The Last Supper

as described by Dr. Barbara Thiering, PhD in 

"Jesus and the Riddle of the Dead Sea Scrolls"

     "The Last Supper and the trial of Jesus took place in the vestry, a long room running down from the south-east corner of the courtyard that had been the substitute sanctuary.   The remains of the fireplace at which Peter stood during the trial are still to be seen there."

     "All gospels say that the crucifixion and events preceding it took place in "Jerusalem", using the plural form of the word.  [explanation here]  As has been seen, the distances of places given in the gospels, measured in stadia, fit exactly the outposts of Qumran, but remain vague when related to Jerusalem."

     "The book of Revelation speaks of "the great city which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified". [Rev. 11:7]  Qumran was near the ancient site of Sodom, and the name also reflected a criticism brought by the opponents of the male celibate order meeting there, headed by Judas.  Qumran could also be called "Egypt" when the Therapeutae met there, as has been seen."

      "John's gospel makes a point of saying that the notices over the crosses could be read from the "city".   This would have been unlikely if they were set up outside the heights of Jerusalem, but easy if the crosses were set up, as other indications show, on the southern esplanade at Qumran, only a matter of yards south of the back entrance and on the same level."

      "When Qumran had been set up as a New Jerusalem, its various areas had been called after those in the capital, making it a small scale reproduction.   The aqueduct running down the center became the "Kidron"; on its west were the "city" and the "temple"; on its east, the large monastery building was the "Mount of Olives".  The large hall for villagers on the south side outside the walls was a "garden", as this was a name for a place for villagers."

     "While the long courtyard to the west of the round well had originally been the sanctuary, the vestry south of the well was thought of as the "city", as it was the place where the priests ate their meals and changed out of their vestments into ordinary garments.  Here they were "in the body", a stage below their holier state in the sanctuary.   The room, ten cubits or five yards wide and some thirty cubits long, had two sections, the northern one raised a cubit above the southern, so that it acted as a dais to the southern one.   The northern part, where the table stood, was the "upper room" (katalyma).   The table was placed east-west across it, not far from the edge of the dias.   It was this arrangement that set the basic pattern for a Christian church: the holy table on a raised platform, with the communion rail at the edge of the dais."

     "At 6 PM, thirteen men came to this table and took their places.  The pattern of seating had been long established.   Jesus and Jonathan Annas sat in the centre, Jesus as the King on the west and Jonathan as the Priest on the east.   They were on elevated couches a little back from the table itself, and in front of them, nearer the table, were their respective Seconds, Peter in front of Jesus and Judas in front of Annas.  Peter acted as a "son" to Jesus in his position of king, and Judas had just formed the alliance with Annas that placed him there."

      "On the south side of the table, opposite the double place in the centre, was John Mark, the Beloved Disciple.   The other members were distributed on either side of the centre, both the north and south of the table."

       "The meal, a regular evening meal such as was held every night by the sectarians, was to last four hours, the first two being for taking common food to satisfy hunger, the next two for the sacred part.   In each part, the first hour was for solid food, the second for drink."

        "It was based on a meal of villagers, where the owner of a house acted as host to guests, including a visiting priest and levite.   The host took the seat of the king, and Jesus, in this position for the first two hours, did the work of the host.   One of these duties was to wash the feet of his guests, including recipients of welfare who may have been invited to the table.   Jesus performed this task at the beginning of the meal, then resumed his place, to preside over the serving of the common food.   At 7 PM he blessed and distributed a cup of fermented wine, the common drink, taken by some but not all of those present (as some had the practice of orders like the Therapeutae, abstaining from all wine)."

       "At 8 PM came the time for the sacred food, the communion.   Jesus could partake of it, as he was now restored to the celibate state.   At this point, as John's gospel records, "he was troubled in the Spirit".   A play on words conveys that he turned to Jonathan Annas beside him (called the Spirit in one of his many titles) and contested his position."

       "While the issue was in doubt, it was also doubtful which of the two, Peter or Judas, would be his Second during the communion.   If he moved to the priestly side, it would be Judas.   When he said "One of you will give beside me" (paradidomi in Greek), there was another play on words: it could mean either "betray" or act as assistant minister".   He pointed to Judas, but Peter, sitting in front of him, could not see where he was pointing.   Peter beckoned to John Mark, sitting on the opposite side of the table, who was able to show him that Jesus was claiming the priestly side.  At the same time John Mark changed from one side of his double seat, "the bosom", to the other, to be opposite Jesus.   Jonathan Annas yielded, and moved to the position of king."

      "Judas now knew that in Jonathan Annas he had the extra ally he needed.  He stayed for another hour, acting as an assistant to Jesus in the distribution of the communion bread.   But shortly after 9 PM, when the sacred wine was served, he had reason to make his excuses and leave, for he was one of those who did not drink wine."

       "Until 10 PM Jesus presided in the position of priest, receiving and answering questions according to the rules of order.   Then it was time to close proceedings; at 10 PM they sang a hymn, and Jesus said "Arise, let us go hence."

Jesus and the Riddle of the Dead Sea Scrolls --- page 105-107