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The Lost Book of Moses: The Hunt for the World's Oldest Bible – A True Detective Story of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Forgery, and a 19th-Century Mystery
One man’s quest to find the oldest Bible scrolls in the world and uncover the story of the brilliant, doomed antiquarian accused of forging them.
In the summer of 1883, Moses Wilhelm Shapira—archaeological treasure hunter and inveterate social climber—showed up unannounced in London claiming to have discovered the oldest copy of the Bible in the world.
But before the museum could pony up his £1 million asking price for the scrolls—which discovery called into question the divine authorship of the scriptures—Shapira’s nemesis, the French archaeologist Charles Clermont-Ganneau, denounced the manuscripts, turning the public against him. Distraught over this humiliating public rebuke, Shapira fled to the Netherlands and committed suicide.
Then, in 1947 the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Noting the similarities between these and Shapira’s scrolls, scholars made efforts to re-examine Shapira’s case, but it was too late: the primary piece of evidence, the parchment scrolls themselves had mysteriously vanished.
Tigay, journalist and son of a renowned Biblical scholar, was galvanized by this peculiar story and this indecipherable man, and became determined to find the scrolls. He sets out on a quest that takes him to Australia, England, Holland, Germany where he meets Shapira’s still aggrieved descendants and Jerusalem where Shapira is still referred to in the present tense as a “Naughty boy”. He wades into museum storerooms, musty English attics, and even the Jordanian gorge where the scrolls were said to have been found all in a tireless effort to uncover the truth about the scrolls and about Shapira, himself.
At once historical drama and modern-day mystery, The Lost Book of Moses explores the nineteenth-century disappearance of Shapira’s scrolls and Tigay's globetrotting hunt for the ancient manuscript. As it follows Tigay’s trail to the truth, the book brings to light a flamboyant, romantic, devious, and ultimately tragic personality in a story that vibrates with the suspense of a classic detective tale.
In the summer of 1883, Moses Wilhelm Shapira—archaeological treasure hunter and inveterate social climber—showed up unannounced in London claiming to have discovered the oldest copy of the Bible in the world.
But before the museum could pony up his £1 million asking price for the scrolls—which discovery called into question the divine authorship of the scriptures—Shapira’s nemesis, the French archaeologist Charles Clermont-Ganneau, denounced the manuscripts, turning the public against him. Distraught over this humiliating public rebuke, Shapira fled to the Netherlands and committed suicide.
Then, in 1947 the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Noting the similarities between these and Shapira’s scrolls, scholars made efforts to re-examine Shapira’s case, but it was too late: the primary piece of evidence, the parchment scrolls themselves had mysteriously vanished.
Tigay, journalist and son of a renowned Biblical scholar, was galvanized by this peculiar story and this indecipherable man, and became determined to find the scrolls. He sets out on a quest that takes him to Australia, England, Holland, Germany where he meets Shapira’s still aggrieved descendants and Jerusalem where Shapira is still referred to in the present tense as a “Naughty boy”. He wades into museum storerooms, musty English attics, and even the Jordanian gorge where the scrolls were said to have been found all in a tireless effort to uncover the truth about the scrolls and about Shapira, himself.
At once historical drama and modern-day mystery, The Lost Book of Moses explores the nineteenth-century disappearance of Shapira’s scrolls and Tigay's globetrotting hunt for the ancient manuscript. As it follows Tigay’s trail to the truth, the book brings to light a flamboyant, romantic, devious, and ultimately tragic personality in a story that vibrates with the suspense of a classic detective tale.
368 pages, Paperback
First published February 9, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
October 6, 2017
Highly interesting topic. If you are into ancient parchments, biblical history and want to learn more about early archaeology then this is the book for you. You'll learn about the rush for ancient biblical archeological proof in the Late Ottoman Empire and later on the Jewish State. If you are into history and archaeology this is the book for you.
December 19, 2019
Non-fiction about the author’s quest to locate a lost biblical manuscript, and to solve the mystery of its origins. In 1883, Moses Wilhelm Shapira, an antiquities dealer from Jerusalem, brought a scroll, purported to be an early version of the book of Deuteronomy, to England, along with a story of where he found it. Several notable experts examined the scroll and declared their findings. Decades later, the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Did Shapira find the first of the Dead Sea Scrolls sixty years earlier or was it a clever forgery? Chanan Tigay, an American journalist and son of a biblical scholar, traveled to many countries across the world on a four-year journey to uncover the truth.
“If the fragments, and so the scrolls, were real, they would reveal so much about how the Bible developed – how it was written, rewritten, and revised over the course of centuries. And if they were a forgery, whoever created this manuscript was some kind of genius – clever, creative, and profoundly learned. In conjuring a wild version of Deuteronomy, they had somehow managed to predict the Dead Sea Scrolls decades before their discovery. Who had the chops to pull off a fraud this brilliant?”
This book is meticulously researched and well-written in a journalist style. The author keeps a sense of suspense in the narrative by doling out information gradually. At any given time, the reader will not know more than the author knew at that point in his search. The mystery is unraveled in alternating chapters between Shapira’s story and the author’s search, with historical context provided as necessary.
Tigay tells an intriguing tale of obsession, rivalry, scandal, suicide, and journeys into remote and previously unmapped regions. I found it fascinating. This book will appeal to those interested in historical mysteries or the history of theological artifacts.
“If the fragments, and so the scrolls, were real, they would reveal so much about how the Bible developed – how it was written, rewritten, and revised over the course of centuries. And if they were a forgery, whoever created this manuscript was some kind of genius – clever, creative, and profoundly learned. In conjuring a wild version of Deuteronomy, they had somehow managed to predict the Dead Sea Scrolls decades before their discovery. Who had the chops to pull off a fraud this brilliant?”
This book is meticulously researched and well-written in a journalist style. The author keeps a sense of suspense in the narrative by doling out information gradually. At any given time, the reader will not know more than the author knew at that point in his search. The mystery is unraveled in alternating chapters between Shapira’s story and the author’s search, with historical context provided as necessary.
Tigay tells an intriguing tale of obsession, rivalry, scandal, suicide, and journeys into remote and previously unmapped regions. I found it fascinating. This book will appeal to those interested in historical mysteries or the history of theological artifacts.
July 24, 2018
I found myself yelling several times "IT BELONGS IN A MUSEUM!" Definitely an adventure on par with Indiana Jones. There's action, drama, suspense, and a cast of characters similar to Indy, Belloq, Sallah, Brody and the gang you're accustomed to if you've watched those films. It brings modern archaeology to life and reinvigorates the feelings of interest in antiquities, how we can revive them over time, and if there is anything left to discover!
Definitely an excellent read, certainly a summer book. Tigay mentioned the Kol Nidre about halfway through the book, so I embraced the album "Jewish String Quartets" Compiled by Darius Milhaud as a listening companion on Spotify, and it did not disappoint on shuffle. Without a doubt one of the most exciting reads of the year.
Definitely an excellent read, certainly a summer book. Tigay mentioned the Kol Nidre about halfway through the book, so I embraced the album "Jewish String Quartets" Compiled by Darius Milhaud as a listening companion on Spotify, and it did not disappoint on shuffle. Without a doubt one of the most exciting reads of the year.
August 30, 2016
Wavering between 3 and 4 stars. Rounding up to 4 because I suspect I'd have enjoyed it more if I'd read rather than listened – the author reads in my Audible recording and does an excellent job, but my listening/walking periods have been sporadic lately and I kept losing the train of the narrative. So, reader-fail. On the other hand, the story never became compelling enough that I was “drop-everything” eager to get to it, so maybe it wasn't just me.
Anyway, this is a story-within-a-story, and, while not exactly thrilling (I notice that some reviewers felt that it was “Indiana Jones-like.” My memories of Indiana Jones may be off, but I recall lots danger and action, rather than extensive library research and meetings. Still, there is a search for an Ark of the Covenant era artifact, and lots of antisemitism, if no Nazis, so...) it is interesting. Except when it gets repetitive. The story is about the hunt by our author, Chanan Tigay, for the leather strips, lost at the end of the 19th century, purported by their “discoverer”, Moses Shapira, to be the oldest copy of Deuteronomy. Along with the tale of his search, he tells Moses Shapira's story, debating the question of whether Shapira was the brilliant creator of a clever hoax, the persecuted victim of antisemitic prejudice, or the maligned discoverer of an ancient treasure. Or a bit of all of these. An intrinsic problem for Tigay's story is that we, his readers, would have noticed if news headlines had recently gone wild with the story of the discovery of a genuinely ancient copy of the Book of Deuteronomy and of a maligned antiques dealer. So we know right up front that Tigay isn't going to find the strips, have them analyzed using modern dating methods, and discover that they really are what Shapira suggested they were. So, our options are more limited and with less potential for thrills. Still, given this, Tigay does manage to maintain some suspense and to create a reasonably satisfying conclusion. The ins and outs of Tigay's hunt and of Shapira's intrepid efforts are fairly engaging despite the predictable outcome.
Anyway, this is a story-within-a-story, and, while not exactly thrilling (I notice that some reviewers felt that it was “Indiana Jones-like.” My memories of Indiana Jones may be off, but I recall lots danger and action, rather than extensive library research and meetings. Still, there is a search for an Ark of the Covenant era artifact, and lots of antisemitism, if no Nazis, so...) it is interesting. Except when it gets repetitive. The story is about the hunt by our author, Chanan Tigay, for the leather strips, lost at the end of the 19th century, purported by their “discoverer”, Moses Shapira, to be the oldest copy of Deuteronomy. Along with the tale of his search, he tells Moses Shapira's story, debating the question of whether Shapira was the brilliant creator of a clever hoax, the persecuted victim of antisemitic prejudice, or the maligned discoverer of an ancient treasure. Or a bit of all of these. An intrinsic problem for Tigay's story is that we, his readers, would have noticed if news headlines had recently gone wild with the story of the discovery of a genuinely ancient copy of the Book of Deuteronomy and of a maligned antiques dealer. So we know right up front that Tigay isn't going to find the strips, have them analyzed using modern dating methods, and discover that they really are what Shapira suggested they were. So, our options are more limited and with less potential for thrills. Still, given this, Tigay does manage to maintain some suspense and to create a reasonably satisfying conclusion. The ins and outs of Tigay's hunt and of Shapira's intrepid efforts are fairly engaging despite the predictable outcome.
January 11, 2023
Journo becomes rather naïve and over-ambitious history researcher, tells us more about himself and his progress than we really want to know, and delivers a damp squib. Nah.
September 29, 2018
There are a number of narratives intertwined in this book, each of which might justify more elaborate treatment in a book of its own. If you don’t mind the resultant superficiality, some readers might find this a pleasant enough read; for me, however, I found it all ultimately disappointing and unsatisfactory. The lack of an Index and Illustrations did not help.
Firstly, the title of this book suggests that it will be about the search for a particular document, allegedly a “different” version of the Book of Deuteronomy, supposed to have been discovered in the late 19th-c. This document disappeared after the death of its promoter and purveyor, Moses Wilhelm Shapira. People have been searching for it, either real or a forgery, ever since.
Tigay makes his particular 21st-c odyssey in search of the document the basic framework of his book, starting from when he first got “hooked” on the story in 2010 until publication in 2016. Each step in his search thus permits him to explore specific aspects of the matter as he discovers them — so there is a certain to-ing and fro-ing going on as specific matters are raised which require a bit of special history of themselves (and this for me was often quite confusing for establishing timelines). This continues throughout the book, until a discovery of a possible interpretation of what might have occurred is offered. Yes; but “possibility” does not necessarily mean that this was what in fact did happen, does it?
Secondly, the importance of the alleged discovery raised questions about the authority of the Book of Deuteronomy, a matter of significant theological concern — so the authenticity of the new document was paramount. The craze for antiquities that swept Europe in the 19th-c had museums vying with one another, and offering huge sums of money for real artefacts. The main contenders in this case were the British Museum and the Louvre; and each had their own experts and analysts. There was also lots of internecine rivalry between individual experts as to who was first and/or better at authenticating finds. Meanwhile, in the Middle East, the prospect of finding valuable artefacts was very much “appreciated” by any number of individuals, and it was not long before forgeries were included into the mix — which made the work of authenticators in Britain and France all the more important. European greed and Middle Eastern shrewdness were made for each other; and this concoction could also result in ruthlessness on all sides.
Shapira’s document, theologically dangerous, came up during this disturbance. Ultimately the Europeans agreed that the proffered document was a forgery, and that was the end of that. Despite protestations of innocence, Shapira, once the most trusted of the providers of archaeological artefacts, was ridiculed and condemned; before long he was dead, and his document had disappeared. All remained silent until by the mid-20th-c the controversial Dead Sea Scrolls were authenticated… Some recalled the Shapira incident: could it be that his document was in fact a true version of Deuteronomy? Had he been unjustly condemned? A new search for the document begins, in vain.
Thirdly, we have the personal story of Moses Shapira himself. This is presented in sections throughout the other narratives above, and Tigay presents him rather sympathetically throughout, with the impact of his treatment on his surviving family particularly poignant. But the book starts with the discovery of Shapira dead in his hotel room. This makes it read like a mystery detective story might begin, and the reader is left pondering why this event occurred, and how (and the reader will not find out exactly how until towards the end of the book). The way the book is structured, any of a number of persons could have been involved. How guilty/innocent was Shapira in all of this?
All the above narrative trends are intermixed throughout the book; all are fascinating narratives in their own right. When they are presented as they are in the book, however, it comes out as surprisingly pointless. What is this book really about? All of the above, and yet none of the above? And is that the point of the book? If so, then the various interesting parts of the book left me ultimately disinterested. Perhaps other readers might find it otherwise.
Firstly, the title of this book suggests that it will be about the search for a particular document, allegedly a “different” version of the Book of Deuteronomy, supposed to have been discovered in the late 19th-c. This document disappeared after the death of its promoter and purveyor, Moses Wilhelm Shapira. People have been searching for it, either real or a forgery, ever since.
Tigay makes his particular 21st-c odyssey in search of the document the basic framework of his book, starting from when he first got “hooked” on the story in 2010 until publication in 2016. Each step in his search thus permits him to explore specific aspects of the matter as he discovers them — so there is a certain to-ing and fro-ing going on as specific matters are raised which require a bit of special history of themselves (and this for me was often quite confusing for establishing timelines). This continues throughout the book, until a discovery of a possible interpretation of what might have occurred is offered. Yes; but “possibility” does not necessarily mean that this was what in fact did happen, does it?
Secondly, the importance of the alleged discovery raised questions about the authority of the Book of Deuteronomy, a matter of significant theological concern — so the authenticity of the new document was paramount. The craze for antiquities that swept Europe in the 19th-c had museums vying with one another, and offering huge sums of money for real artefacts. The main contenders in this case were the British Museum and the Louvre; and each had their own experts and analysts. There was also lots of internecine rivalry between individual experts as to who was first and/or better at authenticating finds. Meanwhile, in the Middle East, the prospect of finding valuable artefacts was very much “appreciated” by any number of individuals, and it was not long before forgeries were included into the mix — which made the work of authenticators in Britain and France all the more important. European greed and Middle Eastern shrewdness were made for each other; and this concoction could also result in ruthlessness on all sides.
Shapira’s document, theologically dangerous, came up during this disturbance. Ultimately the Europeans agreed that the proffered document was a forgery, and that was the end of that. Despite protestations of innocence, Shapira, once the most trusted of the providers of archaeological artefacts, was ridiculed and condemned; before long he was dead, and his document had disappeared. All remained silent until by the mid-20th-c the controversial Dead Sea Scrolls were authenticated… Some recalled the Shapira incident: could it be that his document was in fact a true version of Deuteronomy? Had he been unjustly condemned? A new search for the document begins, in vain.
Thirdly, we have the personal story of Moses Shapira himself. This is presented in sections throughout the other narratives above, and Tigay presents him rather sympathetically throughout, with the impact of his treatment on his surviving family particularly poignant. But the book starts with the discovery of Shapira dead in his hotel room. This makes it read like a mystery detective story might begin, and the reader is left pondering why this event occurred, and how (and the reader will not find out exactly how until towards the end of the book). The way the book is structured, any of a number of persons could have been involved. How guilty/innocent was Shapira in all of this?
All the above narrative trends are intermixed throughout the book; all are fascinating narratives in their own right. When they are presented as they are in the book, however, it comes out as surprisingly pointless. What is this book really about? All of the above, and yet none of the above? And is that the point of the book? If so, then the various interesting parts of the book left me ultimately disinterested. Perhaps other readers might find it otherwise.
December 15, 2024
Interesting religious history about a lost version of Deuteronomy (which includes the Ten Commandments) that one Jerusalem bookseller claimed was the world's oldest Biblical scroll. Tigay lays our the arguments for/against its authenticity, and covers his personal journey investigating the truth (and location) of this missing piece of parchment.
I do think The Lost Book of Moses is notable (although probably not on purpose) in how it shows a reader how investigative journalism actually works - how one tip yields another, which yields something else, etc. etc. as Tigay took the reader thru his entire chronological journey of investigation. I really felt like I got a sense of how complex and drawn out this process can be. The only other book that I thought went into just as much detail on this process was Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels.
If you're looking for something else under the religious archaeology subgenre, I'd recommend Veritas: A Harvard Professor, a Con Man and the Gospel of Jesus's Wife instead! I also want to read up Stolen Fragments: Black Markets, Bad Faith, and the Illicit Trade in Ancient Artefacts but haven't gotten around to it yet!
I do think The Lost Book of Moses is notable (although probably not on purpose) in how it shows a reader how investigative journalism actually works - how one tip yields another, which yields something else, etc. etc. as Tigay took the reader thru his entire chronological journey of investigation. I really felt like I got a sense of how complex and drawn out this process can be. The only other book that I thought went into just as much detail on this process was Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels.
If you're looking for something else under the religious archaeology subgenre, I'd recommend Veritas: A Harvard Professor, a Con Man and the Gospel of Jesus's Wife instead! I also want to read up Stolen Fragments: Black Markets, Bad Faith, and the Illicit Trade in Ancient Artefacts but haven't gotten around to it yet!
June 27, 2024
This book is the story of a man trying to solve a mystery. In 1883, Moses Wilhelm Shapira attempted to sell some manuscripts written on leather that he claimed were ancient fragments of Deuteronomy. Shapira had previously been accused of forging pottery that he claimed was found in the same area as the Moabite stone. His manuscripts, if authentic, in many ways anticipated the Dead Sea Scrolls that would be found something like 67 years later. At first, heralded as a magnificent find, they were later decried as forgeries. The devastated Shapira ended his life in poverty and disgrace. Years later, with the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, many people thought the scrolls would be worth a second look to see if they had not been dismissed too hastily. Unfortunately, they had disappeared. This book tells the story of a man's search for the missing scrolls and his quest to determine if they are authentic or forgeries as they were purported to be. This led him to a years-long search through museums, libraries, and churches in Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and the US. In the process, he creates a portrait of a complicated man yearning for recognition and acceptance, a father and husband wanting the best for his children. I think the ultimate lesson drawn from his research may be summed up in the quote he shares from David Lowenthal, that by "revealing hidden assumptions about the past they claim to stem from, fakes advance our understanding no less than the truths which expose them." This was truly an interesting book written by a man passionate about his quest.
April 10, 2018
I read this book because I had seen a display of Shapira's collection in the rare book room at UCSF (and with the info I got there, the ending was no surprise). The book is really two stories: the author's search to find the Deuteronomy strips and the story of Shapira himself. Woven in with all of this was fascinating info on how authenticity is established. I enjoyed parts of the book very much, but I found the way it jumped around to be sometimes annoying and occasionally confusing. It also seems that by telling the story as part of the author's own discovery, the earlier portions talking about Shapira and other dealers in ancient manuscripts needed to be reexamined in the light of what the author eventually learned. Tigay tacks on a bit of that at the end, but I think it should have been more integral to the story.
January 3, 2018
Amazing efforts at historical research that involved flying all over the world, going through obscure papers, digging deep into storage vaults in old buildings, taking advantage of serendipitous encounters with an interesting array of people, and just dogged research over several years. The author wanted to settle the issue of whether a book of Deuteronomy, supposedly the oldest ever found, was genuine or a forgery. The scroll fragments were lost, so he had his work cut out for him. Ultimately he established that they were indeed extremely clever forgeries, just as had been determined in the last 19th century when they came to light.
March 15, 2020
Interesting tale that interweaves the story of Shapira, a antiquities dealer in Jerusalem who attempted to sell a purportedly ancient version of Deuteronomy to the British Museum for 1 million pounds in the 1880s, with the author's own search for that lost manuscript.
The tale sometimes wanders into unnecessary filler, and Tigay could have used a better editor on this score, but ultimately it's an engaging story about a little known moment in the 19th Century craze for all things biblical.
The tale sometimes wanders into unnecessary filler, and Tigay could have used a better editor on this score, but ultimately it's an engaging story about a little known moment in the 19th Century craze for all things biblical.
October 7, 2024
Once upon a time, about 100 years ago, mass media reported on Biblical archeology. In those days, modern scientific and ethical archeological standards had yet to be established- which means the field was more Raiders of the Lost Ark than Biblical Archeological Review. Also, Christianity was still the default religious setting for most Europeans (or the English, at least) and the culture generally assumed that the Bible was literal truth. This means that everyone believed Moses wrote the Torah.
A bookseller from Jerusalem named Moses Shapira approached the British Museum with an ancient copy of the book of Deuteronomy in 1883. This Deuteronomy differed from the version contained in the Authorized Version (King James Bible). It was missing chapters. Important verses were very different from their King James counterparts: out of order, different wordings, and even different meanings. Shapira offered this Deuteronomy to the Museum for a million Pounds (15 million Pounds sterling today, or 20 million dollars).
Did the British Museum buy the manuscript? Read the book.
Shapira was immediately accused of forgery. Was it true? Read the book.
What happened to the Shapira's Deuteronomy scroll? Does it still exist today? Read the book.
Seriously, read it.
It's a fun read... If you like Biblical scholarship, 19th century history, and modern investigative journalism. Tigay splits the narrative into two parts- the historic, 19th century story about Shapira and the manuscript and the modern, 21st century story of Tigay's search for the scrolls.
The historic story is very interesting. As I said earlier, there's a lot of parallels with Raiders of the Lost Ark: bad guys skulking in dark corners, looking to steal artifacts. Shady merchants trying to pass off fakes as the real thing. Proud Europeans stealing historic artifacts from their rightful owners so they could sell them to museums for profit and national & personal glory.
The modern story... gets boring. The author includes a ton of extraneous detail to add length. I don't care about what or where he ate, or what church he visited. Did he find the scrolls or not?
He does eventually get there, but he could have trimmed a good 50 pages.
Even so, the book's worth reading.
A bookseller from Jerusalem named Moses Shapira approached the British Museum with an ancient copy of the book of Deuteronomy in 1883. This Deuteronomy differed from the version contained in the Authorized Version (King James Bible). It was missing chapters. Important verses were very different from their King James counterparts: out of order, different wordings, and even different meanings. Shapira offered this Deuteronomy to the Museum for a million Pounds (15 million Pounds sterling today, or 20 million dollars).
Did the British Museum buy the manuscript? Read the book.
Shapira was immediately accused of forgery. Was it true? Read the book.
What happened to the Shapira's Deuteronomy scroll? Does it still exist today? Read the book.
Seriously, read it.
It's a fun read... If you like Biblical scholarship, 19th century history, and modern investigative journalism. Tigay splits the narrative into two parts- the historic, 19th century story about Shapira and the manuscript and the modern, 21st century story of Tigay's search for the scrolls.
The historic story is very interesting. As I said earlier, there's a lot of parallels with Raiders of the Lost Ark: bad guys skulking in dark corners, looking to steal artifacts. Shady merchants trying to pass off fakes as the real thing. Proud Europeans stealing historic artifacts from their rightful owners so they could sell them to museums for profit and national & personal glory.
The modern story... gets boring. The author includes a ton of extraneous detail to add length. I don't care about what or where he ate, or what church he visited. Did he find the scrolls or not?
He does eventually get there, but he could have trimmed a good 50 pages.
Even so, the book's worth reading.
February 7, 2019
If you are planning to read this book, be sure to put a post-it on the page immediately following the Table of Contents, which is basically a Table of Characters – because you will be trying to keep track of many different players representing factions from many countries on multiple continents. You might also wish to put a post-it on the section at the back called NOTES because they explain the source of quotes, facts, items, etc.
I knew Jerusalem (built in the fourth millennium BC) had been destroyed twice and besieged numerous times, but he enumerates: besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, captured and re-captured 44 times. And we know excavation is ongoing in many parts of the city. There is no telling what may yet be found.
I so wish the book had included photos – of Shapira, his wife, daughters, home, cemetery, the many places he describes in England (especially in northern England), the artifacts – existing scrolls, figurines, heads, pots, jars, urns, OTHER key players in England or Australia or California or the Netherlands or Jerusalem or Germany … don’t you just love it when you have a photo collection in the center of the book that you can refer to? [I did go to YouTube to listen to Kol Nidre referred to on page 163.] I know, I know … he speaks of his meeting with Schwarz-Scheuls who said he could take a photo for himself but not for the book … but that wouldn’t rule out all the other photos!!
The author writes, “Shapira’s story resonates tangibly more than a century after his untimely death. That is due in large part to the fact that the story touches on a need that is fundamentally human: to search for truth, to hunt for that which is authentic.” I enjoy watching Mysteries at the Museum and a great many of the stories concern historical fraud or the suspicion of fraud, with the resulting answers to mysteries having been reached only during the recent past … 30 years ago, 20 years ago, even only 10 years ago, using improvements that have been made in diagnostic tools and methods.
The author also writes, “What, then, to believe?” Even though he decides he absolutely knows what happened, I choose to withhold my agreement and to decide that even now we may not know. Some of the alternative theories he expounded might still be the “real” truth. Although he appears to find proof, it would not necessarily mean that his conclusions were correct. You may agree with him, but you won’t know unless you read this book!
I knew Jerusalem (built in the fourth millennium BC) had been destroyed twice and besieged numerous times, but he enumerates: besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, captured and re-captured 44 times. And we know excavation is ongoing in many parts of the city. There is no telling what may yet be found.
I so wish the book had included photos – of Shapira, his wife, daughters, home, cemetery, the many places he describes in England (especially in northern England), the artifacts – existing scrolls, figurines, heads, pots, jars, urns, OTHER key players in England or Australia or California or the Netherlands or Jerusalem or Germany … don’t you just love it when you have a photo collection in the center of the book that you can refer to? [I did go to YouTube to listen to Kol Nidre referred to on page 163.] I know, I know … he speaks of his meeting with Schwarz-Scheuls who said he could take a photo for himself but not for the book … but that wouldn’t rule out all the other photos!!
The author writes, “Shapira’s story resonates tangibly more than a century after his untimely death. That is due in large part to the fact that the story touches on a need that is fundamentally human: to search for truth, to hunt for that which is authentic.” I enjoy watching Mysteries at the Museum and a great many of the stories concern historical fraud or the suspicion of fraud, with the resulting answers to mysteries having been reached only during the recent past … 30 years ago, 20 years ago, even only 10 years ago, using improvements that have been made in diagnostic tools and methods.
The author also writes, “What, then, to believe?” Even though he decides he absolutely knows what happened, I choose to withhold my agreement and to decide that even now we may not know. Some of the alternative theories he expounded might still be the “real” truth. Although he appears to find proof, it would not necessarily mean that his conclusions were correct. You may agree with him, but you won’t know unless you read this book!
December 15, 2015
*Based on a reading of an ARC
It's been a while since I last read a history book, so long ago that I don't recall the last one. This book made me realize why I prefer reading fiction over non-fiction. I find that with fiction, I don't need to give full attention to every single sentence but that is not the case with non-fiction, which requires a bit more effort and 100% attention. Keep those in mind when reading this review.
This book is a biography and investigation into Moses W. Shapira. But whether intended by the author or not, it's also about glimpse into the time in history in which someone like Shapira could thrive; the greed and competition by European countries to own biblical artifacts and greed for recognition and wealth that motivated man like Shapira to provide them what they wanted.
Born out of curiosity that started from a dinner conversation, the author dedicates four years of his life globe-trotting, looking through library materials, doing interviews and internet searches. This book deals with interesting subject, but it is dry. I learned about Shapira, the main person of importance, the one who found the Moabite Scroll of Deuteronomy, that could be either fake or genuine, and the author's search for the missing scroll.
At just 250+ pages, I thought this was a nice book to deep my toe back into history world. But I did think that this book lacked something, which as of now, I am going to gently suggest is depth and I felt some of the pages at the end was unnecessary and felt like blabber.
It's been a while since I last read a history book, so long ago that I don't recall the last one. This book made me realize why I prefer reading fiction over non-fiction. I find that with fiction, I don't need to give full attention to every single sentence but that is not the case with non-fiction, which requires a bit more effort and 100% attention. Keep those in mind when reading this review.
This book is a biography and investigation into Moses W. Shapira. But whether intended by the author or not, it's also about glimpse into the time in history in which someone like Shapira could thrive; the greed and competition by European countries to own biblical artifacts and greed for recognition and wealth that motivated man like Shapira to provide them what they wanted.
Born out of curiosity that started from a dinner conversation, the author dedicates four years of his life globe-trotting, looking through library materials, doing interviews and internet searches. This book deals with interesting subject, but it is dry. I learned about Shapira, the main person of importance, the one who found the Moabite Scroll of Deuteronomy, that could be either fake or genuine, and the author's search for the missing scroll.
At just 250+ pages, I thought this was a nice book to deep my toe back into history world. But I did think that this book lacked something, which as of now, I am going to gently suggest is depth and I felt some of the pages at the end was unnecessary and felt like blabber.
October 25, 2023
Not too bad after the automatic ding ...
That automatic ding? No index. Any nonfiction book but the most banal of self-help books automatically loses a star in ratings from me if it lacks an index.
Out of the remaining four stars available, this is a good book, but not good enough to get all four stars. I will give Tigay credit for writing something with a novelistic spin. Before I started thinking forgery myself, I was thinking maybe Shapira had discovered an unknown, Hebrew-language targum. I'm not sure if a little more background couldn't have been written, out of Shapira's daughter's book, or whatever, to make it even more novelistic, or more background about the hunt for manuscripts and relics at this time. So, it gets three of the remaining possible four stars.
Update, Oct. 24, 2023: According to up-and-coming Tanakh scholar Idan Dershowitz in his book The Valediction of Moses (overview here) Shapira DID discover something even more than a Targum, something that lies behind the D core of Deuteronomy. And, since Tigay is himself not a bible scholar, the rating falls a star.
And, with that, this book loses another star.
That automatic ding? No index. Any nonfiction book but the most banal of self-help books automatically loses a star in ratings from me if it lacks an index.
Out of the remaining four stars available, this is a good book, but not good enough to get all four stars. I will give Tigay credit for writing something with a novelistic spin. Before I started thinking forgery myself, I was thinking maybe Shapira had discovered an unknown, Hebrew-language targum. I'm not sure if a little more background couldn't have been written, out of Shapira's daughter's book, or whatever, to make it even more novelistic, or more background about the hunt for manuscripts and relics at this time. So, it gets three of the remaining possible four stars.
Update, Oct. 24, 2023: According to up-and-coming Tanakh scholar Idan Dershowitz in his book The Valediction of Moses (overview here) Shapira DID discover something even more than a Targum, something that lies behind the D core of Deuteronomy. And, since Tigay is himself not a bible scholar, the rating falls a star.
And, with that, this book loses another star.
December 28, 2015
* from an Advanced Readers Copy
A smart, well-researched and deeply entertaining book about the oldest Bible in the world and the mysterious antiquities dealer who claimed to have several of the scrolls. Part biography, part modern-day treasure hunt, Tigay takes us on a fast-paced and fascinating journey across Europe, Australia and the Middle East. Highly recommended -- I couldn't put it down.
A smart, well-researched and deeply entertaining book about the oldest Bible in the world and the mysterious antiquities dealer who claimed to have several of the scrolls. Part biography, part modern-day treasure hunt, Tigay takes us on a fast-paced and fascinating journey across Europe, Australia and the Middle East. Highly recommended -- I couldn't put it down.
August 5, 2016
A excellent read. Very well researched and written.
May 21, 2018
The story of a self-confessed obsessive, Tigay details the four years he spent trying to track down the fragments of a manuscript/scroll purported to be an original book of Deuteronomy.
In 1883 Moses Shapira, a Jerusalem-based antiquities dealer, presented to several renowned scholars and archaeologists fragments of what he claimed was an original Deuteronomy manuscript. These (white, male Victorian) scholars dismissed the items as forgeries, resulting in Shapira’s humiliation and ruin. Several months later, he died in a squalid Rotterdam hotel and was buried in an unmarked grave. In 1947, a Bedouin shepherd found the Dead Sea Scrolls in a damp, unused cave and contemporary scholars began wondering if Shapira’s find had, in fact, been genuine all along. Growing up with tales of Shapira, journalist Tigay became obsessed with finding the remnants of Shapira’s scrolls. This book details both Tigay’s relentless hunt across continents (travelling to Australia, England and Israel amongst others), as well as the history of Shapira’s life, the difficulties of archaeology in the Middle East, the ambition, rivalries, greed and nefariousness of just about all the characters involved.
Tigay admits throughout the book that Shapira could well have been guilty of forgery, altho one gets the definite impression he secretly hope the fragments had been genuine, thereby rescuing Shapira’s reputation. Tigay clearly feels some sympathy for him, as well as the dealer’s widow and daughters who, faced with poverty and debts, emigrated from Israel to live out their days with relatives in Germany. Tigay also describes Shapira’s rival and nemesis, a less-than scrupulous archaeologist Ganneau, who committed several acts of professional impropriety before destroying Shapira’s life.
Tigay's book is a great tale of obsession, research, archaeology and prejudice, but it does drag in places and there is a lot of repetition. Tigay does a good job of putting Shapira's life and circumstances in context but it's sometimes hard to stay on top of all the people involved in the tale, both Victorian and contemporary. There were several times I was sorely tempted to skip ahead just to get to the point of the chapter! I'm also not entirely sure I agree with Tigay's conclusions and the ending seems awfully abrupt compared to the rest of the book, as if Tigay just threw up his hands in exhaustion and quit when presented with what he thought was the answer.
Shapira was a self-made man, growing up in a Polish shtetl before converting to Christianity, marrying a devout protestant and moving to Jerusalem, but he was always an outsider in whatever world he inhabited. Definitely flawed, Shapira was also a loving husband and father, courageous and a risk-taker. Was the scroll no more than an audacious gamble by a man trying to raise himself out of the ranks of being a shop-owner to the heights of archaeological fame or did Shapira own something that could have changed Biblical history and studies forever?
In 1883 Moses Shapira, a Jerusalem-based antiquities dealer, presented to several renowned scholars and archaeologists fragments of what he claimed was an original Deuteronomy manuscript. These (white, male Victorian) scholars dismissed the items as forgeries, resulting in Shapira’s humiliation and ruin. Several months later, he died in a squalid Rotterdam hotel and was buried in an unmarked grave. In 1947, a Bedouin shepherd found the Dead Sea Scrolls in a damp, unused cave and contemporary scholars began wondering if Shapira’s find had, in fact, been genuine all along. Growing up with tales of Shapira, journalist Tigay became obsessed with finding the remnants of Shapira’s scrolls. This book details both Tigay’s relentless hunt across continents (travelling to Australia, England and Israel amongst others), as well as the history of Shapira’s life, the difficulties of archaeology in the Middle East, the ambition, rivalries, greed and nefariousness of just about all the characters involved.
Tigay admits throughout the book that Shapira could well have been guilty of forgery, altho one gets the definite impression he secretly hope the fragments had been genuine, thereby rescuing Shapira’s reputation. Tigay clearly feels some sympathy for him, as well as the dealer’s widow and daughters who, faced with poverty and debts, emigrated from Israel to live out their days with relatives in Germany. Tigay also describes Shapira’s rival and nemesis, a less-than scrupulous archaeologist Ganneau, who committed several acts of professional impropriety before destroying Shapira’s life.
Tigay's book is a great tale of obsession, research, archaeology and prejudice, but it does drag in places and there is a lot of repetition. Tigay does a good job of putting Shapira's life and circumstances in context but it's sometimes hard to stay on top of all the people involved in the tale, both Victorian and contemporary. There were several times I was sorely tempted to skip ahead just to get to the point of the chapter! I'm also not entirely sure I agree with Tigay's conclusions and the ending seems awfully abrupt compared to the rest of the book, as if Tigay just threw up his hands in exhaustion and quit when presented with what he thought was the answer.
Shapira was a self-made man, growing up in a Polish shtetl before converting to Christianity, marrying a devout protestant and moving to Jerusalem, but he was always an outsider in whatever world he inhabited. Definitely flawed, Shapira was also a loving husband and father, courageous and a risk-taker. Was the scroll no more than an audacious gamble by a man trying to raise himself out of the ranks of being a shop-owner to the heights of archaeological fame or did Shapira own something that could have changed Biblical history and studies forever?
March 2, 2019
This was an interesting deep dive into the mystery of the Shapira Scrolls, as well as the man Shapira himself. The scrolls in question were initially declared a fraud, and by the time the Dead Sea Scrolls themselves were found, were missing and thus incapable of being examined with modern equipment. This book tracks the effort to find the scrolls, or at the very least determine whether or not they were forged by digging deeper into the story than had been done before.
The book was a fascinating read, if you are into the history of Biblical Archaeology in general and what drives those who enter the field. The history of Shapira is mostly a history of that trade, and the detective work to discover who bought the scrolls, and where they might be made for compelling reading. I found myself caught up in the mystery, and disappointed when ultimately there wasn't much more said about it.
The book is good, if a trifle disappointing in the end. I'd be curious to read about more missing manuscripts and the efforts to find them, and certainly hope to in the future. Missing books are a bit of a passion of mine, regardless of how it all turns out in the end. This isn't a book I'd recommend to everyone, but to those interested in the topic it is likely an interesting, relatively quick read.
The book was a fascinating read, if you are into the history of Biblical Archaeology in general and what drives those who enter the field. The history of Shapira is mostly a history of that trade, and the detective work to discover who bought the scrolls, and where they might be made for compelling reading. I found myself caught up in the mystery, and disappointed when ultimately there wasn't much more said about it.
The book is good, if a trifle disappointing in the end. I'd be curious to read about more missing manuscripts and the efforts to find them, and certainly hope to in the future. Missing books are a bit of a passion of mine, regardless of how it all turns out in the end. This isn't a book I'd recommend to everyone, but to those interested in the topic it is likely an interesting, relatively quick read.
November 29, 2020
**SPOILER ALERT**: The Lost Book of Moses is a very entertaining 'whodunnit'-meets-Biblical scholarship mashup. The author, son of a noted biblical scholar himself, was well-equipped to write it. In the end, I'm not sure I accept the author's negative judgement (and those of a number of scholars) regarding the authenticity of the lost Deuteronomy fragments. The various arguments in support of that judgement are strong, to be sure, but absent the actual manuscript -- and the ability to subject it to both modern scientific and text-critical techniques -- final judgement, I think, must be deferred. It's entirely plausible that the 19th century dealer whose life-and-times this book chronicles may have been both a fraud and a highly skilled forger; it seems equally plausible, however, that the fragments said dealer attempted to validate and sell were, like the Qumran texts discovered decades later, the remnants of a genuine non-standard Biblical manuscript. Odds are -- for all the reasons Tigay notes -- the fragments were faked. But odds don't seal a deal; the door remains ajar. And considering the extreme unlikelihood that the fragments in question will ever reappear, odds are this door will never close. Whatever the ultimate truth of the story Tigay tells, the story is a fascinating one, and Tigay tells it well. I greatly enjoyed this book.
July 6, 2017
This is as close as it can get to a real life "Da Vinci Code" style thriller. The narrative style of Chanan Tigay keeps the reader engaged throughout. It's a page turner in the true sense of the word. In equal measure entertaining and enlightening regarding Judaism/Christianity.
Apart from the narrative style, what I admired in his writing was the nuanced character portrayal of a flawed and often controversial figure in biblical archaeology. Fleshing out a living and breathing character out of fragments of news articles, auction catalogues, references in fictional works and more often through a biased portrayal in news/memoirs is nothing short of a monumental challenge. The author does all this and gives an insight into the tough and demanding world of journalistic research. Reminded me of a modern day Indiana Jones, only whose journey is through cities across the globe and museums rather than through fantastical ruins or dense jungles. The author also does a great job of portraying this against the backdrop of the colonial powers' tussle for control on their subject countries - Control over both their natural and historical possessions.
Would highly recommend this to anyone with even a passing interest in history/religion.
Apart from the narrative style, what I admired in his writing was the nuanced character portrayal of a flawed and often controversial figure in biblical archaeology. Fleshing out a living and breathing character out of fragments of news articles, auction catalogues, references in fictional works and more often through a biased portrayal in news/memoirs is nothing short of a monumental challenge. The author does all this and gives an insight into the tough and demanding world of journalistic research. Reminded me of a modern day Indiana Jones, only whose journey is through cities across the globe and museums rather than through fantastical ruins or dense jungles. The author also does a great job of portraying this against the backdrop of the colonial powers' tussle for control on their subject countries - Control over both their natural and historical possessions.
Would highly recommend this to anyone with even a passing interest in history/religion.
April 2, 2022
According to goodreads, I read this before, but I don't remember a thing, so let's just assume I never did. Chanan Tigay is the son of a prominent Deuteronomy scholar, and inherited his father's fixation on the book, but with a journalists' nose for controversy. This was kind of a fun accomplishment for me, because it was my first time reading a full book in my academic field (though it is not, strictly, an academic book) since finishing my doctorate, so it kind of marks the end of my burnout. It is a fun and quirky read, and Tigay does a good job making it seem like a detective story, though (with a little distance) it is a very strange obsession--it's just one manuscript, even though I guess it has some serious source-critical implications (but again, who cares about source-criticism). One thing that's worth keeping in mind is that last year, two people wrote books (one of whom is a pretty serious scholar) trying to rehabilitate the Shapira Deuteronomy MSS as real, for all they are lost. For me, the fact that all these (men) are freaking out about the text is more interesting than anything else--what is it about this manuscript, and Shapira, that sets people off?
February 7, 2022
Giving this book the benefit of the doubt with 4 stars - it is very engaging. It takes the reader through a long and complicated story pretty deftly. I found the parts where the author was searching and seeking the "oldest Bible" easier to follow and more exciting. The historic sections could feel convoluted and complicated and lost me a bit. The ending has a little surprise, which is nice, but then ends abruptly. Perhaps due to a long stretched publisher deadline, there is not as much detail on verifying the final finding, or closing the circle with his contacts and fellow Shapira-holics, or the Shapira hers, or really anything.
This is a book written by a journalist, not an archaeologist. That might be why the journalist's trade gets warmer treatment than the archeologists'? But I still recommend the book as an interesting side journey into a time and place that really no longer exists.
This is a book written by a journalist, not an archaeologist. That might be why the journalist's trade gets warmer treatment than the archeologists'? But I still recommend the book as an interesting side journey into a time and place that really no longer exists.
January 2, 2024
Secara tak sengaja terpinjam buku penulisan Chanan Tigay, seorang Yahudi yang sedang mencari kebenaran samada Bible tertua ujud atau sebaliknya, dari rak pemulangan buku di Perpustakaan Kuala Lumpur.
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Antara keratan2 kulit yang ditemui oleh MS Shapira, seorang Yahudi yang menukar agama ke Kristian, terdapat penulisan kalam alkitab yang agak sama dengan buku kelima Bible- the Deuteronomy.
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Dapatlah serba sedikit info baru tentang kitab yang dipegang oleh bangsa Yahudi dan Nasrani dimana kelicikan dan kedegilan mereka menulis semula kitab Taurat & Injil menyebabkan bermacam versi kitab ini dihasilkan. Katanya 5 buku sudah ditemui, tetapi buku 6 dan 7 masih hilang dan sedang dicari oleh para arkeologi. Tragic ending MS Shapira ni.. bunuh diri kerana kekecewaan yang mendalam terhadap tuduhan orang yang menuduh beliau memalsukan keratan kulit bertulisan kalam dari petikan Bible.
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Antara keratan2 kulit yang ditemui oleh MS Shapira, seorang Yahudi yang menukar agama ke Kristian, terdapat penulisan kalam alkitab yang agak sama dengan buku kelima Bible- the Deuteronomy.
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Dapatlah serba sedikit info baru tentang kitab yang dipegang oleh bangsa Yahudi dan Nasrani dimana kelicikan dan kedegilan mereka menulis semula kitab Taurat & Injil menyebabkan bermacam versi kitab ini dihasilkan. Katanya 5 buku sudah ditemui, tetapi buku 6 dan 7 masih hilang dan sedang dicari oleh para arkeologi. Tragic ending MS Shapira ni.. bunuh diri kerana kekecewaan yang mendalam terhadap tuduhan orang yang menuduh beliau memalsukan keratan kulit bertulisan kalam dari petikan Bible.
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March 25, 2024
An almost addictively readable text and a truly fascinating investigation. Author Chanan Tigay skilfully blends traditional reportage and first-person narrative to present a mystery worthy of obsession. Usually, when I'm reading books with a strong archeological theme, I'm often pausing my reading to look up a site or an artifact on Wikipedia. But as Tigay chronicled the tale of Moses Shapira, and his own journey tracking Shapira down, I found that I stopped going to Wikipedia because I didn't want to accidentally spoil the end of Tigay's story.
Tigay presents himself as both an aw-shucks socially awkward type, but also as a dogged journalist obsessed with finding the truth. I couldn't think of a more relatable subject to follow through an academic investigation of allegedly ancient books, artifacts, and tragedy.
Tigay presents himself as both an aw-shucks socially awkward type, but also as a dogged journalist obsessed with finding the truth. I couldn't think of a more relatable subject to follow through an academic investigation of allegedly ancient books, artifacts, and tragedy.
June 12, 2017
Oh, my, what a tale! Think Indiana Jones without the supernatural episodes.
In the 1880's, a man claimed to have obtained manuscripts from a Bedouin who found them in a cave near the Dead Sea. It contained a record of Deuteronomy vastly predating any existing biblical record - if it was authentic. Local scholars of the time dismissed it as a hoax. Then seventy years later after numerous, very genuine, scrolls were found under similar circumstances, niggling questions grew. Were they the real thing and where were they now? This chase to find the scrolls intertwines with the original story of their discovery kept me on the edge of my chair.
Highly recommended.
In the 1880's, a man claimed to have obtained manuscripts from a Bedouin who found them in a cave near the Dead Sea. It contained a record of Deuteronomy vastly predating any existing biblical record - if it was authentic. Local scholars of the time dismissed it as a hoax. Then seventy years later after numerous, very genuine, scrolls were found under similar circumstances, niggling questions grew. Were they the real thing and where were they now? This chase to find the scrolls intertwines with the original story of their discovery kept me on the edge of my chair.
Highly recommended.
February 12, 2018
Chanan Tigay’s engaging account of his international search for Moses Wilhelm Shapira’s lost Deuteronomy scrolls created for me that most pleasurable reading dilemma. I was keen to discover what the outcome of his quest would be; but the reading experience was so enjoyable I didn’t want it to end.
Any tale about antiquarian books and manuscripts interests me. But this one was especially satisfying. I enjoyed following Professor Tigay’s research trail, his analysis and persistence. His Sydney visit in pursuit of a valuable clue was particularly interesting – and entertaining.
I liked the way Chanan Tigay told his story. With his kind of writing style, it does not surprise that he is an award-winner.
My only criticism, a minor one, is that the book lacked photos that, presumably, would be still available from some of the institutions involved. For example, motivated to read more, I obtained a copy of JM Allegro’s The Shapira Affair (W.H. Allen, London, 1965) and was delighted to find eight pages of plates.
Any tale about antiquarian books and manuscripts interests me. But this one was especially satisfying. I enjoyed following Professor Tigay’s research trail, his analysis and persistence. His Sydney visit in pursuit of a valuable clue was particularly interesting – and entertaining.
I liked the way Chanan Tigay told his story. With his kind of writing style, it does not surprise that he is an award-winner.
My only criticism, a minor one, is that the book lacked photos that, presumably, would be still available from some of the institutions involved. For example, motivated to read more, I obtained a copy of JM Allegro’s The Shapira Affair (W.H. Allen, London, 1965) and was delighted to find eight pages of plates.
February 28, 2018
An engrossing adventure and mystery. Tigay is a great storyteller and weaves a tale about the quest for the world's oldest bible. The book provides a history of the Bible and related relics and also a breakdown of the mystery surrounding the questionable provenance, possible forgery, and disappearance of the purported oldest version of Deuteronomy. The book is a blend of history, archaeology, religion, and biography. Fans of historical writers like Larson and Dash will enjoy this book. The book can also be enjoyed by the religious and non-religious alike for the history and archaeology.
June 28, 2021
Interesting read about a historical episode I'd never heard of--the Shapira hoax. Lots of interesting information about Biblical archeology in the early 19th century. Shapira is a resident of Jerusalem who become embroiled in the selling of fake artifacts/manuscripts. The author (many, many years removed from the actual events) traces Shapira's life and actions. It's an intriguing mystery with many twists and turns, and I liked following in the author's footsteps, but he does bring in a LOT of historical people. It gets pretty confusing, but still an intriguing read.
August 26, 2023
What a great story. No spoilers, but Chanan Tigay is on a global search for what just might be the 19th century version of the Dead Sea Scrolls -- and he's not the only one looking for them. Moses Wilhelm Shapira, a dealer in ancient Near Eastern artifacts, showed up in London in 1883 with what he said was the world's oldest Biblical text. The materials were identified as a forgery at the time, but what if they weren't? Absolutely worth reading - a wonderful mystery story, full of plane trips, helpful strangers, and lots of dead ends.
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