There is a long and technical paleographic analysis of the manuscript, which adds up to this:
Overall, it would seem that this megillah, represented by the single surviving fragment of T-S A36.18, was likely written sometime during the 10th century. This is clear from comparisons with the dated ketubba fragment T-S 24.35, the midrash on Esther, and the gimel, in particular, of the Codex Babylonicus from the National Library of Russia. However, it could even be a little earlier than that based on the Bodleian's Ms. Heb. d. 26.The implications:
In conclusion, T-S 36.18 may have originally attracted attention because of its visually interesting damage pattern, but a full examination of this fragment has yielded what may be the oldest Megillat ʾEster fragment found to date.The article notes that no fragments of the Book of Esther have been recovered from the Dead Sea Scrolls.
This Geniza manuscript may be the oldest preserved of the original Hebrew. There is at least one much older Greek manuscript. And at least one earlier manuscript of a Syriac translation.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
