The Ashkar-Gilson Manuscript: Remnant of a Proto-Masoretic Model Scroll of the Torah

Abstract

The article provides a first publication of the Ashkar-Gilson manuscript, describing its main features. It argues that this manuscript, along with another, better preserved manuscript (the so-called London Manuscript), is the remnant of a 7th or 8th-century Torah scroll of exceptionally high quality. Several unique details suggest that the scroll was consulted by the Tiberian Masoretes when they developed their project of producing model codices of the Bible.