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The Dead Sea Scrolls CommunityThe Essenes
The Essenes
WHO:Strict Jewish sect1st century BCE – 68 CEmessianic
WHEREQumran, Jerusalem, throughout Israel
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The Essenes & the Dead Sea Scrolls
WHY IMPORTANTOldest known biblical manuscriptsSignificant firsthand glimpse into a 1st century BCE &
1st century CE Jewish communityOTHER JEWISH GROUPS besides the Essenes
SadduceesPharisees – forerunners of the rabbisZealots(1st century CE) Jesus and his first followers
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1. WHERE
Qumran
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Qumran - THEN
Qumran - NOW
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Qumran - ViewsThe watchtower
Looking south, along the shores of the Dead Sea, towards Masada
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Qumran Views – Writing room
inkwells
“the Scriptorium” or
Writing Room
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2. WHEN
150 60 1 68 70
BCE CE
1. Originated here? After Antiochus Epiphanes’ persecution
3. Originated here? Reign of Queen
Salome
68 Qumran destroyed70 Jerusalem destroyed
5 BCE – 30 CE: Jesus30 – 62 CE: James
Mid 30’s – mid 60’s: Paul70 – Destruction of Jerusalem
After 70: rabbinic JudaismAfter 70: first gospels
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2. Originated earlier?
The Teacher of RighteousnessLed by the Teacher
of RighteousnessA community of
priests, laypeopleWent into the
wilderness
Violent men have sought my life
Because I have clung to Thy Covenant.
I thank Thee, O Lord,For Thou hast fastened
Thine eye upon me.Thou has saved me
from the zeal Of lying interpreters,And from the
congregation of those
Who seek smooth things.
A few factsThe community existed for almost 200
yearsIn 68 CE, Qumran destroyed, along with
all its inhabitants.Prior to the Roman conquest, they
deposited their scrolls in jars and hid them in caves.
These were discovered in 1947, 1948.Over 800 scrolls have been found.First scholars to work on the scrolls
were Christian, largely Roman Catholic
A Sensational Find
The Dead Sea Scrolls –
The most important
biblical archeological find
of the 20th century
Why all the excitement ??
Jewish ChristianEarliest biblical
manuscriptsNew Jewish writingsNo writings from other
groups -- exceptPhilo – 1st century CEJosephus – 70/80 CETalmud – 2nd century
reflecting earlier traditions
Messianic Jewish community
Led by an inspired teacher
Strict Torah-observance
Purification ritualMeal of bread and wineTerminology –
Community of the Way; New Covenant15
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3. WHYDID THEY FORM
THIS COMMUNITY?
Why? ?
To create a congregation of the righteous
To be ready for God’s messianic kingdomWorld is evil – worst time in human history
God has to intervene soon to create a better world
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What did they Expect Would Happen?Restoration of the Davidic monarchy
Jerusalem will be the pre-eminent cityIsrael the pre-eminent state
Rule of the righteousRighteous will triumph – eternal lifeRighteous dead will be resurrectedThe unrighteous will be killed – eternal
death
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What did they Expect Would Happen?
Universal implicationsGod will be worshipped by all humanityUniversal peace
….and best of all …
Eternal life for the righteous19
How would this come about? They were actively preparing for such a world
“In the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (Isaiah 40:3)
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How would this come about ?
Some thought God would do it directly.ZAP!
Others thought that a “messiah” would help God achieve this new state of affairs
So… What’s a messiah?21
What’s a Messiah?A Messiah is a human being who
appears at the end time, when God recreates the world.
becomes the Davidic king over a restored Israel
assists God in eliminating all the unrighteous people and rulers, rewarding the righteous with eternal life.
In sum, a messiah is a world-transformer
It will be a time of unparalleled peace.22
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4. HOWWERE THE SCROLLS
DISCOVERED?
Scrolls – found in Large Jars
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1Some Key Players
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The Scrolls – Some in Fragments; Some Whole
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The Scroll Team
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“The Scrollery”
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5. WHATDO THE SCROLLS
SAY?
The Scrolls
Books of the Hebrew Bible – except Esther – OLDEST BIBLICAL MANUSCRIPTS
Own writings:Community RuleCopper ScrollTemple ScrollWar ScrollHymnsMessianic textsDamascus Scroll
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Year I •Vow to uphold Torah as interpreted by the community•Vow to separate•Studies Torah
Year II •Examined; admitted conditionally into the community, the new covenant•Property held in escrow
Year III •Full acceptance into the Community•Property reverts to the community•Admitted to the pure meal•Allowed to participate in discussions
From the Community RuleWhat awaits the righteous……It shall be healing, great peace in a
long life, and fruitfulness, together with every everlasting blessing and eternal joy in life without end, a crown of glory and a garment of majesty in unending light.
From the War ScrollThis shall be a time of salvation for the
people of God, an age of dominion for all the members of His company and everlasting destruction for all the company of Belial [=Satan]…The dominion of the Kittim [=Romans] shall come to an end and iniquity shall be vanished, leaving no remnant; for the sons of darkness there shall be no escape.
The sons of righteousness shall shine over all the ends of the earth; they shall go on shining until all the seasons of darkness are consumed and, at the season appointed by God, His exalted greatness shall shine eternally to the peace, blessing, glory, joy, and long life of all the sons of light.
From the Copper ScrollIn the vale of Achor under the stairs which go eastwards 40 cubits, a box filled with silver weighing in all 17 talentsIn the tomb of …the third, 100 gold bars.In the great cistern which is in the courtyard
of the little colonnade, at its very bottom, closed with sediment, 900 talents.
In the cistern of the esplanade which is under the stairs, 42 talents
In the cave of the old Washer’s House, on the third platform, 65 gold bars.
From the Thanksgiving PsalmsViolent men have sought my lifeBecause I have clung to Thy Covenant.
I thank Thee, O Lord,For Thou hast fastened Thine eye upon me.Thou has saved me from the zeal Of lying interpreters,And from the congregation of thoseWho seek smooth things.
From Psalms attached to the Community Rule
My eyes have gazedOn that which is eternal,
On wisdom concealed from men
On knowledge and wise design
Hidden from the sons of men
Significant SimilaritiesJesus’ First Followers
DSS CommunityMessianicTorah-observantInspired teacher:
Jesus
BaptismCommunal mealOpponents
PaulSadducees/Temple
priests
MessianicTorah-observantInspired teacher: the
Teacher of Righteousness
Water ritual – purification
Communal mealOpponents
The LiarSadducees/Temple
priests37
Why Important?
Oldest manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible
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First-hand Glimpse into 1st century Judaism1st Century BCE & 1st century CE
Helps us understand Jesus’ First Followers in Jerusalem
who shared many of their beliefs and practices
York at Qumran
Barrie lecturing at Qumran to 29 York/Atkinson
Students - 2001