In 1883, a Jerusalem antiquities dealer named Moses Shapira unveiled a remarkable find in London—an ancient scroll that appeared to be an alternate version of the book of Deuteronomy from the Bible. As he sought to sell this manuscript to the British Museum, he anticipated receiving a staggering sum of one million pounds. However, within months, he faced ruin, infamy, and ultimately, death.

Shapira arranged viewings of the manuscript, which showcased a darkened leather surface barely revealing letters in the Paleo-Hebrew script. A significant viewing occurred on July 26, 1883, attended by scholars, archaeologists, and journalists. Walter Besant, a novelist and historian, recalled Shapira's captivating presence and his assertion that this document would challenge biblical scholars and illuminate the Pentateuch.

> “He had with him, he said, a document which would simply make students of the Bible and Hebrew scholars reconsider their ways; it would throw a flood of light upon the Pentateuch; and so on. The man was a good actor; he was a man of handsome presence, tall, with fair hair and blue eyes; not the least like an ordinary Polish Jew, and with an air of modest honesty which carried one away.”

Shapira recounted an unusual tale of how he obtained the manuscript. He claimed a Bedouin had discovered it in a cave on the eastern bank of the Dead Sea, hidden among mummies. Considered a magical artifact, the scroll was stolen from its original owner, who sold it to Shapira before vanishing.

The scroll recounted the Exodus narrative but diverged significantly from the biblical account. While it mentioned a figure named Moses, the context was ambiguous. The Ten Commandments were present but differed markedly from the biblical version. For example, the canonical Deuteronomy states: “You shall not murder.” In contrast, the Shapira scroll read: “You shall not slay the soul of your brother. I am Elohim, your god.” Similarly, the command against stealing was altered to “You shall not steal the wealth of your brother. I am Elohim, your god.” Notably, the Shapira scroll included a unique commandment:

> “You shall not hate your brother in your heart. I am Elohim, your god.”

While the British Museum evaluated the Shapira fragments, they displayed them to the public, generating considerable excitement. Crowds gathered, and even the Prime Minister showed interest. Poet Robert Browning remarked to a friend about Shapira’s intriguing pieces of leather bearing portions of Deuteronomy, expressing hope for their authenticity.

However, many scholars were quick to dismiss the manuscript. The notion of a surviving manuscript from Palestine seemed implausible. Archibald H. Sayce, an Assyriology professor at Oxford, expressed skepticism, arguing that it was unreasonable to believe any sheepskin could endure the damp climate of Palestine for nearly three millennia.

> “It is really demanding too much of Western credulity to ask us to believe that in a damp climate like that of Palestine any sheepskins could have lasted for nearly 3,000 years…”

The very idea of an alternate biblical text shocked scholars and laypeople alike. Frederic G. Kenyon reflected in 1897 that these leather strips cast doubt on the entirety of the established Old Testament text.

A French expert in identifying forgeries, Charles Clermont-Ganneau, emerged to challenge Shapira's claims. Clermont-Ganneau had previously exposed some of Shapira's earlier attempts to sell forgeries, leading to embarrassment for Shapira. Undeterred, he attended the exhibition of the Shapira fragments, declaring them to be the work of a modern forger after a brief inspection, asserting that the leather originated from an existing Torah scroll.

The news spread rapidly, igniting conversations from the British Isles to America.

> “The Shapira manuscripts are pronounced by M. Clermont-Ganneau to be fraudulent. This decision by so eminent an authority has produced a sensation and has caused all sorts of critical comment.”

Despite some defense of Shapira, skepticism grew, particularly regarding the dubious origin story he provided. Critics questioned why a Bedouin would not have used the scroll as fuel if discovered. The Daily News noted that Shapira failed to demonstrate the authenticity of the manuscript or the integrity of how he came into possession of it.

The British Museum ceased its examination of the fragments, opting not to purchase what they deemed a forgery.

Shapira protested, claiming he was a victim of a trick orchestrated by Clermont-Ganneau. Subsequently, he vanished, reportedly suffering from severe mental distress. In March 1884, he checked into a hotel in Rotterdam, where he was later found dead from an apparent suicide.

In the following years, Shapira’s name occasionally surfaced. Clermont-Ganneau authored a book addressing archaeological fraud in Palestine, and French novelist Myriam Harry, known for her liberated lifestyle, penned a novel about a disillusioned antiquities dealer who ultimately took his life.

Harry’s works revealed her deep connection to Shapira; she was his daughter, Maria Shapira. Her novels chronicled her father's journey and hinted at her feelings of resentment toward the scholars who discredited him.

As years passed, the Shapira fragments remained a subject of interest. Scholars wondered if the manuscripts had been genuine and subsequently discarded. In 1965, John M. Allegro published a book discussing the fragments, while Cyrus H. Gordon suggested in 1974 that there was no doubt about their authenticity.

Recent years have seen renewed interest. Journalist Yoram Sabo produced a documentary advocating for the scroll's authenticity, consulting a psychic who claimed it was still hidden in a public space. In 2017, scholar Shlomo Guil presented a paper arguing for the scroll's legitimacy, though it was largely dismissed.

Chanan Tigay's 2016 book, The Lost Book of Moses, explored the topic further and confirmed Shapira's role in the forgery, identifying pieces of leather from his Torah scrolls.

Idan Dershowitz, a graduate student, devoted years to the subject and released findings in 2021. He argued that the Shapira scroll could not have been fabricated, as it contained linguistic features unknown in the 19th century. His examination of Shapira's papers uncovered handwritten notes indicating his efforts to transcribe the scroll, full of questions and rejected readings.

Dershowitz proposed a radical idea: rather than being a rewritten version of Deuteronomy, the Shapira text might predate the canonical version—a “Bible before the Bible.” His new translation presented a deity providing guidance to a people, but lacked the narrative richness of the biblical account, devoid of heroes like Moses and dramatic events like the Exodus.

The Shapira Deuteronomy evokes a sense of authenticity, raising questions about the nature of biblical texts and their histories.