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