CAVE #1 AT QUMRAN
Recently we were part of a group invited by Kent & Gayle Brown to visit Cave #1 at Qumran which is near the city of Jericho. The rest of the group included Andy & Janet Skinner, Carol & Ray Thomas, Dennis & Karen Thomson and Norm Squires. The caves are located in the mountains and rough terrain of Qumran. It was a very steep hike up to the cave but very exciting once we reached it. The view of the Dead Sea from the mountain side was just breathtaking. This was a group of "old folks" acting like they were young students but we all made it safely.
The scrolls, hidden in jars for nearly two thousand years were able to be preserved because of the area's dry climate. These scrolls come from a break-away sect, known as the Essenes, who lived and studied there for two centuries.
Cave #1 allegedly was discovered by a Bedouin shepherd boy who when chasing his stray goat threw a stone through a small opening in the cave and heard pottery break. Frightened by what he heard he left but returned several days later, crawled through the small opening and found 10 jars, each about two feet in height. All but two of the jars were found empty but what they did discover was a cache of ancient documents later to be named "Dead Sea Scrolls" which changed the study of the Old Testament. Among the findings of the seven scrolls were the Manual of Discipline, War of Sons of Light, thanksgiving Scroll, Isaiah A & B, Genesis
Apocryphon and Habakkuk commentary.
Kent S. & Gayle Brown
Karen and Dennis slowly but surely making the
climb. It was very steep the whole way up.
Holding on so as to not cause a rock-slide
Checking out the cave #1
Listening to Dr. Brown and Dr. Skinner give
their knowledge and experience about coming
into these caves earlier in their careers as young
Professors. They have helped translate some of the
fragments and have written articles and books
on the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Not an original container but what one would
look like.
Showing the opening of the Cave
Kent S. Brown
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