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.”
I find these kinds of events very exciting. One would expect that as we get farther away in time from the writing of our holy books that it would become more and more unlikely that we would find new sources and materials. Happily, that does not seem to be the case.
God is sovereign and omnipotent.
God allowed this text to remain divided for 1300 years.
God has allowed this text to be reunited and it is international news now.
Perhaps, just perhaps, the Lord is using his “highlighter” to emphasize this text for Mankind.
If so, what is the significance of this text…what is it’s message? The slaves (the Chosen Ones and all that went with them) were fleeing Egypt and the army of Pharaoh was pursuing them. The oppressive army, 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…” Yet God protected His own children. “Thou didst blow thy wind, the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.”
Perhaps there is a lesson here for those with ears to hear. Perhaps God has highlighted this text in the international news for a purpose.
For me, that is a comforting thought.
The words sound familiar; excuse my ignorance, but which book of the OT are these fragments part of.
Exodus 15:10