The greatest manuscript discovery of modern times - the Dead Sea Scrolls

The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in eleven caves along the northwest shore of the Dead Sea between the years 1947 and 1956. The area is 13 miles east of Jerusalem and is 1300 feet below sea level.

Scholars have identified the remains of about 800 separate scrolls. The Scrolls can be divided into two categories: biblical and non-biblical.

Photos. The Dead Sea seen from Jordan, from the Biblican Lot cave. Isreal is on the other side of the sea. © Travel Explorations.

Fragments of every book of the Hebrew canon (Old Testament) have been discovered except for the book of Esther. The remnants are dated from approximately 200 B.C.E. to 68 C.E.

The big mystery so far has been who made these scrolls. The manuscripts of the Qumran caves include early copies of biblical books in Hebrew and Aramaic, hymns, prayers, Jewish writings known as pseudepigrapha (because they are related to ancient biblical characters such as Enoch or the patriarchs), and texts that seem to represent the beliefs of a particular Jewish group that may have lived at the site of Qumran.

Photo. Lot`s Cave in Jordan. © Travel Explorations. This area is also supposed to be the site where the sin cities Sodomma and Gomorra once were located as told about in the Bible. The cave is one of Jordan's most significant archaeological discoveries. Lot and his daughters are said to have sought refuge here after the destruction of the cities.

Since the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in pottery jars, which has not been found elsewhere, it indicates a strong link between the Scrolls and the Qumran community.

The area along the Dead Sea is full of hidding places, but it's not so easy to search along the Dead Sea for more big treasures since there are Jordanians and Israeli soldiers guarding the area.

Photo. The Shrine of the Book in Jerusalem, Isreal. Here are the Dead Sea Schrolls safely stored. © Josh Cutler.

The future will show if more ancient manuscripts will be found, and perhaps other treasures too. Perhaps it also will be revealed more of the content of the already found schrolls? Are someone hiding something because it`s not matching the content with the Holy Bible?

Stein Morten Lund, 19. September 2005

Additional information
For more information about Lot`s cave, you can read about it in the Bible.

More around the Dead Sea:

• Stature of Lot's wife (5 km south from Wadi Mujib). It is said that this stone is the wife of Lot who was transformed to a salt poll in the Bible.
• Mt. Nebo is well known as the place where prophet Moses died. It also located near to the Dead Sea along with Jordan valley.

The Bible is a collection of books. It`s divived into two testaments: the old and the new testament. The two main versions (editions) of the Bible have been the most widely distributed of books. It has also been translated more times, and into more languages, than any other book. The complete Bible, or portions of it, have been translated into more than 2,100 languages. It is estimated that 5 billion copies of the Bible have been sold since 1815.

Explore the Nabataen Empire on Travel Explorations. Read our articles about the amazing wonders as Petra and the Bedouin people in Jordan.

We present hereby a tour operators from Jordan where travellers can book their adventure tours.

The tour operator Jordan Beauty Tours made my tour become a great adventure for life. Especially thanks to these persons: Joseph, Ibrahim, Abdullah and Ali.

Contact information for our recommended tour operator in Jordan (who also arrange tours to other countries in the Middle East):
Jordan Beauty Tours
Tel. +962 795581644
Fax. +962 3 2154 999
E-mail: info@jordanbeauty.com
Website: www.jordanbeauty.com
Tourist St. Near Movenpick Hotel
P.O.Box : 8
Petra 71810
JORDAN