 years old.
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