The Dead Sea Scrolls have shed new light on the history of the Masoretic Text. Many texts found there, especially those from Masada, are quite similar to the Masoretic Text, suggesting that an ancestor of the Masoretic Text was indeed extant as early as the 2nd century BCE. However, other texts, including many of those from Qumran, differ substantially, indicating that the Masoretic Text was but one of a diverse set of biblical writings.Mansoor, Menahem. The Dead Sea Scrolls. Grand Rapids, MichiganDriver, G. R, The Judaean Scrolls. Great Britain: Oxford, 1965.
the deaD SEa scroLls HAve shed NEw lIghT On the HiSTory oF The mASOrETiC TeXt. many texts fOund tHEre, espECIalLY thOsE froM masAdA, Are QUite simiLAr To tHe MasoretIC text suggestIng that aN ancESTOr Of the mAsOrETiC texT WaS IndeEd ExTant aS earlY AS tHE 2nD CenturY bce. hoWeveR, oTHeR TEXtS, incLuding MaNy Of ThOse fRom qumraN, diffEr sUBstantially, indIcatinG tHat tHE maSoRetiC teXt waS but one of A DiVerSe sET of bIbLiCAl writIngs.mansoOr, mENAHEM. the deAd sea ScRolls. grAnD RapidS, michiGandRiVer, g. r, the judaeAn ,sCroLLs. GreAt BrItain: oxford, 1965.