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| Archaeological Data
For more Study See Importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls Qumran Location Qumran Caves Dead Sea Scroll Shrine, Jerusalem Dead Sea Landscape Introduction Location Ruins The men involved in the excavations were G. L.
Harding and Roland de Vaux. During five campaigns between 1951-1956,
they uncovered the ruins of an elaborate central building complex.
Some of the buildings included towers, assembly halls, kitchens, storehouses,
extensive waterway with large cisterns. The variety of structures
included stables, workshops, pools for baptizing and three cemetaries.
The Commentary on Habakkuk
In the floor of one of the rooms was found a jar
which was identical with those in which the Bedouin had found the manuscript
in Cave I where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Obviously there
is a connection with the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Qumran Community.
The most outstanding find would be the scriptorium or writing room, measuring
43 by 13 feet. In this room were the ruins of a narrow masonry table
together with long benches attached to the walls. Also three inkwells
were found, one of which contained dried ink. This must have been
where many of the DeadSea Scrolls were written. Copies of scripture's
were made here as well as interpretations of them.
The structure of the building was made larger
than those used for a private dwelling and it also possessed appropriate
industrial buildings necessary to the community.
Essenes It is apparent that Qumran is one of the several
settlements for the Essene sect. They withdrew to the wilderness
of Judea because of the prophecy 'The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness,
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make stright in the desert a highway for
our God.' (Isaiah 40:3)
According to Josephus representing the Essenes, and the Manual of Discipline representing the Qumram community, both required a two year apprenticeship before admitting women to their order. A number of other regulations as voting, eating seating, and speaking were also common denominators between the Essenes and Qumran. A most significant similarity between the Essenes
and the Qumran community was the practice bathing and baptism. The
water was brought down from the spring at Ain Freskha by a water supply
system and ran into the city by an aqueduct into a number of pools, cisterns
and a reservoir.
From these facts it can easily be established that the community was a monastery and a communal society. The Essene sect occupied the city and placed the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Qumran Caves.
As a result of the finds of pottery and coins in the ruins, the community has been dated from 135 B.C. to A.D. 68. There is also a distinct and separate occupation of the community. The Essenes first occupied the community from about 135 B.C. until their life was interrupted by an earthquake in 31 B.C. This is known because of the report Josephus made of an earthquake which shook Judea in the spring of 31 B.C. and the archaeological evidence of a twenty-inch drop through the eastern end of the community ruins. The Essenes had to move out of this community when their walls and water systems were destroyed. Then about 4 B.C. the community returned; the buildings were repaired, the tower was reinforced, shaken walls were buttressed, new rooms were erected, and industrial kilns were constructed. Thereafter, the secluded life of prayer and study at Qumran was resumed on a larger scale. Second Occupation The second period of occupation was by a Roman garrison between 68 A.D. and 86 A.D. Just before the Romans arrived, the members of the community hid their scrolls in the caves around the area. Last Occupation The last period of occupation was by the Jewish insurgents during the second war against Rome, A.D. 132-135. The ruins were used for a stronghold or a hiding place. Qumran reveals some military significance in the fact that they had a tower to defend themselves. It must have been some sort of stronghold because of the Roman garrison's occupation for 18 years. Economically, the city was self-sufficient which is evident from the archaeological discoveries of the rooms. pottery, kiln, reservoir, mill and all their stores.
Cultural Importance
Religious History The Founder of the community was a priest called the 'The Teacher of Righteousness, to whom God made known all the mysteries of the words of His servants the prophets.'' They looked to a time of God's judgment in the immediate future when the wicked would be punished and the righteous rewarded. They held to a view that the time of the Messiah was at hand. Roman persecution especially by the cross drove them into the wilderness to seek protection and allow them the seclusion they needed to study and copy their scrolls. Monastery Life They built the monastery at Qumran and retired
there to study the law and await the end of the days. They turned their
worldly possessions over to the community as did the early Christians.
It is evident also that baptism played an important role in their religious
life even teaching repentance as a necessary pre-requisite to baptism.
They believed that only the members of their sect could be saved by God,
as they were the elect of God. They were governed by very strict disciplinary
rules.
The Essenes studied and interpreted scripture which can be seen in the discoveries of the scriptorium and the caves. The caves were very profitable in showing the work of the Essenes. Some of the scrolls which were found were: The Manual of Discipline
They led a very communal life made evident in the fact that in the storage room only the tableware of the community was discovered. There was no evidence of cooking utensils here. Social Life
Religious Importance
Old Testament
These discoveries will also aid in the knowledge
of Hebrew lexicography, grammar and syntax along with the Greek translation
of the Old Testament. It is difficult to measure the impact that either
the Qumran community or the Dead Sea Scrolls has had, or will have on linguistics
and biblical studies. It is perhaps the most significant discovery to come
out of the middle east in the field of Biblical studies.
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