Dead Sea - a salt sea in southern Palestine, at the lowest point on the earth. In the Old Testament it is called the "Salt Sea." - Gen. 14:3; Josh. 3:16 - Plain, the Sea of the Arabah - Deut. 3:17 - and the Eastern Sea - Ezek. 47:18; Joel 2:20 - The Arabic name is Bahr Lut, meaning "Sea of Lot." But from the second Christian century onward, Dead Sea has been the most common name for this unusual body of water.

The topography of the Middle East is dominated by a geologic fault that extends from Syria south through Palestine, all the way to Nyasa Lake in east-central Africa. The Dead Sea is located at the southern end of the Jordan valley at the deepest depression of this geologic fault. With a water level approximately 390 meters below sea level, the surface of the Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth. At the deepest point of the sea, on the northern corner at the foot of the Moab mountains, the bottom is 390 meters deeper still.

The dimensions of the sea change from year to year. There are many factors, such as rainfall and irrigation, contribute to this. In general, however, the Dead Sea measures approximately 80 kilometers in length and average 15 to 16 kilometers in breath, yielding a surface area of from 600 to 640 square kilometers.

A large peninsula known as El-Lisan ["the Tongue"] protrudes into the sea from the southeast shore. It extends to within 3 kilometers of the western shore and is located some 24 kilometers from the southern tip. Throughout the centuries this tongue separated the sea into two parts with a channel of water flowing between them on the west. From the depths of the northeast corner, the bottom of the sea quickly shelves and rises southward. Thus, the area of the sea south of El-lisan is extremely shallow. It is here that the destroyed cities of Sodom and Gomorrah most probably lie. - Gen. 19:24-29 -

Except on the north where the Jordan River enters, the Dead Sea is nearly surrounded by hills and cliffs. From these hills, streams feed fresh water to the Salt Sea. In addition to these year-round streams and the Jordan River, waters flow into the sea from the winter torrents of several seasonal streams.

These water source pour millions of gallons of water each day into the Dead Sea. However, the extreme hot temperatures and sparse rainfall (about 2 inches a year) cause an enormous evaporation rate which has kept the water level constant over the years. Due the increase irrigation by Israeli government, the volume of water flowing into the Dead Sea from the Jordan River is decreasing each year. Thus, the level of the sea goes down proportionately. As a result, "the Tongue" currently stretches all the way across the sea, completely separating the northern portion from the southern portion. Evidence of a Roman road across the peninsula has been discovered, indicating that at other periods in its history the Dead Sea was shallow enough for traffic to cross its southern tip.

It is because the Dead Sea has several watercourse entrances but no exists, it is indeed a "dead" sea. Although lush vegetation can be found at the mouths of these tributaries, the water itself is very salty. This is because it flows through nitrous soil and is fed by sulphurous springs. With the absence of an outlet the water from the Dead Sea is left to evaporate, leaving behind most of its minerals. Thus, it magnesium chloride, salt and other minerals. Although the value of these chemicals is enormous, making the Dead Sea the richest mineral deposit on earth, the cost of retrieving these minerals is also high. Potash extraction has been one of the most successful operations. But as technology increases, the interest in "mining" the Dead Sea will also increase.

The salt and mineral content of the Dead Sea constitutes more than 25% of the water. This compares with about 6% mineral content in the ocean. The specific gravity of the water is greater than that of the human body, making it next to impossible for any person to sink in the Dead Sea.

The Dead Sea formed part of Israel's eastern border. - Num. 34:12; Ezek. 47:18 - In addition to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, many other historical and biblical events occurred along its shores. The springs of EN GEDI provided a refuge for David in his flight from king Saul. - 1Sam. 24:1 - In the Valley of Salt south of the sea, David and Amaziah won victories over the Edomites. - 1Chro. 18:12; 2Kin. 14:7 - Here, too, Jehoshaphat encountered the Edomites. - 2Chro. 20:1-2; 2Kin. 3:8-9 - The last days of Herod the Great were spent on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea at the hot sulphur springs of Callirhoe. At Machaerus, just to the southeast, his son Herod Antipas imprisoned John the Baptist.

The prophet Ezekiel saw a vision of a river issuing from the Temple sanctuary in Jerusalem and flowing to the desert sea, the Dead Sea. And the prophet Zechariah wrote: "And in that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea [Dead Sea] and half of them toward the western sea [the Mediterranean Sea]" - Zech. 14:8 -Prophetically this is apparently a reference to the "pure river of water of life" said to flow from the throne of God in Saint John's vision. - Rev. 22:1-2 -

The great fortress of Masada guarded the southern approaches toward Palestine, perhaps the road crossing from Moab to Judea at El-Lisan. Herod refortified this strong fortress which finally fell in A.D. 73 to the Romans under Flavius Silva. He also refortified the Maccabean stronghold at Machaerus on the eastern shore.

The discovery of the DEAD SEA SCROLLS in caves on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea near QUMRAN has mustered renewed historical interest in this area. The remains of the ESSENE community at Qumran and the search for scrolls in the more than 250 surroundings caves focused the eyes of the world on a tiny sea devoid of marine life but bristling with mineral potential and archaeological promise.

The popular name for about 500 Dead Sea scrolls and fragments of scrolls which were found in 11 caves surrounding Khirbet ("ruin of") Qumran on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea in 1947 and shortly thereafter. Taken together, these leather and PAPYRUS [primitive paper] manuscripts were a find without precedent in the history of modern archaeology. The Dead Sea Scrolls have helped ( 1 ) to establish the date of a stabilized Hebrew Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible as no later than A.D. 70. ( 2 ) to reconstruct the history of the Holy Land from the fourth century B.C. to A.D. 135. ( 3 ) to clarify the relationship between Jewish religious traditions and early Christianity.

The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered when a Bedouin shepherd, who was looking for a stray goat, discovered several large clay pots containing ancient scrolls on the floor of a cave above Wadi Qumran. After some delay, several scholars were shown the manuscripts by dealers in antiquities. When it was determined that these manuscripts were extremely old, scholars began their search in earnest.

Slowly other valuable scrolls were found, gathered, carefully unrolled, and published. It took 20 years ( 1947-1967 ) to bring together the various texts of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and because the Scrolls were written between 250 B.C. and A.D. 68, they offer an invaluable source for understanding the beliefs, community life, and use of the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible of one group of Jews who were active during the time Jesus lived. Jericho, a town Jesus visited, is only 13 kilometers north of Khirbet Qumran. Some scholars believe that some of the early followers of the Lord Jesus Christ or John the Baptist may have come from the Qumran Community. Some of the writings of this community remind the reader of the themes of "repentance" and the "coming of the new age" that were preached by John the Baptist and Jesus. However, there is no evidence that the followers of John the Baptist and Jesus joined the Qumran group.

The writings are the work of Jewish sectarians, written mainly in Hebrew, with a few in Aramaic and some fragments in Greek. Some of the scrolls were written to protest the lawless priest who was in charge of the Temple worship in Jerusalem. It is likely that the main reason for building this monastic-like community near the Dead Sea was to get away from the "wicked priest" and to hear the words of the "teacher of righteousness." Not all of the Dead Sea Scrolls have been translated or published. Probably the most interesting ones were found in Cave I not far from Qumran. Seven scrolls were found preserved in fairly good condition. They had been carefully stored in large clay jars and include:

1. - A complete manuscript of the Book of Isaiah in Hebrew.

2. - A partial manuscript of Isaiah in Hebrew. ( The two Isaiah scrolls are easy to read, even after 1920 years, and are the earliest copies of Isaiah in existence. )

3. - 'The Community Rule' or 'The Manual of Discipline' from Cave I, reveal the laws that governed the life of the Qumran community.

4. - 'The Thanksgiving Psalms' are similar to the biblical psalms. They praise God the Creator for His protection against evil: "I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, for Thou hast put my soul in the bundle of life and hedged me against all the snares of corruption."

5. - 'The War Scroll' is a interesting collection of plans for the final battle between the "sons of light" and the "sons of darkness" or between the "army of God" and the "army of Belial" [The Evil One] Such information as that of religious offices during wartime, recruitment, the sequence of campaigns, and the order of deploying battle squadrons is included.

6. - A commentary on the Book of Habakkuk known as the 'Pesher on Habakkuk' was written to demonstrate how the prophet Habakkuk who lived in the sixth century B.C. was actually writing for the battle of the last days, when the wicked would be defeated by the righteous. The author of 'Pesher of Habakkuk' made direct references from Habakkuk to his own day. One section has the following commentary: "And God told Habakkuk to write down that which would happen to the final generation, but He did not make known to him when time would come to an end. And as for that which He said, "That he who reads may read it speedily" - Hab. 2:2 - interpreted, this concerns the Teacher of Righteousness, to whom God made known all the mysteries of the words of His servants the prophets."

7. - 'The Genesis Apocryphon' a 'commentary' on the Book of Genesis, is only partially preserved. Written around 50 B.C. in Aramaic, the common language of the Jews, it begins with the birth of Noah and documents the life and adventures of Abraham.

The seven manuscripts are typical of the scrolls found in the other caves on the west side of the Dead Sea. The material discovered includes various kinds of literature. There are numerous biblical fragments such as commentaries on Isaiah, Hosea, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Psalms 37, 45, and Genesis. Twenty-four books of the Old Testament were found in part or in full.

Apocryphal and pseudepigraphal writings were found scattered in various caves. Fragments of Tobit and Ecclesiasticus [Sirach] from the Apocrypha give evidence of the importance of these works for the community. The Book of Jubilees, the Book of Enoch, some of the Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, the Sayings of Moses, the Vision of Amram, the Psalms of Joshua, the Prayer of Nabonidus, and the Book of Mysteries are a few of the pseudepigraphal works discovered. A number of hymns or psalms that were found and are included in this category are: The Hymn of the Initiates, The Book of Hymns ( The Thanksgiving Hymns ) Psalm 151, Poems from a Qumran Hymnal, Lament for Zion, and Hymns of Triumph.

The writings which were found can be listed under the following categories:

Biblical Manuscripts: Isaiah Scroll ( complete ) Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Commentaries: Genesis Apocryphon, Job, Isaiah, Hosea, Micah, Habakkuk, Psalm 37, 45.

Apocrypha: Epistle to Jeremiah, Tobit, and Ecclesiasticus/Sirach.

Pseudepigrapha: Book of Jubilees, Book of Enoch, and The Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs. ( fragments )

Previously Unknown Pseudepigrapha: Sayings of Moses, Vision of Amram, Psalms of Joshua, Daniel cycle ( The Prayer of Nabonidus ) and Book of mysteries.

Community Documents: The Manual of Discipline, Damascus Document, Thanksgiving Psalm, and War Scroll.

The examples listed here are meant to be suggestive, and not exhaustive, of the archaeological finds. Other manuscripts discovered in the Judean Wilderness, for instance, deal with a later era.

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -