We left Masada and drove along the coast of the Dead Sea and could see the wavy, salt encrusted ridges. The Dead Sea has been receding rapidly in recent years. We could see sink holes and buildings and resorts that used to be at the water's edge, but are now stranded on land. It is the largest hypersaline lake in the world, almost 10 times saltier than an ocean and is more than 1,400 feet below sea level. Within an hour, we arrived at Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Prior to finding them, all that existed was the Aleppo Codex from 10th century. 1,000 years after that, the scrolls so closely aligned, if not exactly to the original texts from 1,000 years earlier. We had a teaching time in the only available shade and learned about the community of the Essenes, a community of men who left the Jewish people, and spent their lives copying scrolls. The Essenes lived in a village but worked on the scrolls in caves, stored in clay jars. The scrolls were written on kosher animal leather skins and papyrus, and were preserved by the dry climate and caves. Perhaps the 33 AD earthquake from Jerusalem unearthed the caves. Essenes believed in resurrection, which cause the thought that John the Baptist may have come to an Essene Community and influenced them. The Dead Sea Scrolls were aptly named since the community overlooks the Dead Sea. Essenes saw themselves as “sons of light” and all others as “sons of darkness.” The excavated site gave insight into life in the Essene community. The Refectory (left) would be where communal meals were eaten. On the right was a pottery storeroom and kitchen. We also saw a pool, cistern, and a work area where 100,000 date pits and an apparatus for the production of date honey. Below is Cave #4 where the entire Isaiah scroll was found - in tact, accurate in translation, and full (not like the fragments or scraps that are allowed to travel to museums). It was amazing to see how God perfectly preserved His Word! 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 - For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.
Amen! Thanks for reading ~ Lisa : )
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AuthorThis blog is mainly written by me (Laura Walkendorf,) and also by my parents. Archives
April 2017
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