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The Text of the Old Testament

It is believed that the Old Testament books were written originally on skins They were copied by hand. Hebrew was in square characters, from right to left with small dots or signs, variously attached for vowels (the vowel system was not introduced till the 6th century A.D.). Though copied with the greatest care, it was easily productive of various readings. Until the Captivity official copies were kept in the Temple. Afterward many copies were made for Synagogues. Apparently, in some cases, marginal notes made by copyists, were, by later copyists, incorporated into the body of the text. The invention of printing removed danger of errors in the text; and now, as a result of the work of scholars in comparing the various manuscripts, there is a recognized Hebrew text known as Massoretic.