The Oldest Complete Version of the 'Ten Commandments' to Be Displayed

The oldest complete version of the 'Ten Commandments' in the world is set to be displayed as part of an exhibition on significant milestones in human civilization at one of Israel's main museums. According to a report on May 5, by the Associated Press, this handwritten scroll, dating back approximately two thousand years, was discovered in one of the oldest libraries in the world near the Dead Sea in eastern Jerusalem (Bethlehem). 'Penina Shor' from the Israeli Cultural Heritage Administration stated that this book has never been publicly displayed in Israel and has only been shown in a few limited exhibitions abroad. The manuscript is so fragile that it will only be on display for two weeks at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, after which it will be returned to the museum's special storage, which is completely dark and has carefully controlled temperature and humidity. This book is one of fourteen items that will be showcased in an exhibition titled 'A Brief History of Humankind.' 'Tania Cohen Oziili,' the organizer of this exhibition, said: 'When we think of the first universal laws, the first moral and customary principles in history, the Ten Commandments are among the first laws that come to mind.' This exhibition includes items such as tools for hunting elephants that date back 1.5 million years, the oldest remnants of a group fire mound from 800,000 years ago, skulls discovered from the oldest family grave, and the oldest hand sickle in the world, dating back 9,000 years, symbolizing humanity's transition from nomadic hunting to agriculture and permanent settlement. According to the Associated Press, each of these items is stunningly displayed in illuminated frames in the dark exhibition hall. All these items were discovered in the land known as 'holy,' highlighting the significant and central role of this region in human history. The Israel Museum is holding this exhibition to commemorate its fiftieth anniversary. 'James Snyder,' the museum's director, stated: 'After just 50 years, we are probably one of the few museums in the world that can present such a broad picture of history based on our collection.' A 5,000-year-old tablet from Mesopotamia (between the rivers) and a 2,700-year-old coin from areas that are now part of Turkey are among other artifacts displayed in this exhibition. A handwritten and original version of the theory of relativity by Albert Einstein will conclude the exhibition.