http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qumran#Recent_archaeological_analysis Extract - In their book "Archaeology of the Hidden Qumran, The New Paradigm" archaeologists Minna Lonnqvist and Kenneth Lonnqvist brought a modern approach to the Qumran studies based on contextual archaeology with its spatial studies and interpretation of symbolic language of the archaeological data, arguing that the Dead Sea Scrolls had been driven out from their archaeological context by the text scholars who had only focused their studies on the scrolls. Ever since the publication of the book contextualism has been part of the Qumran studies. The Lonnqvists, who had carried out a survey in situ at Qumran, studied unpublished archaeological finds and read scrolls, argued that the scrolls and the settlement are associated to an Essene-type of group which, however, finds the closest parallels in the contemporary Jewish Therapeutic group known to have lived in Egypt.[72] ----- Dr. Thiering extends the argument - Thiering Description of the Therapeuts http://groups.yahoo.com/group/qumran_origin/message/73 >From tribes to evangelists http://groups.yahoo.com/group/qumran_origin/message/1576 "It was Herod=92s ascetic advisers who composed the Temple Scroll, setting out the scheme of mission to outer places, deriving the positions from the body of the Heavenly Man. Their relative independence of Herod =96 shown also in their criticisms of his conduct in the same scroll =96 is shown in their placement of non-Herodian orders in the main positions. They were soon to separate from Herod, when he turned down their plan." "The south wall of the plan was assigned to these Therapeuts and their associates. In the scheme of four Living Creatures, they were said to be led by the Lion, the layman who was lowest of the four. The Lion in Ezekiel=92s description was on the south, and Egypt lay in the south. It was further appropriate that the southern wall, which corresponded to row 13 in the vestry, contained at its centre that part of the anatomy of HM that could be symbolised by the Lion. As shown in Gen 41: 45, 50-52 , the double tribe of Ephraim and Manasseh (Joseph) had originated in Egypt, said to be the product of Joseph=92s marriage with the daughter of an Egyptian priest. They had come to occupy large parts of the territory of Judea, Samaria and Transjordan. These areas preserved Egyptian solar traditions, and Therapeuts =96 who in fact were the main instigators of the mission =96 established meeting places there. Ephraim-Manasseh are placed on the south wall in recognition of their Egyptian origin." Pillars of Cloud and Fire http://groups.yahoo.com/group/qumran_origin/message/1598 "The Therapeuts were one of the Essene related groups that formed the Qumran community, and were probably the primary agents in the mission programme. Their imagery, however, was only one of the sets used =96 the Adam, Noah and Abraham stories were also drawn on. The NT shows a strong Therapeutic influence. In 1 Cor 10:1-5, the Christ is placed, strangely, in the Exodus story. The =91fathers=92 of the passage lived, not centuries before, but in the generation before Paul, that of Therapeuts who included the David as the =91Joshua=92 of their Exodus-Holy War drama. "I want you to know, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptised into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock following, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness." "The earthquake of 31 BC destroyed part of the north-south courtyard adjoining the vestry, the courtyard that I believe was their substitute sanctuary. When the buildings were re-occupied shortly before the turn of the era, non-monastics moved in, chiefly Therapeuts who had become militant. They continued the practice of constant prayers at the exact hours, prayers that had formerly been offered in the sanctuary. As the archaeologists found, it was in this phase that a set of steps was built outside the north wall of the vestry, leading up to a platform above the northern half of the vestry. It was from this platform, open to the sky, that the prayers were offered towards heaven, acting also as time signals." David Christainsen Newton, Mass. USA Other posts:
• =?windows-1252?Q?Hadrian=92s_Hard=2DWon_Victory_=2D_Romans_Suffer_Severe_?=
=?windows-1252?Q?Losses_in_Jewish_War?=
• Milwaukee museum produces dead sea scrolls exhibit • Uncovering Secrets of the Sphinx- American archaeologist Mark Lehner • My criticism of Yaron Ben-Ami's analysis of the work of Magen and Peleg (Qumran archaeologists) • Archaeologists have begun the search for an ancient civilization in southern Spain • The Lonnqvists argue for a connection between the Therapeuts and Qumran • Archaeology: What an Ancient Hebrew Note Might Mean / "Christianity Today" • Earliest Known Hebrew Inscription Bolsters Biblical Account of David's Kingdom • The world's first charter of human rights - the Cyrus cylinder • Jordan wants the Dead Sea Scrolls back from Israel • Qumran was an Essene monastery based on Broshi/Eshel review of Magness |