Secacah
Secacah (
Khirbet Qumran
.
Ancient name
The
Greek versions of the Hebrew Bible, Secacah is transcribed as Σοχοχα in LXX-A but is written Aιχιoζa in LXX-B. In the latter source (LXX-B), however, the place names of Joshua 15:61–62
seem to have been corrupted.
References in Biblical and post-biblical sources
Secacah is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, Joshua 15:61, as part of the Tribe of Judah's inheritance. The roster of towns in
En-gedi.[2] Although Secacah is only listed once in the Hebrew Bible, it is mentioned several times in the Copper Scroll
, 3Q15 4-5, in reference to the hiding places of the treasures mentioned in this document. The description of Secacah includes a dam and an aqueduct (3Q15 4:13 and 5:1-3) and associates the place with Jericho (3Q15 5:13).
Location and identification
The town of Secacah is listed along with six other towns and related settlements in the wilderness of Judah, situated along the western bank of the
John Marco Allegro, however, identified Khirbet Qumran (nearby the Buqê’ah) with Secacah.[4] Although it is most famous as the archaeological site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, excavations have revealed that Qumran was initially inhabited during the Iron Age. The Iron Age remains found there include a LMLK seal (similar to the one found by Cross and Milik at es-Samrah). In addition, the water system at Qumran, which dates to the early Roman Period, is consistent with the description of Secacah in the Copper Scroll.[5]
References
- ISBN 90-04-12445-4
- ISBN 965-220-487-0
- ^ Cross, F. M., and J. T. Milik. "Explorations in the Judaean Buqê'ah." Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 142 (1956): 5–17.
- ^ Allegro, J. M. The Treasure of the Copper Scroll (Garden City: Doubleday, 1960) p. 68
- ^ Eshel, H. "A Note on Joshua 15:61–62 and the Identification of the City of Salt" Israel Exploration Journal; 45 (1995): 37–40.