Dead Sea Scrolls

As you can see, we seem to stay busy, and not just with books. Last weekend, we were offered tickets to the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit. If you have the opportunity, go see it. What makes the exhibit so interesting is the background information that is provided - about the community, the methods of copying and storing the scrolls, how many were found, etc. What I really found fascinating were the signs that hung beside each display, with the text shown in the Hebrew that I can read! There are also coins in the display with Greek inscriptions which I actually recognize! Just think - two years ago I am not sure I would have even recognized a Hebrew letter; now I can translate them!

The other thing we were able to do while at Discovery Place is go to the IMAX movie. It is not directly related to the Scrolls exhibit, but close. A group ran the Nile river, from the source (Blue Nile in Ethiopia) all the way north to Alexandria, Egypt. More than three months on the river, in rubber rafts, going over water falls and being chased by crocodiles! It is a great movie - plenty of information on Africa and the Nile river, info on rafting, and incredible footage of the sights along the way.

I am not sure which was better, but having done both was very much an experience which translated well into seminary life, learning stories that occurred in that part of the world, learning the language that is used to decipher the scrolls and other artifacts of Qumran, as well as a day off from studies which translated into a learning experience!