Awesome video. I have started a scrapbook dedicated to my apocryphal learnings. I am very interested in this book of the war of the sons of light, as it sounds like we got our whole government system from how the way the spiritual world is set up.
The scrolls are written by what the church would call bad guys,but they are the good guys in the narratives,these scrolls and the nag hammadi library are a must read for all,the narrative will start to form....
I'm tired of hearing about the false Paradigm that Scholars love to flaunt. The real name of qumran is bethabara and this was the home of the exiled (Levite) priests along with John the Baptist. Indeed, his voice to this very day still Cries From the wilderness!! Hallelujah!
Thank you for this video. It is also believed that the Essenes were a different group of people living elsewhere, that were not the "Zakok" lineage priests and originated possibly during the Babylonian exile. There is evidence that there were families living in Qumron, and were from the rightful lineage of priests. John the Baptist probably lived among them, and Jesus himself probably spent time with them. The priests during the time of Messiah were usurpers since the times of the Maccabees and is why most true priests left Jerusalem. Either way, fascinating information.
Hi Shiryon, yes, there are other interesting arguments being advanced and considered today, especially in light of the full body of Scolls being made available to the public. Some maintain they were deposited there by people fleeing Jerusalem during the First Jewish-Roman War, that they were a group of descendants of exiled Zadok priests, that they were an early community of Christians, etc. It's also a fascinating question whether John or Jesus knew the Qumran community personally - and one that is also up for debate. I speak a little bit about the Jesus-John connection in the next video, "Part 3: The Good Book," and on these and other questions positions may shift as new evidence is weighed. Am always open to new evidence or arguments myself!
When He Instructs the Rich, Young Ruler to sell his possessions, and give to The Poor, He is talking about The Ebionites (אביונים), The Poor Ones. Referenced elsewhere in the "New Testament", too.
It is factual that Yeshua spoke against things written in the Damascus document. I do believe these were the rightful Zadok priests but they to were off coarse on some level in regards to not adding to the Torah. Only the Messiah could properly express and exemplify the spirit of Torah and in a real practical way had to correct ALL sects of Jews and there belief! When he returns I am sure he will unbridle our doctrines and beliefs as well!
@@GatheringJacobCan you give me the scripture? Bc I havent found any scripture in the NT where Jesus himself speaks against the Damascus document. Yet I have found many scriptures speaking of the coming Messiah and the New Covenant. I have the Damascus document and its like referring and references to the coming of our Lord amd Savior, Jesus Christ and the New Covenant through Jesus. New laws.
The Sons of Light were the Priests of Zadok, the righteous ones (after the order of Melchizedek. They were Levites, but they were not the everyday average Levite priests). The Sons of Zadok are spoken of often in the Old Testament, and many times in Ezekiel, specifically Ezekiel 40-44
The sons of Zadok, the Zadok priesthood was driven out of the temple & the priesthood around 150-125 BC by the Hasmonians who took over the priesthood and became the Pharisees and Sadducees, and today's rabbinical Judaism (not Israelites but rather Greeks & Edomites). The Edomites & Greeks killed many of the Zadok priests, and others fled. Much of this history is in the 4 books of the Maccabees which were so conveniently taken out of our Bible by the powers that be that did not want us to know this history, and certainly did not want us to know that the rabbinical priesthood is apostate. Qumran was one of the places they fled to, and because the priesthood had been usurped by the Edomites, they wanted to preserve and protect God's laws, commandments and calendars, which the Edomite fake jew priests changed. The "Jewish" calendar of today is not God's calendar, & was specifically designed in mockery of God's calendar to ensure that none of the Feasts were held on the correct days. The Bible talks about the priesthood changing the times and seasons. It was the fake priesthood that changed it all. God's true calendar, as protected by the Zadok priesthood was found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. Because God's fees are appointed times with the Father and Yahusha, the dates are of extreme importance. Getting it right is very important. The Feasts & Sabbaths are when the portals of Heaven are open and He hears our cries. The Zadok high priest at that time was Onias IV, a righteous priest. He fled to Egypt where he was given refuge by the Plotomy pharaoh at the time. They were friends. Plotomy gave the city of Heliopolis to Onias and the Hebrews that came with him. They built a new temple there. This is also where the Septuagint was written, by the Zadok priests. It was written in Greek so that Part, who was Greek, could study the Torah which was his desire.
Hi Aziz, yes, it appears the Dead Sea Scrolls were hidden, and possibly with some haste, as some of the clay pots containing them show signs of blistering: the result of possibly being made too quickly. Some scholars conjecture that they were a genizah - or deposit of used Scriptures no longer in use - but the evidence of battle at the Qumran site and history of Roman conquest in the region makes it most likely they were hidden for their protection. And yes, among the Dead Sea Scrolls are portions of each of the Old Testament books except Esther. They include portions of multiple copies of some books as well, such as Isaiah, Deuteronomy and the Psalms. These documents date ~1000 years older than the oldest Hebrew Biblical manuscripts available to this point - and though with some small differences, they include recognizably the same books of the Old Testament, which in translation are nearly indistinguishably with what are found in Bibles today.
Hi Stephen, thankyou for your excellent presentation. So interesting. Is there any information regarding their beliefs about sacrifice in light of the fact they were no longer part of the mosaic temple system where their sins were covered by the blood of animal sacrifice? Is there any indication they knew of Jesus' sacrifice?
Hi Claire, thank you for the question, and for the very kind comments. The second question is relatively simple to answer: the Scrolls do not contain mention of Jesus (or of any other figures of the New Testament). Likewise, the New Testament does not reference Qumran, the Essenes, or anything that may relate directly to these Scrolls. While their periods overlap, there doesn't appear to be explicit communication between the two movements, although some scholars conjecture the possibility. This isn't entirely surprising, as Qumran was likely a small community of ~200-1000 people, while at the time the population of Palestine ranged from .5 to 2.3 million (estimates vary); and Christ's ministry largely took place in Galilee, while Qumran was relatively secluded along the Dead Sea, so their paths understandably may not have crossed. I speak about this a little in the 4th video on the series, though more could be said: Dead Sea Scrolls 4: Importance and New Discoveries - ua-cam.com/video/Etx8MCKlZp0/v-deo.html The first is trickier. There are no prescriptions for sacrifice for the community, and likewise no directions relating to worship in the Temple. However, there were extensive prescriptions for ablutions, and many stone cisterns remain in the Qumran site. Similarly, there were punishments for infractions that resemble penance: in particular reduced rations or expulsion for various mistakes. So while sacrifice as practiced in the Temple was not central to their life and thought, both ceremonial washing and expiation by punishment were routine, perhaps in their thought serving to atone in some manner for sins. Both are excellent questions, though, and while the Scrolls indicate an expectation for a Messiah or Deliverer of various kinds, the extant writings don't seem to suggest awareness of the news of Jesus.
The priests of Qumran were the Sons of Zadok, the righteous Levitical priests that were over the Levitical priesthood. They were the righteous ones who protected the laws of God, the times and calendars. It was a fake priests, the Pharisees, who changed God's calendar and laws. The priests at Qumran were not Essenes. The Essenes were agnostics and lived elsewhere. Can't believe what Josephus says, he was a Pharisee and Pharisees are liars. Jesus told us they were liars Revelation 2:9, 3:9 John 8:38-44
Nice fresh take. Thanks What's your view on John Allegros suggestion that it was a stronghold and arms manufacturing occurred there....I think he implies they were actually fighting the 'usurpation of the Temple'...
Thanks, Naradaian - I haven't delved into John Allegro's works, and am only passingly familiar with them. I couldn't speak to his argument, being mostly unfamiliar with it. However, while some rooms in the Qumran site have been identified on account of their contents and features, there is (to my knowledge) no evidence of a forge or objects relating to metalworking. There has been conjecture that the site was inhabited by a garrison of Roman soldiers after ~70AD, primarily on account of Roman coins from that period found there. There have also been found arrowheads, suggesting a skirmish or even siege about that time (and which perhaps prompted the hiding of the scrolls). But while there is evidence for a mess hall, kiln, scriptorium, baths, and other buildings, nothing to my knowledge identifies Qumran as a site for weapons manufacturing.
You forgot to mention that Josephus joined Vespasian after the war at Masada. And that Josephus later viewed Vespasian as an enlightened "messiah". I wounder if not Josephus himself was an Essene or had a connection to them.
Hi niitro, it is an interesting consideration whether Josephus had any connection to the Essenes. He may well have known some, having lived and traveled extensively during the time period the Essenes were active. And yet while Josephus' works are fairly substantial he only mentions the Essenes briefly in his 'Antiquities of the Jews;' one might expect more reflection and detail if he was closely familiar with the movement/community. It's certainly within the realm of possibility, but more clear evidence in that direction would be helpful in making a determination. Thanks much for this interesting comment, niitro.
Great work. Yet I must agree with prof. Dr. Elior, that we shouldn't jump to the unproven conclusion that the scrolls were made and hidden by the nearby community. The found manuscripts contain only religious writings, not a piece of other documents, which would be normal and precedented if those were community writings. They have also been written by a great number of different hands, also unusual for a small community. DR. Elior argues that the Dead Sea Scrolls may have been a piece of the temple library itself. An intriguing thought, in my humble opinion well worth considering.
We know John the Baptist ate locust and honey. This was probably his library. There's also archeological evidence of a manmade water canal of sorts. I don't believe the Essenes lived her as Pliny the Elder said they lived in EnGedi. But Qumran was probably the community of the Zodok priesthood and thei families.
Hi Bhuwan - in truth I don't recall information regarding diet at this time. The Qumran site has a rather intricate system of pools and canals to collect and manage water. Interestingly at the time Pliny the Elder describes Ein Gedi - south of Qumran and also along the Dead Sea - as "second only to Jerusalem in the fertility of its land and in its groves of palm-trees." It sounds as though during the period of its existence the area may have been a bit more lush than today. Some possible crops include dates (which Ein Gedi was famous for), persimmon, and herbs such as henna; and grapes, olives, legumes, wheat, and barley were commonly grown in the region at that time. They may have been shepherds of sheep and goats as well.
Hi Scully - interestingly, Pliny includes in his Natural History: "Lying below the Essenes was formerly the town of Ein Gedi... Next comes Masada, a fortress on a rock, itself also not far from the Dead Sea." This north-south sequence of settlements is one of the indicators that the Essenes he mentions were located north of Ein Gedi and near the Dead Sea - interestingly fitting the location description of Qumran. This passage of geography is one of the most interesting indications that the Qumran community may have been a settlement of the people he describes in this section.
John The Baptist Forerunner Of Yeshua And it soon came to pass that the time had arrived for Yeshua' cousin, John, to make ready a holy people for Yeshua' name. For the Holy Word of God came unto John in the wilderness brotherhood of the elect, and John set out to complete the special calling, even preaching the baptism of repentance from the remission of sins. For it was written in the prophets concerning him: "Prepare ye the holy way of the Chosen One, make straight the pathway of the Anointed. For every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth. For all flesh shall see the salvation of God at work among the people and every eye shall behold the glory of his way." And the same John, known as the Baptist, appeared in simple dress and humility, and his food was the fruit of the locust tree and wild honey, even as the Angel Gabriel had spoken of.... And John spake unto the multitude, all those seeking baptism, and said: "O generation of disobedient ones, heed ye my words.... Begin this day to bring fruits worthy of repentance, righteous works that save.... For I tell thee, every tree which bringeth not good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire, and so shall it be with thee if ye not keep the Holy Law and live it."...And some wealthier people spoke out and asked John, "What shall we do, then? How are we to be saved?" And John answered and said unto them, "He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath abundant food, let him do as the first. And he that hath riches, let him give his gold to the brotherhood where all shareth in love and care of the poor, the orphans, the widows, those of long years, those with illness, yea, give unto the general fund wherein all those of the Lord resideth in true peace and love." Also, there came unto him certain tax collectors to be baptized, and asked of him, "Master, what shall we do?" And John said unto them, "Exact no more than that which is due you, and be ever merciful as to thy authority." And then came soldiers unto John, and asked, "And what shall we do, tell us, please." And John said unto them, "Do violence to no man, nor any creature, neither accuse any falsely; be content with thy wages, which prove enough, accepting no bribe or favor." And John spake unto them all, saying: "Listen and hear well, all you who have ears. Keep yourselves from bloodshed, and all manner of blood, from anything strangled, and from dead bodies of birds and beasts, and fish eat ye not. And from all deeds of cruelty, and from all that is gotten of wrong, yea, contrary to natural laws of good and Humane Love. For, do ye think the blood of beasts and birds will wash sin? I tell ye, Nay, therefore ye must all speak the truth, and be just. Ye must be merciful to one another and to all creatures that live, thereby walking humbly with thy God, Who loveth the Pure Oblation only." And the people were in strictest attendance of John's words, and many wondered in their hearts, whether he be the Christ; and still others asked unto him if he were. But John answered, saying unto them all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but the Holy One, mightier than I, yet cometh, the latchet of whose very shoes I am not worthy to unloose. For He shall also baptize you with water and with fire, for a fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the true wheat into his storehouse; but the chaff he will burn with destructive fire. For his fan airs the judgment of the wicked, who will be as if they were never born at all; but they of righteous heart, will inherit the fountain of living waters, wherein eternal springs of truth impart life everlasting." And John, known as the Baptist, continued in many exhortations, and many people did listen and longed to hear more and know of the One greater than he, the Holy One to come in the name of the Holy Law of God. Thus John prepared the way, even as Yeshua' fore- runner of holy truths. And the Pharisees and the Sadducees got to hear of this message and were greatly angered with him, for they were not looking unto the Christ, as John was announcing in all of Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about the Jordan River, even as he was baptizing all those confessing their sins. Yea, John did baptize many in the River Jordan. .
Hi k.v. - reposted here from another comment: This is an interesting and important question: whether portions of Isaiah were written at different times. Unfortunately I'm not thoroughly studied in this area, and can't answer myself with confidence. I can say that in the Great Isaiah Scroll of the Dead Sea Scrolls some scholars note a slight difference in the Hebrew form between chapters 1-33 and 34-66 (with 34 and 35 being similar in ideas and language to the latter part of the book, and 36-39 being a recounting of Kings II). One can also note a division break here only slightly more pronounced than elsewhere in the manuscript (which can be seen here: dss.collections.imj.org.il/isaiah). Whether this is of any significance, however, is of debate. What the Great Isaiah Scroll does show, however, is that by the 2nd century BC at latest the book of Isaiah as we know it was intact, with its chapters and content present in the same order as we have it today.
You really should listen to Prof. Rachel Elior's presentation at the Chicago School of Divinity. The Essenes were not the keepers of the scrolls at Qumran, it was the Sons of Zadok, the true high priests who had been banished.
Hi Christina, thank you for the recommendation. Yes, I listened to Professor Elior's presentation, and she brought forward a few excellent points, including the prevalence of the solar calendar in the Scrolls as well as other concerns relating to a priestly class. Pertaining to the origin of the community and scrolls at Qumran, though, it's a difficult question and at best a best guess. Unfortunately none of the Scrolls identify who wrote them, such as "Scribe of the Essenes" or "Of the Zadokites," and the language pertaining to the history referenced within the Scrolls is highly symbolic. Using literary information alone I think a good case can be made, as Professor Elior did, that the Scolls were written by descendants of the Zadok lineage, and that some Biblical texts were possibly taken from the Temple library. However, taking into account the archaeological evidence, location, and contemporary descriptions by Josephus, Philo, and Pliny, an overall designation as "Essene" seems even more probable. But however again, none of the ancient historians describe the origin of the Essenes, and it's quite possible they were begun by, or were significantly supplemented by, expatriates from the Zadok lineage. In this regard I think the general academic conclusion that the community at Qumran would be considered "Essenes" by their contemporaries is probably correct - though further detailed evidence regarding the Zadokite expulsion from Jerusalem could test that conclusion.
So are you saying the Qumran community are the Essenes or not? You should watch the Hebrew university professor Rachel Ellior on this topic. I believe she makes a good case for who that community was. She has convinced me.
Stephen get ahold of Dennis Murray from shepherds chapel or Bruce from Just thoughts studies I'm sure they both could shed more light on these.💪😇🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Hi Richard, thanks much for the references - always interested to find good new channels. I searched both channels for "Dead Sea Scrolls," and didn't locate videos pertaining. Were there particular videos you had come across? God's blessings and all best wishes today
Ritual baths (mikvas) indicate a monastic Hebrew sect. "Only through law comes the freedom of men." ~ Tablets of Thoth Note: There is only One God of Infinite Truth, Light and Goodness. There is no other. Walk in Truth Light and Goodness in the world. THIS... is the `Divine Image.'
Hi DJ, it does seem that a large amount of the material is particular to the practice and organization of this community or speculative spirituality/eschatology. Much of it is rather esoteric to readers outside the Qumran group. For myself the Biblical texts among them are the most interesting and are valuable for confirming the reliability of the Scriptures; but for much of the rest the chief value seems to be expanding our understanding the landscape of thought immediately before and during Jesus' lifetime.
Hi R.W. - thank you for the comment. There are indeed several interesting similarities between the Ebionites and Essenes, including interest in ritual bathing, adoption of poverty, and (supposedly) a developed angelology. Yet while both are Jewish in origin, the Ebionites were a Christian sect, while the Dead Sea Scrolls contain no mention of identifiably Christian thought, such as Jesus, other New Testament characters, or prominent New Testament concepts. While the Ebionites were early an Christian offshoot, the keepers of the Dead Sea Scrolls were in all likelihood a Jewish sectarian group that for most of its existence predated Christianity.
@@StephenJahn Yep, they started before Christianity, and they made extensive use of Code Words. We'll get to the bottom of this, very soon. Spring, 2024, begins The 5880th Year of Creation. 5880÷49=120. Gen. 6. Dan. 12 is very clear that all things will be revealed, in these, The Last Days. Peace & Blessings, for The Obedient.
@@GemstoneActualWhere are you getting your dates from? According to the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Gregorian year of 2024 equals the Adamic year of 5949 (not 5880 as you say). The Gregorian year 2025 signifies the beginning of the final jubilee 50 year period.
Awesome video. I have started a scrapbook dedicated to my apocryphal learnings. I am very interested in this book of the war of the sons of light, as it sounds like we got our whole government system from how the way the spiritual world is set up.
Thanks much for the kind words, and it's a very interesting insight. Glad to consider it, and God bless you mightily this day, friend.
You’re the most soft& sweet spoken gentleman! Great information explained ✨
Thank you kindly, Cloud 9; I appreciate the compliments very much. Wishing you a wonderful day today.
Must watch all four parts. Great information.
The scrolls are written by what the church would call bad guys,but they are the good guys in the narratives,these scrolls and the nag hammadi library are a must read for all,the narrative will start to form....
Good explanation. Your points are very clear and easy to follow.
Thank you, Wade; I appreciate the friendly comments much.
I'm tired of hearing about the false Paradigm that Scholars love to flaunt. The real name of qumran is bethabara and this was the home of the exiled (Levite) priests along with John the Baptist. Indeed, his voice to this very day still Cries From the wilderness!! Hallelujah!
Thank you, I learned so much here. 🙏🏼
Thank you for this video. It is also believed that the Essenes were a different group of people living elsewhere, that were not the "Zakok" lineage priests and originated possibly during the Babylonian exile. There is evidence that there were families living in Qumron, and were from the rightful lineage of priests. John the Baptist probably lived among them, and Jesus himself probably spent time with them. The priests during the time of Messiah were usurpers since the times of the Maccabees and is why most true priests left Jerusalem. Either way, fascinating information.
Hi Shiryon, yes, there are other interesting arguments being advanced and considered today, especially in light of the full body of Scolls being made available to the public. Some maintain they were deposited there by people fleeing Jerusalem during the First Jewish-Roman War, that they were a group of descendants of exiled Zadok priests, that they were an early community of Christians, etc. It's also a fascinating question whether John or Jesus knew the Qumran community personally - and one that is also up for debate. I speak a little bit about the Jesus-John connection in the next video, "Part 3: The Good Book," and on these and other questions positions may shift as new evidence is weighed. Am always open to new evidence or arguments myself!
When He Instructs the Rich, Young Ruler to sell his possessions, and give to The Poor, He is talking about The Ebionites (אביונים), The Poor Ones.
Referenced elsewhere in the "New Testament", too.
It is factual that Yeshua spoke against things written in the Damascus document. I do believe these were the rightful Zadok priests but they to were off coarse on some level in regards to not adding to the Torah. Only the Messiah could properly express and exemplify the spirit of Torah and in a real practical way had to correct ALL sects of Jews and there belief! When he returns I am sure he will unbridle our doctrines and beliefs as well!
@@GatheringJacob Amen to that!
@@GatheringJacobCan you give me the scripture? Bc I havent found any scripture in the NT where Jesus himself speaks against the Damascus document. Yet I have found many scriptures speaking of the coming Messiah and the New Covenant. I have the Damascus document and its like referring and references to the coming of our Lord amd Savior, Jesus Christ and the New Covenant through Jesus. New laws.
The Sons of Light were the Priests of Zadok, the righteous ones (after the order of Melchizedek. They were Levites, but they were not the everyday average Levite priests). The Sons of Zadok are spoken of often in the Old Testament, and many times in Ezekiel, specifically Ezekiel 40-44
The sons of Zadok, the Zadok priesthood was driven out of the temple & the priesthood around 150-125 BC by the Hasmonians who took over the priesthood and became the Pharisees and Sadducees, and today's rabbinical Judaism (not Israelites but rather Greeks & Edomites). The Edomites & Greeks killed many of the Zadok priests, and others fled. Much of this history is in the 4 books of the Maccabees which were so conveniently taken out of our Bible by the powers that be that did not want us to know this history, and certainly did not want us to know that the rabbinical priesthood is apostate.
Qumran was one of the places they fled to, and because the priesthood had been usurped by the Edomites, they wanted to preserve and protect God's laws, commandments and calendars, which the Edomite fake jew priests changed. The "Jewish" calendar of today is not God's calendar, & was specifically designed in mockery of God's calendar to ensure that none of the Feasts were held on the correct days. The Bible talks about the priesthood changing the times and seasons. It was the fake priesthood that changed it all. God's true calendar, as protected by the Zadok priesthood was found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. Because God's fees are appointed times with the Father and Yahusha, the dates are of extreme importance. Getting it right is very important. The Feasts & Sabbaths are when the portals of Heaven are open and He hears our cries.
The Zadok high priest at that time was Onias IV, a righteous priest. He fled to Egypt where he was given refuge by the Plotomy pharaoh at the time. They were friends. Plotomy gave the city of Heliopolis to Onias and the Hebrews that came with him. They built a new temple there. This is also where the Septuagint was written, by the Zadok priests. It was written in Greek so that Part, who was Greek, could study the Torah which was his desire.
it seems that those who hid the scrolls hid it from being destroyed by others. Is it the true Bible?
Hi Aziz, yes, it appears the Dead Sea Scrolls were hidden, and possibly with some haste, as some of the clay pots containing them show signs of blistering: the result of possibly being made too quickly. Some scholars conjecture that they were a genizah - or deposit of used Scriptures no longer in use - but the evidence of battle at the Qumran site and history of Roman conquest in the region makes it most likely they were hidden for their protection.
And yes, among the Dead Sea Scrolls are portions of each of the Old Testament books except Esther. They include portions of multiple copies of some books as well, such as Isaiah, Deuteronomy and the Psalms. These documents date ~1000 years older than the oldest Hebrew Biblical manuscripts available to this point - and though with some small differences, they include recognizably the same books of the Old Testament, which in translation are nearly indistinguishably with what are found in Bibles today.
Hi Stephen, thankyou for your excellent presentation. So interesting. Is there any information regarding their beliefs about sacrifice in light of the fact they were no longer part of the mosaic temple system where their sins were covered by the blood of animal sacrifice? Is there any indication they knew of Jesus' sacrifice?
Hi Claire, thank you for the question, and for the very kind comments. The second question is relatively simple to answer: the Scrolls do not contain mention of Jesus (or of any other figures of the New Testament). Likewise, the New Testament does not reference Qumran, the Essenes, or anything that may relate directly to these Scrolls. While their periods overlap, there doesn't appear to be explicit communication between the two movements, although some scholars conjecture the possibility. This isn't entirely surprising, as Qumran was likely a small community of ~200-1000 people, while at the time the population of Palestine ranged from .5 to 2.3 million (estimates vary); and Christ's ministry largely took place in Galilee, while Qumran was relatively secluded along the Dead Sea, so their paths understandably may not have crossed. I speak about this a little in the 4th video on the series, though more could be said: Dead Sea Scrolls 4: Importance and New Discoveries - ua-cam.com/video/Etx8MCKlZp0/v-deo.html
The first is trickier. There are no prescriptions for sacrifice for the community, and likewise no directions relating to worship in the Temple. However, there were extensive prescriptions for ablutions, and many stone cisterns remain in the Qumran site. Similarly, there were punishments for infractions that resemble penance: in particular reduced rations or expulsion for various mistakes. So while sacrifice as practiced in the Temple was not central to their life and thought, both ceremonial washing and expiation by punishment were routine, perhaps in their thought serving to atone in some manner for sins.
Both are excellent questions, though, and while the Scrolls indicate an expectation for a Messiah or Deliverer of various kinds, the extant writings don't seem to suggest awareness of the news of Jesus.
It was and is not called Palestine it's is Israel period!!
The priests of Qumran were the Sons of Zadok, the righteous Levitical priests that were over the Levitical priesthood. They were the righteous ones who protected the laws of God, the times and calendars. It was a fake priests, the Pharisees, who changed God's calendar and laws. The priests at Qumran were not Essenes. The Essenes were agnostics and lived elsewhere.
Can't believe what Josephus says, he was a Pharisee and Pharisees are liars. Jesus told us they were liars
Revelation 2:9, 3:9
John 8:38-44
Nice fresh take. Thanks
What's your view on John Allegros suggestion that it was a stronghold and arms manufacturing occurred there....I think he implies they were actually fighting the 'usurpation of the Temple'...
Thanks, Naradaian - I haven't delved into John Allegro's works, and am only passingly familiar with them. I couldn't speak to his argument, being mostly unfamiliar with it.
However, while some rooms in the Qumran site have been identified on account of their contents and features, there is (to my knowledge) no evidence of a forge or objects relating to metalworking. There has been conjecture that the site was inhabited by a garrison of Roman soldiers after ~70AD, primarily on account of Roman coins from that period found there. There have also been found arrowheads, suggesting a skirmish or even siege about that time (and which perhaps prompted the hiding of the scrolls). But while there is evidence for a mess hall, kiln, scriptorium, baths, and other buildings, nothing to my knowledge identifies Qumran as a site for weapons manufacturing.
You forgot to mention that Josephus joined Vespasian after the war at Masada. And that Josephus later viewed Vespasian as an enlightened "messiah". I wounder if not Josephus himself was an Essene or had a connection to them.
Hi niitro, it is an interesting consideration whether Josephus had any connection to the Essenes. He may well have known some, having lived and traveled extensively during the time period the Essenes were active. And yet while Josephus' works are fairly substantial he only mentions the Essenes briefly in his 'Antiquities of the Jews;' one might expect more reflection and detail if he was closely familiar with the movement/community. It's certainly within the realm of possibility, but more clear evidence in that direction would be helpful in making a determination.
Thanks much for this interesting comment, niitro.
Great work. Yet I must agree with prof. Dr. Elior, that we shouldn't jump to the unproven conclusion that the scrolls were made and hidden by the nearby community. The found manuscripts contain only religious writings, not a piece of other documents, which would be normal and precedented if those were community writings. They have also been written by a great number of different hands, also unusual for a small community. DR. Elior argues that the Dead Sea Scrolls may have been a piece of the temple library itself. An intriguing thought, in my humble opinion well worth considering.
Please reply my comment.
What do they eat and drink in these desert?
Where do they get water for byamptism?
We know John the Baptist ate locust and honey. This was probably his library.
There's also archeological evidence of a manmade water canal of sorts.
I don't believe the Essenes lived her as Pliny the Elder said they lived in EnGedi. But Qumran was probably the community of the Zodok priesthood and thei families.
Hi Bhuwan - in truth I don't recall information regarding diet at this time. The Qumran site has a rather intricate system of pools and canals to collect and manage water. Interestingly at the time Pliny the Elder describes Ein Gedi - south of Qumran and also along the Dead Sea - as "second only to Jerusalem in the fertility of its land and in its groves of palm-trees." It sounds as though during the period of its existence the area may have been a bit more lush than today. Some possible crops include dates (which Ein Gedi was famous for), persimmon, and herbs such as henna; and grapes, olives, legumes, wheat, and barley were commonly grown in the region at that time. They may have been shepherds of sheep and goats as well.
Hi Scully - interestingly, Pliny includes in his Natural History: "Lying below the Essenes was formerly the town of Ein Gedi... Next comes Masada, a fortress on a rock, itself also not far from the Dead Sea." This north-south sequence of settlements is one of the indicators that the Essenes he mentions were located north of Ein Gedi and near the Dead Sea - interestingly fitting the location description of Qumran. This passage of geography is one of the most interesting indications that the Qumran community may have been a settlement of the people he describes in this section.
John The Baptist Forerunner Of Yeshua
And it soon came to pass that the time had arrived for Yeshua' cousin, John, to make ready a holy people for Yeshua' name. For the Holy Word of God came unto John in the wilderness brotherhood of the elect, and John set out to complete the special calling, even preaching the baptism of repentance from the remission of sins. For it was written in the prophets concerning him: "Prepare ye the holy way of the Chosen One, make straight the pathway of the Anointed. For every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth. For all flesh shall see the salvation of God at work among the people and every eye shall behold the glory of his way." And the same John, known as the Baptist, appeared in simple dress and humility, and his food was the fruit of the locust tree and wild honey, even as the Angel Gabriel had spoken of.... And John spake unto the multitude, all those seeking baptism, and said: "O generation of disobedient ones, heed ye my words.... Begin this day to bring fruits worthy of repentance, righteous works that save.... For I tell thee, every tree which bringeth not good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire, and so shall it be with thee if ye not keep the Holy Law and live it."...And some wealthier people spoke out and asked John, "What shall we do, then? How are we to be saved?" And John answered and said unto them, "He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath abundant food, let him do as the first. And he that hath riches, let him give his gold to the brotherhood where all shareth in love and care of the poor, the orphans, the widows, those of long years, those with illness, yea, give unto the general fund wherein all those of the Lord resideth in true peace and love." Also, there came unto him certain tax collectors to be baptized, and asked of him, "Master, what shall we do?" And John said unto them, "Exact no more than that which is due you, and be ever merciful as to thy authority." And then came soldiers unto John, and asked, "And what shall we do, tell us, please." And John said unto them, "Do violence to no man, nor any creature, neither accuse any falsely; be content with thy wages, which prove enough, accepting no bribe or favor." And John spake unto them all, saying: "Listen and hear well, all you who have ears. Keep yourselves from bloodshed, and all manner of blood, from anything strangled, and from dead bodies of birds and beasts, and fish eat ye not. And from all deeds of cruelty, and from all that is gotten of wrong, yea, contrary to natural laws of good and Humane Love. For, do ye think the blood of beasts and birds will wash sin? I tell ye, Nay, therefore ye must all speak the truth, and be just. Ye must be merciful to one another and to all creatures that live, thereby walking humbly with thy God, Who loveth the Pure Oblation only." And the people were in strictest attendance of John's words, and many wondered in their hearts, whether he be the Christ; and still others asked unto him if he were. But John answered, saying unto them all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but the Holy One, mightier than I, yet cometh, the latchet of whose very shoes I am not worthy to unloose. For He shall also baptize you with water and with fire, for a fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the true wheat into his storehouse; but the chaff he will burn with destructive fire. For his fan airs the judgment of the wicked, who will be as if they were never born at all; but they of righteous heart, will inherit the fountain of living waters, wherein eternal springs of truth impart life everlasting." And John, known as the Baptist, continued in many exhortations, and many people did listen and longed to hear more and know of the One greater than he, the Holy One to come in the name of the Holy Law of God. Thus John prepared the way, even as Yeshua' fore- runner of holy truths. And the Pharisees and the Sadducees got to hear of this message and were greatly angered with him, for they were not looking unto the Christ, as John was announcing in all of Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about the Jordan River, even as he was baptizing all those confessing their sins. Yea, John did baptize many in the River Jordan.
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Is Isaiah book is written in one time or it is two books 1 to 39 and 40 to 66
Hi k.v. - reposted here from another comment:
This is an interesting and important question: whether portions of Isaiah were written at different times. Unfortunately I'm not thoroughly studied in this area, and can't answer myself with confidence. I can say that in the Great Isaiah Scroll of the Dead Sea Scrolls some scholars note a slight difference in the Hebrew form between chapters 1-33 and 34-66 (with 34 and 35 being similar in ideas and language to the latter part of the book, and 36-39 being a recounting of Kings II). One can also note a division break here only slightly more pronounced than elsewhere in the manuscript (which can be seen here: dss.collections.imj.org.il/isaiah). Whether this is of any significance, however, is of debate. What the Great Isaiah Scroll does show, however, is that by the 2nd century BC at latest the book of Isaiah as we know it was intact, with its chapters and content present in the same order as we have it today.
You really should listen to Prof. Rachel Elior's presentation at the Chicago School of Divinity. The Essenes were not the keepers of the scrolls at Qumran, it was the Sons of Zadok, the true high priests who had been banished.
Hi Christina, thank you for the recommendation. Yes, I listened to Professor Elior's presentation, and she brought forward a few excellent points, including the prevalence of the solar calendar in the Scrolls as well as other concerns relating to a priestly class. Pertaining to the origin of the community and scrolls at Qumran, though, it's a difficult question and at best a best guess. Unfortunately none of the Scrolls identify who wrote them, such as "Scribe of the Essenes" or "Of the Zadokites," and the language pertaining to the history referenced within the Scrolls is highly symbolic. Using literary information alone I think a good case can be made, as Professor Elior did, that the Scolls were written by descendants of the Zadok lineage, and that some Biblical texts were possibly taken from the Temple library. However, taking into account the archaeological evidence, location, and contemporary descriptions by Josephus, Philo, and Pliny, an overall designation as "Essene" seems even more probable. But however again, none of the ancient historians describe the origin of the Essenes, and it's quite possible they were begun by, or were significantly supplemented by, expatriates from the Zadok lineage. In this regard I think the general academic conclusion that the community at Qumran would be considered "Essenes" by their contemporaries is probably correct - though further detailed evidence regarding the Zadokite expulsion from Jerusalem could test that conclusion.
Exactly
So are you saying the Qumran community are the Essenes or not? You should watch the Hebrew university professor Rachel Ellior on this topic. I believe she makes a good case for who that community was. She has convinced me.
There were 3 secs of Essenes.
Stephen get ahold of Dennis Murray from shepherds chapel or Bruce from Just thoughts studies I'm sure they both could shed more light on these.💪😇🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Hi Richard, thanks much for the references - always interested to find good new channels.
I searched both channels for "Dead Sea Scrolls," and didn't locate videos pertaining. Were there particular videos you had come across?
God's blessings and all best wishes today
Good information. The Essene priests were the sons of Zadok.
Dude, an 18 min video where the topic is only talked about 5 minutes....come on.
Ritual baths (mikvas) indicate a monastic Hebrew sect. "Only through law comes the freedom of men." ~ Tablets of Thoth Note: There is only One God of Infinite Truth, Light and Goodness. There is no other. Walk in Truth Light and Goodness in the world. THIS... is the `Divine Image.'
All made by Human's , So they can Claim Stuff that suits them...
A Thousand and 400 years after the 5 books of Moses 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
Hi DJ, it does seem that a large amount of the material is particular to the practice and organization of this community or speculative spirituality/eschatology. Much of it is rather esoteric to readers outside the Qumran group. For myself the Biblical texts among them are the most interesting and are valuable for confirming the reliability of the Scriptures; but for much of the rest the chief value seems to be expanding our understanding the landscape of thought immediately before and during Jesus' lifetime.
@@StephenJahn Be Blessed Brother
History is written by those who have hung hero’s
Ebionites, not Essenes. Essenes were much further South, on The Dead Sea.
Hi R.W. - thank you for the comment. There are indeed several interesting similarities between the Ebionites and Essenes, including interest in ritual bathing, adoption of poverty, and (supposedly) a developed angelology.
Yet while both are Jewish in origin, the Ebionites were a Christian sect, while the Dead Sea Scrolls contain no mention of identifiably Christian thought, such as Jesus, other New Testament characters, or prominent New Testament concepts. While the Ebionites were early an Christian offshoot, the keepers of the Dead Sea Scrolls were in all likelihood a Jewish sectarian group that for most of its existence predated Christianity.
@@StephenJahn Yep, they started before Christianity, and they made extensive use of Code Words.
We'll get to the bottom of this, very soon. Spring, 2024, begins The 5880th Year of Creation. 5880÷49=120. Gen. 6.
Dan. 12 is very clear that all things will be revealed, in these, The Last Days.
Peace & Blessings, for The Obedient.
@@GemstoneActualWhere are you getting your dates from? According to the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Gregorian year of 2024 equals the Adamic year of 5949 (not 5880 as you say). The Gregorian year 2025 signifies the beginning of the final jubilee 50 year period.