This place fascinates me. I definitely hope to visit it some day. While I believe Jesus Christ stood on His own in this world and did not identify with any sect, I do believe the Essenes might have played a role in His life. Perhaps by being the mages who recognized His identity to begin with, and who may have taken Him under their wing for training and instruction, with Him setting out to continue His special ministry to the world, to us.
Qumran (Hebrew: קומראן; Arabic: خربة قمران Khirbet Qumran) is an archaeological site in the West Bank managed by Israel’s Qumran National Park.[1] It is located on a dry plateau about a mile from the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea, near theIsraeli settlement and kibbutz of Kalya. The Hellenistic period settlement was constructed during the reign of John Hyrcanus, 134-104 BCE or somewhat later, and was occupied most of the time until it was destroyed by the Romans in 68 CE or shortly after. It is best known as the settlement nearest to the Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were hidden), caves in the sheer desert cliffs and beneath, in the marl terrace. The principal excavations at Qumran were conducted by Roland de Vaux in the 1950s, though several later campaigns at the site have been carried out. ~Wikipedia
Looking east from the Qumran gorge, the small structure on the upper left amid the trees contains the modern Qumran visitor’s center. The ruins of Qumran can be seen immediately to the right. The settlement was built close to the seaward side of a plateau. The Dead Sea forms a hazy backdrop. To the extreme right is the Wadi Qumran, a torrent that is dry most of the year. On the few occasions when it rains, though, it becomes a ravaging torrent that has eroded the side of the plateau where Qumran is. From the mid-left the remains of an aqueduct run down to the settlement. This channel helped furnish Qumran with a valuable supply of water. At the end of the outcrop in the center of the picture is Cave 4, which supplied the vast bulk of the Dead Sea Scrolls. ~Wikipedia
This picture is just so beautiful~
“Qumran Caves” by Grauesel , as seen from the other side from the previous photo
It is interesting how much room we think we need to have to live now. My apartment is a palace compared to this size-wise.
~Song of Mary~ 