What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?

The Dead Sea Scrolls are indeed Hebrew manuscripts that were discovered in caves near Qumran, located by the northwest shore of the Dead Sea in the mid-20th century. These scrolls date back to the last few centuries before and after the birth of Jesus Christ and include some of the oldest known manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible, along with other texts that provide insight into the beliefs and practices of the Jewish community at that time.

Their significance lies not only in their age but also in their content, which has deepened our understanding of the historical context of early Judaism and the development of religious texts. The scrolls include biblical texts, apocryphal writings, and sectarian manuscripts, giving researchers valuable information about the diversity of Jewish thought during the Second Temple period.

The other options, while they refer to significant historical texts or archaeological findings, do not accurately represent the specific nature and context of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Thus, identifying them as Hebrew manuscripts hidden in caves near Qumran highlights their unique historical and cultural importance.