Re: Help Needed in Fixing a Religious Crisis

Posted by wizanda on 1762108944

Hi James Tabor,

Having seen you on different Youtube videos, and Aaron Abke mentioned you being an expert on the Dead Sea Scrolls, thought to write to you on an idea in prophecy I've seen.

In the Dead Sea Scrolls 1QIsaa there is an additional yod on the word 'Marred' in Isaiah 52:14; which Martin Hengel and Daniel P. Bailey then translated as 'I anointed'.

Wikipedia - Isaiah_53 1QIsaa the Great Isaiah Scroll

Here is a translation I've worked out, based on what is known:

Isaiah 52:13-14 Behold, 'my servant' will deal wisely. He will be 'exalted' and lifted up, and will be very high. Just as many were astonished by him, for 'I anointed' him more than others appearance, and his form more than a son of man.

When this phraseology is returned to what was possibly there originally, it makes it that Isaiah is paraphrasing Psalms 89:19-21; where when we go from Isaiah 52:10-14, which includes the word 'Arm', there are then four keywords used the same.

Psalms 89:19-21 Then you spoke in vision to your saints, and said, "I have given strength to the warrior. I have 'exalted' a young man from the people. (20) I have found David, 'my servant'. 'I have anointed' him with my holy oil, (21) with whom my hand shall be established. 'My arm' will also strengthen him.

When this typo is fixed, it makes the ambiguity of who is the "my servant" in Isaiah 52:13 self explanatory; that it was king David appointed as the 'Suffering Servant', to act as high priest to the people, and then to return as the triumphant Messiah to bring in the Messianic Age.

Though we only have this one version of the additional yod found in the Dead Sea Scrolls 1QIsaa, which would seem a long stretch, it fixes many Biblical miscomprehensions: David being the end appointed Messiah in many prophecies, the Psalms speaking first person, and being applied to Messianic prophetic passages, ect.

My question is were you aware of this, and would it change your expert opinion of who Yeshua was?