Since the “originals” no longer exist it is difficult to say which manuscripts would be most like them. Though not originals of the Hebrew Tanakh, the Dead Sea Scrolls have afforded some insight into what post-Exilic Jews regarded as “Reliable Source Hebrew Texts.” The Kethib Hebrew Masoretic Text (BHS) appears to be comparable in many ways to the Dead Sea Scrolls Tanakh manuscripts. However, there are some slight differences, according to scholars. The Kethib BHS Tanakh is also quite similar to the Paleo-Hebrew Samaritan Pentateuch, though again there are some differences.
As for the Alexandrian Greek Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, the Septuagint is an expositor translation and is quite different than the Hebrew and Samaritan Scriptures.
Does that help answer your question?
Indeed it does. Thank you for clarifying.
I would first remind people that transcribing was considered a professional career in antiquity. Obviously no printing presses or photocopy machines existed, and so, it was the scribe who was trained to copy documents. In an age where illiteracy was prevalent, the scribe was the exception to the rule.
Now, you ask which manuscript is probably the most accurate. Since we don't have the originals, finding out which documents are the most accurate is difficult to ascertain, for the simple fact that there is nothing to contrast it with except other documents of the same nature.
But we should remember that the task for the scribe was usually an undertaking assigned to a devout Jew. That would at least insinuate that the scribes believed they were dealing with the very Word of God and therefore, were extremely careful in transposing documents. And from what we do know, this was an arduous and meticulous task, exhibiting detail and reproof.
Now, on to your specific question. The earliest complete copy of the Hebrew Tenakh dates from 900 AD, that is until the Dead Sea Scrolls were uncovered. What we know of the transcription process was that it involved a numbering system. The texts were all in capital letters, and there was no punctuation or paragraphs. Because of this, the Massoretes would copy any given book of the Tenakh, and when they completed it, they would count the total number of letters. Then they would find the middle of the book by extrapolate backwards using the number/letter system. If even one ”jot’ (equivalent to an apostrophe) or ”tittle’ (equivalent to the dotting of an ”i’ or crossing of a ”t’) were missing, they would take the document and throw it away. If the book were not an exact replica, they would start over. Not to mention, that at least two scribes wrote together for added assurance. All the present copies of the Hebrew text are in remarkable agreement. Moreover, comparisons of the Massoretic text to the Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate revealed the careful transposing. Very little deviation has ever been found.
BUT, as you have shared, there are some differences between them, which obviously means that they are not an exact match. That means some textual errors were indeed made. So, that still didn't answer which document was the closest to the original. The DSS helped to clear up some of the discrepancies.
Where the DSS ties into the Massoretic text is shown in the comparison. The Essenes and Masorites were extremely close to one another in accuracy. Only 17 letters were found different by contrast. You might think that is a lot, but when I say they were different, it’s like the difference between "honor" and "honour." They produced no change to the meaning of the text whatsoever. Out of it all, only one word was truly questionable, but even it did not change the effect of the meaning. Therefore, we can easily deduce that the Massorites were extremely loyal in their copying of the text.
It is my understanding that, although the Septuagint is impressive, the Massoretic text was more accurate to the DSS, which, again, is the earliest known transcript. Whether any of them is close to the original is of course speculative, however, given what I've gone over previously, it makes it more reasonable that the Bible has generally been well preserved.
“I know where I am and who I am. I'm on the brink of disillusionment, on the eve of bitter sweet. I'm perpetually one step away from either collapse or rebirth. I am exactly where I need to be. Either way I go towards rebirth, for a total collapse often brings a rebirth." -Andrew Jaramillo
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