{"id":645,"date":"2016-12-12T22:14:00","date_gmt":"2016-12-12T22:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochellesroost.com\/index.php\/2016\/12\/12\/mount-of-olives-and-around-the-dead-sea-qumran-and-masada\/"},"modified":"2026-10-08T04:59:45","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T04:59:45","slug":"mount-of-olives-and-around-the-dead-sea-qumran-and-masada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochellesroost.com\/index.php\/2016\/12\/12\/mount-of-olives-and-around-the-dead-sea-qumran-and-masada\/","title":{"rendered":"Mount of Olives and Around the Dead Sea: Qumran and Masada"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\nNov 26, Sat: <\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\nMount of Olives-Qumran-Masada-Dead
\nSea.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nView from the Mount of Olives:      <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nWhat
\nwas to be the official last day of our tour saw us rise and have a buffet
\nbreakfast in Hotel Arthur.<\/i> As a
\nresult of the Sabbath, everything was very quiet. Moti ushered us into our van
\nand led us to the Mount of Olives for a really close look at the vast amount of
\nJewish graves from a high vantage point. This site also offered magnificent
\nviews over Jerusalem with the Dome of the Rock, of course, dominating the
\nlandscape. We could also see the great towering walls of the city and the
\ncourtyard in front of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the courtyard in front of the
\nWestern Wall. We took a number of group, couple and individual pictures here in
\nthis very busy location which was made worse by the traffic jam of tourist
\nbuses that were plying the area and the presence of camels on which tourists
\nwere getting rides. Chaos reigned supreme, but somehow we managed to make our
\nway out of there. <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nDrive to the Dead Sea:<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n            <\/span>Since we were off to the Dead Sea, I
\nhad asked Moti if he could possibly take us to the spot where the famous Dead
\nSea Scrolls had been found. I had read about this discovery as being one of the
\nmost historically important in the area and I was keen to see the place. Moti
\nwished to oblige, but he did tell me that all we\u2019d be able to do was get off
\nthe van and see the spot from a distance. He said that had I told him that I
\nwas keen to go there, he would have suggested that we leave the hotel half an
\nhour earlier. Had we done so, we could have gone to the actual spot where a
\nplatform has been erected and where visitors can watch a movie on the creation
\nand discovery of the scrolls. <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nVisiting Qumran\u2014Site of the Dead
\nSea Scrolls:<\/span><\/b>      <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nThe
\ndrive to the Dead Sea was long but we did stop at Qumran which is the site
\nwhere the scrolls were found. It looks no better than rocky mountainous
\nwilderness in which caves are naturally created by wind erosion\u2014we could see
\nseveral such caves high on the mountain during our drive there. The Dead Sea
\nScrolls (so-called because they are in the vicinity of the Dead Sea) are a
\ncollection of 981 scrolls that were found between 1946 and 1956 in eleven caves
\nin the Qumran area. Current scholarly consensus is that the scrolls date from
\nthe last three centuries BC. <\/span>They
\ninclude the third oldest known surviving manuscripts of works later included in
\nthe Hebrew Bible canon<\/span>. <\/span>Most of the texts are written in Hebrew with some in Aramaic <\/u>(in
\ndifferent regional dialects, including Nabataean), and a few in <\/span>Greek<\/span><\/a>. If discoveries from the <\/span>Judean
\ndesert<\/span><\/a> are included, <\/span>Latin<\/span><\/a> (from <\/span>Masada<\/span><\/a>) and <\/span>Arabic<\/span><\/a> (from <\/span>Khirbet al-Mird<\/span><\/a>) can be added. Most texts are written on <\/span>parchment<\/span><\/a>, some on <\/span>papyrus<\/span><\/a> and one on <\/span>copper<\/span><\/a>. The scrolls have traditionally been identified with the
\nancient <\/span>Jewish sect<\/span><\/a> called the <\/span>Essenes<\/span><\/a>, although some recent interpretations have challenged
\nthis association and argue that the scrolls were penned by priests in <\/span>Jerusalem<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Zadokites<\/span><\/a>, or other unknown Jewish groups. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nOwing to the
\npoor condition of some of the scrolls, not all of them have been identified.
\nThose that have been identified can be divided into three general groups: some
\n40% of them are copies of texts from the Hebrew Scriptures; approximately
\nanother 30% of them are texts from the <\/span>Second
\nTemple Period<\/span><\/a> which ultimately were not <\/span>canonized in the Hebrew Bible<\/span><\/a>, and the
\nremaining roughly 30% of them are <\/span>sectarian<\/span><\/a> manuscripts of
\npreviously unknown documents that shed light on the rules and beliefs of a
\nparticular group (<\/span>sect<\/span><\/a>) or groups
\nwithin greater Judaism, like the <\/span>Community Rule<\/span><\/a>, the <\/span>War Scroll<\/span><\/a>, the <\/span>Pesher
\non Habakkuk<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>The Rule of the Blessing<\/span><\/a>. In Biblical
\nterms, the scrolls are invaluable to both Jews and Christians as they contain
\nevery book of the Old Testament except for the Book of Esther\u2014which is probably
\nstill concealed somewhere. The scrolls were found in pottery jars and are in
\nsuch a fine state of preservation because the desert air is so dry. Originally
\nfound by a Bedouin shepherd who wished to use the parchment to make a pair of
\nshoes, they eventually passed on to an archeologist who engaged a team of
\nscholars to work on them. When their antiquity was established, they were found
\nto be the most valuable body of items unearthed in recent times in Israel.
\nArrangements were made to house them in what is now the Israeli Museum in
\nJerusalem where a special wing was constructed to exhibit them.<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nOur group took
\npictures at the Qumran site and then proceeded towards the next item on our
\nagenda: A Visit to Masada.<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nVisiting Masada:<\/span><\/b> <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nMasada lies in
\nthe midst of the desert\u2014literally in the middle of nowhere\u2014and I was amazed
\nafter we arrived at the spot (at the entrance to Masada National Park) how many
\nbusloads of tourists had arrived to scour the area. It is amazing that the
\nplace is called Masada because it is exactly that: a mesa or flat-topped
\nmountain which is a fortification in the middle of the Judean desert
\noverlooking the Dead Sea. Herod the Great built palaces on the mountain
\nfortress between 37 and 31 BC\u2014a palace built in tiers on a promontory that
\noverlooks the desert.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nBut the spot has
\nreally leapt in significance because of the deeply moving story associated with
\nthe Siege of Masada that involved the Roman legions and the Sicari people who
\ntook refuge there. These Sicari had fled from the Roman garrisons and climbed
\nthe mountain to set up camp here. When the Roman followed them and began to
\nplot their destruction, they began their campaign by constructing a ramp (using
\ncaptured Jewish slaves) on one side of the mountain. The Sicari kept killing
\nthese workers to prevent the completion of the ramp\u2014but they soon took the
\ndecision to stop killing their own people (although it meant that the Romans
\nwould complete the ramp and reach them). <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nWhen eventually
\nthe ramp was ready, the Romans created a battering ram in order to burst
\nthrough the structures that made up the settlement. However, the Sicari took
\nthe joint decision to kill every single member of their community rather than
\nhave women raped and their sons taken as slaves. Hence, they appointed nine men
\nto kill every member of the community and when the nine were the only ones
\nleft, they drew lots to decide who would kill the remaining eight and then
\neventually kill himself. This is referred to as the \u201cTerrible Resolve\u201d. When
\nthe Romans arrived at the site, they discovered 960 bodies  <\/span>strewn all over the settlement.  <\/span>The horror of the story has given rise to a
\nmotion picture called Masada.<\/i><\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nToday, thanks
\nto the romance associated with this tale, Masada has become the second most
\nvisited Jewish site in Israel (after the Western Wall). In order to scale it,
\nvisitors can take one of two well-defined trails and climb all the way up.
\nHowever, the easier and more popular method is the cable car which transports
\npeople up and down in a matter of minutes. Once up, there are a vast number of
\nstructures to be seen in varied stages of ruin\u2014some are mere piles of rubble,
\nothers are re-constructed rooms with the original fresco decoration still in
\nplace. From the heights, one can look out over the stone foundations of the
\nbases occupied by the Roman legions (there are three of these) as well as
\nobtain stirring views of the wilderness and the Dead Sea. There is a museum at
\nthe base that explains the siege and its outcome in more detail, but most of
\nthe pottery, jewelry, etc. that was archeologically excavated from the site can
\nbe found at the Israeli Museum in Jerusalem. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nWe spent a lot
\nof time at the site. The cable car ride was enjoyable if very short and the
\nviews as we went higher were wonderful. Moti provided a great deal of detailed
\ninformation as we moved from one site to the next. There is a very nice Visitor
\nCenter at the base which provides more information. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nLunch and Stop at Ahava Factory Outlet:<\/span><\/b><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n            <\/span>We had lunch in the caf\u00e9 at Masada
\nbefore we set off in the van again towards the Dead Sea. As we began speaking
\nof the cosmetic value of the salts and mud, Moti offered to stop our van at the
\nAhava Factory Outlet. This cosmetics company which was founded about 20 years
\nago has cornered the market in this product (although there are a lot of other
\nlesser-known companies that make similar products). Inside, we watched a movie
\nthat talked about the benefits of the Dead Sea salts and we found a number of
\ncosmetics for skin and hair and a few members of our group did end up buying
\nsome products. We did not spend long there as we headed on to the Dead Sea.<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nFloating on the Dead Sea:<\/span><\/b><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n            <\/span>The Dead Sea is so-called because it
\nis so high in salinity that no creature is able to survive in it. It is
\nrenowned for the fact that its specific gravity is so low that nothing can sink
\ninto the sea. Fed by the River Jordan, the Sea is land-locked and since it has
\nno outlet and the temperature in the desert is so hot, evaporation takes place
\nat such a high rate that he water dries up leaving heavy salt content behind.
\nThe mud at the bottom of the sea is, therefore, super-saturated with mineral
\nsalts that are supposedly very good for the skin and are said to have healing
\nproperties. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nLlew and I had
\nbeen in the Dead Sea before\u2014on the Jordanian side when we had toured Jordan, a
\nfew years ago. However, we looked forward to donning our swim suits and getting
\na dunk in with our friends. I was also keen to actually feel the sensation of
\nfloating as I had not attempted to float the last time. Again, busloads of
\npeople kept pouring into the area and the changing rooms (that Moti pointed out
\nto us) were packed. There were bathrooms, toilets and changing cubicles but
\nthese were mobbed. Somehow, we managed to change, after leaving our bags and
\nvaluables with Gemma who sportingly sat guard as she was unable to climb up and
\ndown the long flights of stairs that led to the water\u2019s edge.<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nWe had the time
\nof our lives in the Dead Sea. Fleurette provided a great deal of entertainment
\nwith her terrified squealing as she made her way in. The majority of us dunked
\nourselves with help from each other as we negotiated our way in as the base was
\nnot just rocky and uncomfortable on the soles of our feet but terribly
\nslippery. Once we were in, however, there was no stopping us. We also helped
\neach other turn over on our backs and start to float. The sensation was indescribably
\namazing and we enjoyed every second of it. We also smeared the mud from the
\nbase over our bodies and were astonished by the softness of our skin as we
\nwashed the salts off. Truly it was an incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience.
\nMoti took many pictures of our group as we sat in the water with so many people
\nfloating around us.<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nJust a little
\nwhile later, we showered at the water\u2019s edge (where a queue had formed to use
\nthe shower), and shivered all the way up to the changing rooms. A good hot
\ncoffee was very much in order at that point and thanks to Glen who treated us,
\nI felt much less shivery. We then piled back into our van and made our way to
\nthe Hotel. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nDinner at Shanty<\/i> Restaurant:<\/span><\/b><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nThis was truly
\nour last dinner as we would be airborne the following morning. We called a
\nplace called Shanty <\/i>which was really
\ndifficult to find, but once we did settle down, we found the atmosphere and the
\nroom lovely. We ordered Pad Thai and Shrimp with Lemon-Pepper Sauce as well as
\ncocktails. It was a rather poignant end to our wonderful adventures. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nSome of our
\nmembers were leaving at dawn, others right after breakfast. Since Llew and I
\nwould be boarding our flight only at 1. 40 pm, I figured that we did not need
\nto leave as early as the others. Instead, having become fascinated by the Dead
\nSea Scrolls, I managed to talk Llew into accompanying me to the Israeli Museum
\nand we made arrangements with the Hotel Reception to hire a cab for us that
\nwould take us to the museum, wait for us while we were inside and then take us
\nto the airport. And on that happy note, we spent our last night in Israel.<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nov 26, Sat: Mount of Olives-Qumran-Masada-Dead Sea. View from the Mount of Olives:      What was to be the official last day of our tour saw us rise and have a buffet breakfast in Hotel Arthur. As a result of the Sabbath, everything was very quiet. Moti ushered us into our van and led us to… <\/p>\n

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