Help Needed - Dead Sea Scrolls Question

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Ron Jackson | Forum Activity | Posted: Fri, Jun 8 2018 9:12 AM

I had a question about the Dead Sea Scrolls that I cannot find the answer to and didn't know if someone could help me.

I have read in several apologetic books about a comparison that was done between Isaiah Chapter 53 of the Great Isaiah Scroll and the Massoretic text.  The result of this study was that only 17 letters are different between these texts.  The majority of these differences are spelling, some are stylistic changes, such as conjunctions and 3 letters which comprise the word "light."  This information is then used to demonstrate that the scribes were accurate when copying the manuscripts and Old Testament manuscripts we have today are reliable copies of what was originally written. 

I've had a difficult time verifying this information and any sources that I find lead me to texts dated to the 1950's.  I also find it interesting that my early version of Evidence That Demands A Verdict references this comparison, but the newest release from last year does not. 

I've heard Dead Sea Scroll scholars discuss how the Scrolls demonstrate the accuracy of the scribes when copying the manuscripts, however, I never heard any reputable scholars cite the information that I have mentioned above.

Is this comparison accurate?  If so, then why isn't it referenced by reputable scholars?  I suspect that this is because it gives the impression that all the DSS have this level accuracy which isn't the case.

Any help or insights would be appreciated.

Thanks.