How did Qumran get started?
6-23-22
First you have the Old Testament. Then 400 years of silence. And then the New Testament. During the 400 years of silence. Antiochus Epiphanes sacrificed a pig on the alter and desecrated the temple. Enter the Maccabees. This was the beginning of Hanukkah. Then Antiochus Epiphanes began to persecute the Jews. He started with the priests.
The priests were led by the Holy Spirit to leave. They started a community, a commune on the edge of the dead sea. 8 miles from Jersulam. This became Qumran. When they left, they took the temple scrolls with them to Qumran. These priests were the sons of Zadok. Well, there was a bunch of other people who were also being persecuted. These people came to Qumran for protection and provisions. Other people joined them. For instance, if you are a young mother and your husband died. You could go and live in Qumran. And learn “the way”. More Essenes.
The sons of Zadok said sure you can live with us. But we will teach you “the way”. These people became the Essenes.
Jesus said I am “the way” the truth and the life. No one cometh unto the Father but by me.
Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Matthew 3:3 Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Matthew 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness
Matthew 22:16 Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth,
Mark 1:3 Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Mark 10:52 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Mark 12:14 but teachest the way of God in truth
Luke 1:79 to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Luke 24:35 And they told what things were done in the way,
John 1:23 Make straight the way of the Lord,
John 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. *
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Acts 9:27 and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way,
Acts 16:17 which shew unto us the way of salvation.
Acts 18:25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord:
Acts 18:26 and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
Acts 24:14 that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
Romans 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is non that doeth good, no, not one.
1 Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
The above is red letter.
Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
There is more, but you get the idea.
“The Way” is mentioned 379 times in the Bible. If half of them refer to direction, it is still a lot.
Forever in His Love
Diane Ebaugh Sutton