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Re: orion-list Sennacherib Destruction Layer at Qumran



David Suter writes,

> Russell,
>  
>  Interesting.  Does the change of dating have any implications for the
>  periods in which we are generally interested?
>  
>  This mailer seems to want to reply to the sender alone rather than the 
list,
>  but if you have a significant answer to the question, don't hesitate to 
post
>  it to the list.
>  
>  David 

    I can see no earth-shaking implications, since there was no continuity of 
occupation at Qumran from the Judean kingdom to Hasmonean times.  The only 
point of potential contact with scrolls studies I see is via the list 
presented at Josh. 15:61-62, "In the wilderness [i.e., of Judea], 
Beth-arabah, Middin, and Secacah, and Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and 
En-Gedi; six cities with their villages."  This list appears to roughly 
correspond with the wilderness fortresses near the Dead Sea destroyed by 
Sennacherib.
    As general background, L. E. Stager, "Farming in the Judean Desert during 
the Iron Age", BASOR 221 (1976) 145, dates the destruction of these cities to 
the time of Nebuchadnezzar based on the faulty premise (following Alt) that 
the fortresses of wilderness district at Josh 15:61-62 were constructed under 
Josiah.  (Among other criticisms, their destruction by Sennacherib appears 
inconsistent with this thesis.)  F.M. Cross and G.E. Wright, "The Boundary 
and Province Lists of the Kingdom of Judah", JBL 75 (1956) 202-226, presents 
arguments that the province lists of Judea in Josh 13-19 came from the time 
of Jehoshaphat.
    Secacah is mentioned in the Copper Scroll, where is has been suggested to 
refer to Qumran; the city of Salt is thought by some to refer to Qumran.  
What is interesting and somewhat puzzling (to me) is that these place names 
(notably Secacah) seemingly persisted from the time of Sennacherib down to 
the time of the scrolls, despite the lapse in occupation.

Russell Gmirkin

For private reply, e-mail to RGmyrken@aol.com
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