Vanity: Questions about Jewish history

[Nachum]

Streeeeetch? A land devoid of Vultures? There are hundreds of better explanations for the presence of those bodies.

I did not say that the bodies were not protected from predators. I said that over almost 2000 years, the bodies survived decomposing. That is THE explanation for the bodies' skin not decomposing over time.

[Nachum]

Such a wonderful experience you have had.

Indeed! It was a little cool on the day when we got to the dead sea. (We saw both Masada and the dead sea on the same day). No one on the tour wanted to go in. My son (13 years old) says, "I'm goin in!". And I, realizing it might be a long while until I might get to go back jumped in with him- cold dead sea water or not.

[MindBender26]

Laugh if you will, but my Bible As History prof in college had studied that for his thesis and found contradictory evidence that pointed both ways.

[Natural Law]

I thought the three tenants of every Jewish Holy Day were:

1: We broke the Covenant
2: God forgave us
3: Let’s eat

Mazel tov.

[amom]

So my next question...were you able to float in the Dead Sea? I see online where it is credited with many healing agents also. I had no idea it was so low, 417 meters below sea level. The view from the Masada was spectacular I am sure.

Your son now has memories that will carry him for the rest of is life. And thanks to him you have had a swim in the Dead Sea.

I wish for you that you have that opportunity at least once more.

I stumbled across this most interesting website while participating on this thread and wanted to share it with you.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Archaeology/Masada1.html

I hope you enjoy.

[Radix]

You might consider a search on the h’apiru. Most conventional Historians (are the 1970s conventional?) consider the H’apiru to be the progenitors of the ancient Hebrews and of course modern day Jews.

Mostly contemporary History commentators and History Professors would care to simply dismiss the Israelites as simply an anomaly. They however cannot dismiss the rule of David and later Solomon as those 2 rulers actually had a bit more impact on modern society than a host of other Kings & conquerors of antiquity.

Those two Israelites also ruled the known world for a brief moment.

Who the heck would ever have heard of Nebuchadnezzar, Artaxerxes, Darius the Med, Cyrus, et al if it were not for the Biblical accounts?

So called scholars?

Forgive me if I do not puke on line over the likely objections.

[Radix]

You meant to post “The Source” in the item.

The Covenant was about the history of South Africa.

[Nachum]

Oh yes. You can't help it. Our bodies are so bouyant that as one walks in deeper the feet begin to lose contact with the bottom. Before you know it, your bobbing like a cork, LOL. There is a famous story of someone who falls asleep floating and then floats all the way accross to Jordan before waking up.- The main thing is don't put your face in the water as the salt will sting. If you have any open cuts, they will sting. The good news is that those cuts will heal within a day.

Health benefits indeed.

There are a number of hotels right on the edge of the dead sea for those who come to float for health benefits. The German health care system will pay for a visit on the national health plan for certain illnesses. There are many stories of the sick finding cures in the dead sea.

Thank you for your wish. I pray that you will be able to have the opportunity to visit too.

Your link to Masada sure brings back a memory! We walked all along the top and saw some amazing things. There was the second oldest synagogue in atiquity ever discovered on the top. There were baths with origingal tile-work still intact. The view at the top is spectacular. We took the tram up to the top with our tour group. If I have the chance to go again, I am going to walk up to the top on the ancient road. (one advantage to going during the cooler winter months)

[MindBender26]

For my wife, they are;

1: There’s a sale!
2: Look how much I “saved!”
3: Let’s eat (out.)

[amom]

LOL man floats to Jordon...he must have healed quite a bit on that trip. :0) Makes sense the salt in the water would sting an open cut; healing within a day...now that’s quite something. I just looked and found the salt can be purchased online. AHAVA Products makes and sells this along with other items.

Ohhhhh to spend a week at one of the hotels you mention...wouldn’t that be wonderful? German health care system knows a good thing evidently.

Thank you for your prayer; it is appreciated.

I’m glad you enjoyed the link. A walk to the top would be another great experience indeed.

[bert]

Thanks for the correction. Damn.

[Philo-Junius]

There’s as much reason to think the Danites might have (mostly) been a splinter of the Indo-European Sea Peoples who seem to have been the progenitors of the Philistines who broke away from the Philistine League and accepted Hebrew leadership and alliance.

This would explain the archaeological similarities and the documentary accounts both of the special enmity between the Danites and Philistines and the Danites ultimate decision to relocate to the northern tip of the Promised Land from the lands assigned to them in Scripture.

From that point of view, a tribal connexion between Dan and Denmark could exist, but as one of common origin in the Indo-European hearthland north of the Caucasus, not a migration between Denmark and Israel—in either direction.

[Philo-Junius]

Most obviously, this also makes sense of the very idea of a marriage between Samson and Delilah.