The next stop on our road trip through Israel took us to the site of the famous Dead Sea Scrolls, Qumran in the West Bank. This is where a Jewish sect lived more than 2000 years ago, scribbling text on 900 documents and carefully hiding them in pots. How magical is that?
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Road trip in the West Bank
Our road trip, which started in Eilat and proceeded to Dead Sea and Masada, then went on to Qumran. The map shows the route from Masada to Qumran, which is mostly through the West Bank. Although there is unrest in this area, travelling this route is not a problem. However, it is advisable to check the current security situation before travelling.
Qumran
On a dry plateau about 3 kilometres from the northwest shore of the Dead Sea lies the ancient settlement of Qumran. It is believed that Qumran was built around 134-104 BC, and then destroyed by Roman warriors in 68. It also contains the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.
Bedouins find the Dead Sea Scrolls
In 1947, a group of Bedouins were herding their goats by the Dead Sea. One of the goats got lost and when the Bedouins went to look for the lost goat, they found a cave. They threw a stone into the cave and heard a strange echo. They then climbed inside and found several pots filled with parchments wrapped in linen cloth. A total of 900 scrolls of text had been found after more than 2000 years of oblivion...!
What did the Dead Sea Scrolls say?
So what were the secrets in all these scrolls? Well, they seem to have been mainly Old Testament texts, but also rules of life, poetry, hymns, Christian texts and commentaries on biblical texts.
How did people live in the qumran?
Archaeological excavations show that the settlement included large water cisterns, ritual baths, a dining hall, earthenware kilns and burial sites. Those who lived here belonged to a special Jewish sect, which resembled a monastic society. Mostly men lived here under strict religious conditions. The men took ritual baths twice a day and in the evenings they worked on their sacred texts ...
Visit Qumran?
If you want to visit Qumran yourself, you can read more about opening hours, guided tours and other practical information at Qumran Park website. Also check out Peter's film on Qumran!
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Matts Torebring says:
It's fantastic to be able to experience what happened, in the place and location that you do. What a job you do, to reproduce what happened in text, pictures and film.
06 January 2018 - 8:45
Helena says:
Fantastic places to experience, really! Just as you write, it's a lot of work with text and pictures, but at the same time we experience everything again then and get a reason to read on a little more 🙂 .
06 January 2018 - 10:22
Across the board says:
There are exciting places to visit
06 January 2018 - 9:32
Helena says:
Can only agree! 🙂
06 January 2018 - 10:22
Ditte says:
Great that you came here! And a great piece of history it is. I remember the visit to Qumram and recognised myself in your pictures and Peter's film.
Stay well!
06 January 2018 - 9:52
Helena says:
I understand that you remember your visit here well, Ditte, these places are not easily forgotten 😉.
06 January 2018 - 10:23
Ama de casa says:
What a cool road trip you are doing! Cool with those found scrolls. Wondering how they actually matched the "Old Testament" that was valid in 1947? The stories should have been spliced on some in 2000 years... 🙂 ðŸ™'
But I still think you could give a little credit to that goat - at least it was his relative who made sure the scrolls were found 😉.
Have a nice Epiphany!
06 January 2018 - 10:30
Helena says:
The goat who found the scrolls should definitely get some credit, but his living relative ... well 😉 And probably the stories have changed, but apparently still relatively similar if I understand correctly. Amazingly enough. Personally, I would have added some dramatic details 😉.
06 January 2018 - 11:49
Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:
Interesting reading.
06 January 2018 - 11:05
Helena says:
Glad you enjoyed our post! Interesting place to visit! 🙂
06 January 2018 - 11:49
åsa in åsele says:
It is remarkable that they sat there and wrote down a lot of things so long ago that we can read today... now there are probably not so many of us who read the Bible, but still... quite incredible what legacy they left behind.
06 January 2018 - 13:11
Helena says:
Isn't that right? Fascinating also that they sat and wrote texts at that time, we didn't really do that here in the North ... 😉 .
06 January 2018 - 14:37
Mr Steve says:
It is a fantastic historical journey you are on. Superbly rendered by you as well. And another great film by Peter.
06 January 2018 - 13:26
Helena says:
Glad you like our stories Steve! 🙂
06 January 2018 - 14:38
Elisabeth says:
So many great things to see and experience!
06 January 2018 - 14:10
Helena says:
There are many nice things to see here! 🙂
06 January 2018 - 14:38
Thomas in the Water says:
Nice reading, but what I really miss is the information at the beginning of each article about the routes you travelled. How many miles and how long did each leg take? Thinking of doing a trip myself in the future and would like to know a little more about the distances and time.
06 January 2018 - 15:15
Helena says:
Thanks for the great feedback Thomas! I will add info about time and distances, it is of course practical to have! Haven't thought about it actually, great point! So far I can tell you that this stretch (Masada - Qumran) probably took a little less than an hour, maybe 45 minutes. The whole way from Eilat to Jerusalem is just over 30 miles and takes about 4 - 4.5 hours. The speed limit on most of the road is 90 km/h.
06 January 2018 - 23:17
BP says:
Absolutely fantastic! Simply unbelievable! I am so glad that I get to ride shotgun with you again and thus have the opportunity to experience the "countryside" with its unlikely history. The film was kanoooon. The goat too, even though he had nothing to do with the discovery of the reels;-)
06 January 2018 - 15:39
Helena says:
Glad you are following along and that you liked the film BP! 🙂 It is not always Peter has time to cut a film, but here it became a film! 🙂
06 January 2018 - 23:18
Annar says:
Impressed by your summary of the Qumran scrolls, while those of us who have spent our lives working with texts from this period know that everything about these documents is highly controversial and disputed. But you are two wonderful educators, thank you for that.
06 January 2018 - 23:39
Helena says:
Thanks for the great feedback Annar! It is often quite difficult to summarise briefly and simply, preferably without getting it wrong. Of course there are many different theories and interpretations when it comes to such old finds ...!
07 January 2018 - 10:53
Lena - good for the soul says:
But wow what a powerful place. Really cool with those rollers!
Hug Lena
08 January 2018 - 6:11
Helena says:
Truly a powerful place!
08 January 2018 - 19:31