This is because the Jews' custom is reverently to destroy every copy of the Books of the Old Testament—that is, of their Bible—as soon as it becomes worn with use, or blurred with the kisses of its readers.
'This is a living Book,' they say; 'it should look new. God's Word can never grow old.'
So, year by year, they make new copies directly the old are worn out, and this they have done for long ages. And so careful have they been in making the copies, that although all was written by hand, there has practically been no alteration in the words for more than two thousand years. God had indeed well chosen the guardians of His Book.
Let us try to picture to ourselves a young scribe of those old, old days, with his dark hair and big, serious eyes, and dressed in his white robe.
He has been very patient and industrious for many months past, working early and late; now, at last, he is to be allowed to copy one of the sacred books.
'My son,' his old teacher has said, 'take heed how thou doest thy work; drop not nor add one letter, lest thou becomest the destruction of the world.'
'Oh, may the Lord keep my attention fixed, may He hold my hand that it shake not!'
So, with a prayer on his lips, the young scribe begins his work.
And it is through such patient, careful work as his that the older part of our Bible has come down to us from the half-forgotten ages of the past.