Abstract :
The cover photograph shows a section of the well-preserved Qumran Isaiah Scroll "A" from Cave I. The two columns 32 and 33 comprise Isaiah 38:9 to 40:28. From the style of the Hebrew letters, the scroll seems to have been prepared by a scribe about 100 BC, probably in the "publications department" of the scriptorium at Khirbet Qumran near the Dead Sea. He appears to have made several errors which he corrected himself after he completed the manuscript, or possibly as he went along. Modern technical editors are familiar with the problems of numerous corrections and editing during manuscript processing. These problems are rooted in antiquity, as suggested by the insertions and corrections on the Dead Sea Scroll photograph. We are indebted to George Amber of Detroit, Michigan, for sending us the photograph and the explanatory material. The cover photograph is by Professor John C. Trever, courtesy "The Biblical Archaeologist."