The Dead Sea Adventures

After Mass and breakfast, we traveled a short distance to a high hill on the outskirts of Jerusalem to the place that is believed to be the tomb of the prophet Samuel from the Old Testament. It is likely the place of Mizpah that we read about in 1 Samuel 3, where Samuel gathered Israel away from false worship. Here we found a Christian church and a mosque, neither of which are still used. Below these, in an underground chamber, is a small synagogue where the tomb of Samuel is located.

After praying at the tomb and taking a small tour of the rest of the area, we began traveling toward Qumran, making a short stop to explore an ancient cistern. Qumran is the location where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in a cave by a young shepherd boy in 1947. After enjoying lunch at Qumran, we toured the area to learn more about the site and the discovery of the scrolls. Qumran was the site of a religiously focused community who most believe were the Essenes. They lived here together for more than two centuries and it was here that scribes produced the manuscripts that were found hidden in the caves. These manuscripts include almost all of the Books of the Old Testament. There have been fragments from some 930 manuscripts found, most written in Hebrew, some in Aramaic, and a few in Greek. These manuscripts date from the Second Temple Period. Significant to us is how nearly identical these are to what we have today in Sacred Scripture. The differences, in fact, are miniscule. Excavation of the site after the discovery of the scrolls continued until 1956. Interestingly, we learned that recently, preserved scrolls were discovered in a twelfth cave.

Upon completing our tour of the Qumran area, we set out for a visit to the Dead Sea. In Scripture, it is referred to as Salt Sea or Sea of Arabah. Its name comes from the fact that nothing can live in its waters because of the high salt percentage, some 35 percent. We learned that it is some 1,300 feet below sea level, the lowest point of land outside of the ocean floors. Sadly, we also learned of the shrinking of the Dead Sea. The Jordan River once provided ample water to the Dead Sea but due to local needs and other uses, water from the Jordan River has been diverted and now provides only two percent of what it once did. That, combined with evaporation, has caused the Dead Sea to decrease significantly in size.

We had set out for the Dead Sea so that those of us who wanted could swim in it. On the drive there, most in our class were disappointed to learn that we wouldn’t be swimming. What?! No swimming in the Dead Sea? The truth is, no one actually “swims” in the Dead Sea. Rather, because of the high salt content, one floats in it. Relieved to know that it was only a joke, most of our class took the opportunity to float in the Dead Sea while a few enjoyed the beautiful scene of the water and mountains from the beach area.

Perhaps most impressive for me today was learning more about the discovery of the nearly 2,000-year-old Dead Sea Scrolls. But also a bit troubling for me was hearing about the continuous decreasing size of the Dead Sea. It caused me to pause for a moment to reflect on how I use what has been given to me and my gratitude – or lack of it – for those things. On behalf of our entire class, thank you for sharing in this pilgrimage with us. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we also continue to pray for you. And as we continue our Lenten journey, let us take a moment to reflect upon the many gifts we have been given and how we use and protect those gifts.