Original Old
How come researchers did not take care of the original Old Testament?
Maybe I'm paranoid, but there is something weired here. It is time to call? Really? Because if you gave me something as important as the word of God, then I would have done so he has not lost.
In fact, it was also the subject of a NOVA episode - one of my favorites (I love this show): http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bible/program.html. You must remember that Israel was sacked, and the Jews sent into exile or slavery. Their relics were burned (including the great temple.) They saved what they could by hiding in caves. Unfortunately, when they were found, some were destroyed in ignorance. There may be many more caches there, kept in a hot desert environment and dry and waiting to be discovered.