I've read a bit about the Dead Sea Scrolls before watching this, but I went into my re-watch trying to not let the most recent information influence my watching. I like how Nimoy starts this episode by taking us back into the past. Who doesn't enjoy seeing Roman Legions in reenactment?
Nimoy makes reference to a Jewish sect known as the "Essenes" who have been associated with the scrolls, but he hasn't yet said anything about the scrolls which is a good production choice, I like the idea of setting the context. After the "In Search Of... "music he continues with the history lesson. He mixes video from modern Jerusalem with a description of what it would have been like centuries ago. He tells us, "Jerusalem is a city wearied by war" reminding us of the violence and conflict in the Middle East that continues to this day. He tells us how nearby Bethlehem, known as the birthplace of Christ, was also known as a trading hub for Nomads. In 1947, we are told, a Nomad four this way to a small shop planning to sell a "rotting parchment" he had found in the desert. Nimoy describes kind of an oasis in the desert where water has flowed "for as long as history has been recorded". Nimoy tells us about "Ein Feshkha" and how during the Six Day War, Israel pushed Jordan from the area and was currently in possession of the area. Nimoy tells us about Israel's intentions in the Six Day War and how this has resulted in a harsh life along the West Bank.
He next tells us of a place known as Masada, today reachable by cable car, but in ancient times only accessible by a perilous climb. More history from Nimoy as he talks about the Zealots and how the city where they lived was fortified. More video of Roman Legions! Nimoy explains how the Romans conquered the area. After three years of fighting, Nimoy tells us the Zealots new the end was near. Here is where things get interesting!
Apparently the drew lots to chose a man to oversee their own deaths rather than surrender. They had heard about Qumran, a settlement of Jews who had been defeated by the Romans earlier. We learn how the Jews there innovated a series of canals to bring water to their settlement. He also describes their government style and how they used what he describes as "ritual cleansing". While talking about this we see video from the modern ruins of Qumran. He explains how they conducted their lives and kept records of their beliefs, their government, and their society on scrolls which were stored in clay jars.
According to the Roman historian Josephus, there was a terrible earthquake in 31 BC. Perhaps the community scattered to the hills as a result of this earthquake? There is evidence today of new construction at the settlement following the earthquake.
Next, Nimoy talks about the Bedouin and how they lived a nomadic lifestyle for centuries. Back to the Nomad in 1947 now. We learn his name was Muhammed edh-Dhib. He was chasing a stray goat and was unable to read or write when he went into a cave and found the clay pots with the scrolls in them that would become known as the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Our first guest of the episode! Professor John C. Trever (who sadly passed away in 2006) tells us how he was a Fellow at the American School of Oriental Research in Jerusalem when he became the first scholar to see the scrolls in 1947. He would go on to publish two books on the subject (one before the airing of this episode and one after) and teach at several Colleges in the US. You can hear the excitement in his voice as he explains what happened. The Bedouin agent was trying to figure out their worth, only to discover they were worth much more than they thought. Isn't this the way most valuable treasures are discovered?
Trever's take-away is the notion that the scrolls were about a thousand years older than the previously known Biblical manuscripts. Jordanian authorities stepped in to help secure the location under the notion that there would be more scrolls in the cave. Nimoy tells us that as word moved faster than the Jordanian police, the Bedouins in the area likely picked the caves clean before they could be secured. Eventually, scroll fragments were purchased from the Bedouin. It's implied that there may have been other scrolls recovered not yet known to scholars.
Nimoy explains the importance of the scrolls to us. "Basically the scrolls provide a two thousand year old verification of the accuracy of the Old Testament as known to modern men. The uniformity of the versions was astonishing." Nimoy tells us of another discovery made in Qumran in 1952 that amounts to an accoutering of buried treasure. Nimoy asks, "Could this be the lost treasure of Jerusalem lost in the Roman attack of 70AD?" Whoa... I had to look this one up. A few minutes down this rabbit hole revealed a documentary made in 1972 for the BBC by a British man named Henry Lincoln, who by seem accounts, inspired Dan Brown's character of Robert Langdon in the Da Vinci Code Books. Apparently Mr. Lincoln based his assertions on some found documents that were much later shown to be forgeries. Thus discrediting the notion of a lost treasure of Jerusalem. This would have happened years after this episode aired so we can forgive Nimoy for mentioning it.
After this brief interlude he talks more about the Biblical significance of the region almost as if he is telling us there could be more hidden in the area that would verify Biblical manuscripts or even reveal never before recorded stories form the era. He tells us we know the sect there believe they were living in the final days before "judgment day" anticipating the "apocalypse".
According to Nimoy, "The written contributions of Qumran live on today in Jerusalem's Shrine of the Book. Qumran's spirit is alive too. Many of today's Jews are following the traditions established there so long ago."
"All who believe in faith are in some way indebted to the people who labored in the desert to preserve it. Qumran was destroyed and its inhabitants put to the sword. Perhaps, however, the ultimate victory that they prayed for was theirs after all?" An interesting statement from Nimoy. Is he implying that the collapse of the Roman Empire and persistence of Judaism today is evidence of this? Or is he implying something else?
Less than 2 minutes left and we see Nimoy for the first time in this entire episode! I'm loving the White coat with the oversized collar here!
Maybe its because I'm not all that religious, but I thought this episode was a bit boring. I'm a historian and I appreciate the intriguing aspects of history, but I jus thought these stories were not intriguing enough. I think it may be because Nimoy feels in 1977 that the tip o the iceberg has been seen and more important information is out there to be found, and yet, it has now been 40 years and no major discoveries have come from the Dead Sea Scrolls or anything else in the area. It just feels like the Dead Sea Scrolls may have once sparked mystery and curiosity, but not so much today. I prefer the episodes that feel like if the mystery is solved it could radically alter our perception fo the world and this episode didn't feel like that. I say "A" for effort, but feel free to skip it!
You can watch this episode "Dead Scrolls" below.
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