War Scroll (1QM)
The 'War of the Sons of Light against the Sons of Darkness', a battle plan for the end of days
Found 1947 — Ta'amireh Bedouin; bought by E. L. Sukenik of the Hebrew University in November 1947; published by Yigael Yadin (1955)
Where Qumran Cave 1 (West Bank (Palestinian Territories))
Dates from Copy c. 50 BCE – 25 CE; composed 2nd–1st century BCE · Late Hasmonean to early Herodian · Late Second Temple apocalyptic expectation (Daniel 11–12)
Now at Shrine of the Book, Israel Museum, Jerusalem
How War Scroll (1QM) was found
One of the three Cave 1 scrolls Sukenik purchased in Bethlehem on the eve of the UN partition vote, with the Thanksgiving Hymns and the second Isaiah scroll.
What it is
A parchment scroll of 19 columns describing a forty-year war between the tribes of Israel and the 'Kittim' and their allies, with trumpet signals, banner inscriptions, priestly prayers and battle formations, ending with God's victory.
Why it matters for the Bible
The scroll shows how the Qumran community read Daniel's prophecies of the Kittim and the final battle (Daniel 11:30, 40–45) as a real coming war in which angels would fight beside priests. Its language of light and darkness, Belial, and the 'poor' of God's people is close to the New Testament's world of thought. It also names the archangel Michael as the champion of Israel, as Daniel 12:1 does.
The Hebrew word: be-NAY ORE
בְּנֵי אוֹר
בְּנֵי אוֹר is pronounced be-NAY ORE and means sons of light (Strong's H1121 + H216).
People this discovery connects to
- Michael — מִיכָאֵל (mee-chah-EL) — who is like God?
Places
- Kittim — כִּתִּים (kit-TEEM) — Cyprus; in the scrolls, the Romans
Events
The final war of the end of days · Daniel's vision of the king of the north and the Kittim
War Scroll (1QM) in Scripture
Genesis 10:4 First mention of Kittim in Scripture.
Daniel 11:30 'Ships of Kittim' in Daniel become the Roman enemy of the War Scroll's final battle.
Daniel 12:1 Michael the great prince arises for God's people; the scroll makes Michael the leader of the sons of light.
Questions people ask
What is War Scroll (1QM)?
A parchment scroll of 19 columns describing a forty-year war between the tribes of Israel and the 'Kittim' and their allies, with trumpet signals, banner inscriptions, priestly prayers and battle formations, ending with God's victory.
When was War Scroll (1QM) discovered?
It was found in 1947 by Ta'amireh Bedouin; bought by E. L. Sukenik of the Hebrew University in November 1947; published by Yigael Yadin (1955), at Qumran Cave 1.
Where is War Scroll (1QM) today?
Shrine of the Book, Israel Museum, Jerusalem.
Which Bible verses does War Scroll (1QM) relate to?
Genesis 10:4, Daniel 11:30, Daniel 12:1.
Related discoveries
- פֵּשֶׁרHabakkuk Commentary (1QpHab)A Qumran commentary reading Habakkuk as prophecy about the Teacher of Righteousness and the Wicked Priest
- כִּכָּרCopper Scroll (3Q15)A treasure list engraved on copper, the strangest of the Dead Sea Scrolls
- מִקְדָּשׁTemple Scroll (11QTa)The longest Dead Sea Scroll, a rewritten Torah describing an ideal Temple and its laws
- תְּהִלִּיםGreat Psalms Scroll (11QPsa) with Psalm 151A Cave 11 psalter in a different order, with Psalm 151 and other hymns unknown to the Hebrew Bible
- יְשׁוּעָהGreat Isaiah Scroll (1QIsaa)The only complete biblical book among the Dead Sea Scrolls, copied around 125 BCE
- מָשִׁיחַQumran Messianic Texts (4Q521 and 4Q246)The 'Messianic Apocalypse' and the Aramaic 'Son of God' text from Cave 4
Sources
- Yadin, The Scroll of the War of the Sons of Light against the Sons of Darkness (1962)
- Digital Dead Sea Scrolls: The War Scroll