Qumran is situated half a mile from the northwestern end of the Dead
Sea, and this settlement was created between 134 and 104 b.c.e. during
the reign of John Hyrcanus. It is believed that caves were used to hide
in the event of danger. During the 1947-1950 archeological excavations,
there were discovered 900 Dead Sea Scrolls that reflect the secrets of
life and beliefs of religious sect as well as an overview of the Jewish
society in Israel during the Second Temple period. Dead Sea Scrolls are
the oldest known Bible texts.
It was interesting to see that already two thousand years ago, the
caves were dug into the rocks, there was a dwelling, a common dining
room and washrooms with a bathtub cascade – the possibility of the
mikvah (i.e., women’s ritual cleansing bath). Historians think this place
was home to Jewish religious sect – the essenides. In the east of the
settlement, a cemetery was discovered, where the remains of the males
were mainly found. The Dead Sea Scrolls were found in eleven caves
believed to have been in libraries, since traces of shelving systems were
found there. The Scrolls were most likely to be hidden in the caves
during the first Jewish-Roman war (66-73 BC). Shrouds and historic coins
have also been found in settlements. When possible, I would definitely
recommend visiting Qumran during your stay in Israel to get an idea of
how people lived in the mountains 2000 years ago – the excitement is
guaranteed!
The ride from Jerusalem to Qumran runs along the Dead Sea pier – on
the left is a salty lake 50 kilometers long. On the right is the hills
and oaks of Judea. The Dead Sea is about 408 m below sea level. The
lake’s salt content is 25% (the world’s highest salt content water
body). Ancient people called it the Sea of Salt. Local people call it
that up to this day.
There is practically no rainfall there: the rainfall is 50 mm per year,
and there is really hot- the temperature is 32 °and 39° C throughout
the year. We walked along the Dead Sea shore and touched the water.
Water leaves an oily touch, because it is so salty (34g of salt per
liter of water). Therefore, it is not possible to swim in the Dead Sea;
one can only hover in the water.
The Dead Sea is one of the most widely advertised health settlements
in the world, with its medicinal properties known already for two
thousand years. This is one of the first health resorts in the world, a
place mentioned even in the Holy Scriptures. The saltiness of ordinary
seawater is about 3%, while in the Dead Sea it is about 27%. Magnesium,
potassium, calcium chloride and various bromides rejuvenate the skin,
improve the functioning of the nervous system, accelerate blood
circulation, strengthen bones and nails, and relax the muscles, while
giving strength to the body and improving the immune system.
A number of kibbutzim are located in some oases of the Dead Sea. These
are cooperatives in which people engage in agricultural production and
live on the sale of these products. According to data from 2010, 270
kibbutzim made up 40% of Israeli agricultural output. Historically,
kibbutzim have also been involved in national defense tasks.
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