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MASADA

(Gk. Masada)

A rock fortress on an isolated high hill surrounded by precipitous cliffs and therefore nearly impregnable, located 16.5 km. (10 mi.) S of En-gedi on the western shore of the Dead Sea, across from the Lisan Peninsula. Scholars generally agree that it was the Hasmonean high priest Alexander Janneus (103-76 b.c.e.) who originally constructed the fortress, which consisted of four small palaces. In 40 b.c.e., under siege by Antigonus and the Parthians, Herod’s family remained at Masada while Herod fled to Rome. His family nearly died from lack of water, but a sudden summer storm saved their lives (Josephus Ant. 14.390-91). Herod rebuilt the fortress, adding eight cisterns, storehouses, a palace-villa with frescoes, three terraces, and a casement wall ca. 1280 m. (1400 yds.) long with 110 rooms inside its walls and towers. In 66 c.e., during the First Jewish Revolt against the Romans, the Zealots seized Masada from a Roman garrison (Josephus BJ 2.408). Then, under Eleazar, they held off a prolonged Roman siege by Flavius Silva and the Tenth legion until 73/4 c.e., several years after the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. According to Josephus, 960 Sicarii and Zealots, all the inhabitants except two women and five children, committed suicide rather than fall into the hands of the Romans (BJ 7.389-400). This is similar to his own experience in 68 b.c.e. when, as general of the Jewish forces in Galilee, he was defeated by Vespasian; but while other Jews in hiding with him chose to commit suicide rather than be captured by the Romans, Josephus surrendered (BJ 3.387-92).

Excavations by Yigael Yadin in 1963-64 yielded many remains from the Herodian period: inscriptions, ostraca, “freedom” coins from the First Jewish Revolt, and a mikveh (ritual bath). Also discovered were fragments of biblical and nonbiblical manuscripts similar to those found in the caves near Qumran: Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Ezekiel, a scroll of Pss. 81-85, Ps. 150, , the Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice, and Hebrew original manuscripts of Sirach and Jubilees.

Bibliography. Y. Yadin, “The Excavation of Masada — 1963-64: Preliminary Report,” IEJ 15 (1965): 1-120; Masada: Herod’s Fortress and the Zealots’ Last Stand (New York, 1966).

Lynne Alcott Kogel

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

MASADA

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)