author’s original intention by consistent application of the principles that follow. Important Early Old Testament Texts and Their Significance Text Significance Date of Composition Oldest Known Copy of the Text(s) Masoretic Text Most reliable Hebrew text About AD 100 About AD 1000 Samaritan Pentateuch Early testimony to the Pentateuch, but with decidedly Samaritan slant AD 200–100 About AD 1100 Dead Sea (Qumran) Scrolls Contain at least a part of nearly every OT book; important for confirming reliability
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