Day 5

Home of the Essenes- Today we visited Qumran, which is located in the West Bank of Israel, next to the Dead Sea. As we approached Qumran (desert), I was amazed at the sheer rock facings so close to the water. How did these people get water out here? As we entered the Tel, we found multiple mikvahs (Jewish ritual purification baths) with elaborate water systems or aqueducts in which the ritual baths were filled. We also came across large cisterns for their potable water, but the idea that the Essenes would devote more that 3 to 1 mikvahs to cisterns conveys the passion and intensity the Essenes displayed in a repentant spirit. As we moved throughout the Tel, we came to the scribe room, where the copying of the Holy Scriptures were written. The scribes would prepare their hearts by going to the mikvah before they started, then after purified, they would all have to agree what letter was to be written. After they agreed on the letter, they would then write the letter and all would have to agree that it was written correctly. If the agreed it was correct, they would move on to the next letter. If an error was made, they would have to roll up the incorrect scroll and place it in a jar and bury it in a ganeesa (sp?), which is a ritual burial place for the holy scriptures. If God’s name was going to be written, they would return to the mikvah to repurify themselves before each letter was to be written down.

This intensity and passion of the Essenes for the scriptures spoke to me in such a powerful way. As I think about how I randomly search the scriptures for something to speak to me, I was humbled by my complacency and lack of respect for God’s word. These people devoted their lives to the accuracy and detail of every letter and I may or may not bring my bible to church on any given Sunday. As we continued on, Scott lead our group a little farther out and we came to the location of the Dead Sea scrolls, which were found between 1946-1956 in the caves surrounding the Essene community. This find, consisting of 981 different texts was a confirmation of the accuracy to the Essense translation, giving all people another opportunity to repent and believe the truth that God’s word is living and active. Our team was overjoyed that we were able to see first hand this wonderful revelation.

Empowered by hearing this beautiful testimony of God’s faithfulness, we filled up our water bottles and headed for the mountain to learn that at this very location where the Jordan River enters the Dead Sea, is the same place that Elijah went up to heaven in his chariot of fire, the Israelites entered the promise land and Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Can you imagine that these 3 monumental events all occurred at the very location that the Essenes devoted themselves to the spiritual cleansing and purification of themselves to prepare the way of our Lord!

Shalom
Patrick Freund