The Copper Scroll Project: An Ancient Secret Fuels the Battle for the Temple Mount

by Shelley Neese, Jim Barfield (Foreword)

The Copper Scroll Project tells the story of an Oklahoma arson investigator, Jim Barfield, who sets off on a decade-long quest to uncover Qumran’s secrets―the lost treasures of the Jerusalem temple―and show the world that the Dead Sea Scrolls were merely the tip of the archaeological iceberg. Through a series of breakthroughs and setbacks, Barfield’s Copper Scroll Project becomes inadvertently tethered to Israel’s modern battle for the Temple Mount. The Copper Scroll Project is the one remaining witness to a covert operation to rescue Temple tithes and vessels before foreign invaders overran Jerusalem’s city gates. Could secrets contained in the most enigmatic of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Copper Scroll, hold the keys to one of the greatest treasures in Israel’s history?

Genres: Nonfiction

348 pages, Paperback

Published October 30, 2018

About the author

Shelley Neese is the Vice President of The Jerusalem Connection International (TJCI), a nonprofit Christian organization based out of Washington DC. TJCI’s mission is to inform, educate, and activate support for Israel and the Jewish people. Shelley lived and studied in Israel from 2000-2004, where she learned conversational Hebrew and received her M.A in Middle Eastern Studies from Ben Gurion University of the Negev. Shelley has been present for the most central events in The Copper Scroll Project over the last decade, including the initial excavation at Qumran in 2009. She currently resides in Washington DC with her four children and husband, a Lieutenant Colonel and family physician in the U.S. Air Force.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book. Love the way it's written. Never knew anything about the Copper Scroll before. Will be looking forward to seeing what plays out in Israel's future.

[kristie bento · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book

It is amazing how we are all experiencing a increase in knowledge. This book helps me understand the quagmire that has happened in Jerusalem and the middle East. It reassures me that no matter how complicated life gets, God is in control

[LAMONT D · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just started following our author and heard about this project. It was a fascinating read that I had known nothing about until this book. It certainly highlights the tremendous challenge in the land of Israel to uncover the history of that tiny piece of property, especially as it relates to the Jews. I cannot wait to physically visit Israel next year which challenges me to learn as much I can about the history of the land before I go. On the surface I do not buy into all the hype per se, but yet it is so fascinating what has been discovered these last few years in spite of the odds and all the politics and opposition.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This non-fiction book reads more like a novel. It is the story of Jim Barfield and how he has descaled the secrets of the Copper Scroll (one of the Dead Sea Scrolls that is made out of copper instead of parchment). He then searches for the Temple treasures to see if he has correctly interpreted the Copper Scroll's code. That's all I'll tell so I won't give anything away. It's the story of Barfield's journey.

[Daisylotz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Excellent organization of information and a compelling and fascinating read. Ancient and modern Israel both come alive for the reader.

[Walter Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting story about the Copper Scroll treasure. It is a whodunit that mostly stays on the rails. It only goes off course when Jeremiah and the first temple are brought in. The intrigue with the Israeli government not wanting anything to do with the Temple really adds to the mystery. While this story is complete, we know the Copper Scroll and its treasure still has a future. Hopefully I will live to see some of it excavated.