MASADA

A. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Primarily, the history of this famous site is confined to the Roman Period, beginning with the grand building projects of Herod the Great and concluding with the Roman siege of this “fortress city” in 70-73 A.D.   This natural rock fortress, impressive to everyone, towers tall along the western shores of the Dead Sea.  With the exception of a few potsherds found representing Old Testament days, the first real signs of inhabitation begin in the 1st century B.C.  Josephus (Wars VII, 285) states that a fortress was built at Masada by “the high priest Jonathan.”  This could have been the brother of Judas Maccabeus of Alexander Jannaeus.  The place was still referred to as a fortress when, in 42 B.C, it was taken by Malichus, an antagonist of Antipater, Herod’s father (Josephus, Antiq., XIV, 280-303).

It was Herod the Great who used Masada as a safe retreat for his family in 40 B.C., before leaving for Rome.  After his return he built a completely new fortress on the site.  Josephus describes the new fortress in minute detail (War, VII, 280-300): “He built a wall surrounding the mountain top, seven stadia long, twelve cubits high, and eighth cubits wide, and on the wall all around he built thirty seven towers.  Herod also built himself a palace on the western decline, below the wall which surrounded the peak, and everywhere Herod hewed cisterns out of the rock (these cisterns, square and plastered with a waterproof mortar, could contain a total volume of 1,440,000 cubic feet of water), and in that manner he was able to provide water for those living there as though there were springs at their disposal.  Thus, the fortress was fortified by Heaven and man alike against any enemy who might wage war against it.”   

Little is known of Masada in the years immediately following Herod’s death, but it is most improbable that it was left unoccupied.  What is known with certainty is that at the beginning of the First Revolt (66 A.D.) the fortress was held by a Roman garrison (Josephus, WAR, II, 408, VII, 297).  This garrison was soon expelled by the Jewish Zealots, who held Masada until May 2, 73 A.D.  Under the leadership of Menechen Ben Yehuda of Galilee, this city of  967 people withstood the 3-year attack of an army numbering between 10,000 and 15,000 troops commanded by Silva, the Roman General.  The Romans built a retaining wall and 8 separate camps around this fortress to contain these Zealots.  However, equipped with the inspiration of Bible scrolls they had brought to Masada with them, these Zealots took their own lives on May 2nd before the Roman army infiltrated the city.  

In the words of El’azar, the religious leader of this community, “For from olden times we have undertaken to serve neither the Romans nor any other lords, except God only, for He alone rules over man  in truth and justice.  We shall die before we become slaves to the enemy, and remain free as we leave the lands of living - we, our wives, and our children.  And the one who remained after them all, examined the mass of those who lay on the ground, and when he has assured himself that all were dead, he set fire to all corners of the royal palace, and with his full strength he drove his sword into his body up to the hilt, and fell dead beside his kinsmen.  Thus they all died believing that they had left no living souls behind to bear the Roman yoke. (Josephus, War, VII).”

B. BIBLICAL/EXTRA BIBLICAL REFERENCES

1.  I Sam. 24:16f  It is to this area that David flees from the pursuit of King Saul.  This may be the “stronghold” mentioned in the text.  Perhaps David’s thoughts in the wilderness and his trust in the Lord can be seen in the following Psalms: 18,31,55,61,62,63,103,139.

2.  Wars VII/285  The high priest Jonathan builds the fortress here in the 2nd century B.C.

3.  Wars I/263   In 40 B.C., Herod the Great flees to Masada before the invading Parthians.  

4.         Wars VII/280f   Josephus’ description of Herod’s building projects.  Also, Josephus’ description of the fall of Masada in 73 A.D. to Silva and his Roman army.

C. ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS OF INTEREST

1.  IRON AGE I:  A few isolated potsherds were discovered.

2.  HELLENISTIC II/HASMONAEAN:  A few coins from the time of Alexander Yannai were discovered.  Still, any fortifications or structures/ buildings are scarce.

3.  ROMAN I:   During this building phase of Herod, the earliest signs of fortifications and buildings appear.   Virtually the entire 2,000 feet long Upper Plateau gives evidence of Herod’s building projects.  These finds include:  towers, walls, houses, a store-house, and cisterns.   In order to bring the water from the wadi (river bed) below, Herod built an aqueduct, diverting the water into these12 large cisterns/reservoirs. On the Northern Plateau Herod built a palace complete with 3 rock terraces, colonnades, and painted frescos.  Also, a complete bath-house, 35 X 30 feet is most impressive.  A Western Palace also was built and can be seen today.  Looking below, evidence of a Roman wall and 8 Roman camps can be clearly seen!

During the time of the Revolt, remains of every-day life can be seen. A Jewish miqva (ritual bath) and a synagogue have been unearthed as well as fragments of various Biblical scrolls these Zealots brought with them from below.

4.  ROMAN II:  A few coins of the Roman garrison have been found.           

5.  BYZANTINE:  A church was discovered, apparently indicating that early Christians inhabited this “towering fortress in the desert.”  This church, complete with an attractive mosaic, was built close to the Western Palace and consisted of an atrium and a single nave.