The Jesiah Scrolls: A Tale of Worship and Forgiveness in First Temple Israel

Shortly after the Seven Day War, an illegal politically-dangerous tunnel was dug underneath the Temple Mount by Hasidic Rabbis. A crude vault was found reportedly filled with ancient long lost temple paraphernalia, scrolls and other items. A group of professional archaeologists were urgently ordered into the vault to catalogue the clandestine find. They were discovered by Muslim guards on the top of the Temple Mount. Riots ensued. The so-called "Rabbi Tunnel" and subsequent riots are quite historical. The fictional The Jesiah Scrolls picks up the thread of the story at this point. Israeli officials work quickly to cover up the find with a gag order. To-date, no evidence of the finds have seen the light of day, nor has there been any confirmation of the find from anyone in authority. Officially no vault was found. Shortly after the political furor, the lead archaeologist on the site began to tell his young sons wonderfully detailed bedtime stories about a young shofar blower in King Solomon's temple. The stories told of the day-to-day life, feelings and conflicts of people in Iron Age II Jerusalem, the golden days of Israel, long before any Jew would have imagined even the remotest possibility of the temple being destroyed not once but twice. This was a wonderfully naïve Israel. The Jesiah Scrolls is a Jewish tale of priests in Solomon's Temple during the 22 day High Holy Day celebrations. The three weeks are tragically marred by a shocking betrayal that will send shockwaves throughout the Temple priesthood-a betrayal with ancient unresolved shadows. What makes The Jesiah Scrolls unique is that it is both an entertaining tale and a thoroughly researched scholarly treatise on the First Temple. For students of First Temple Israel, this book could surprise you. Can the priests deal with a horrible divisive scandal-- before this celebration unravels before the very eyes of God and all Israel? Welcome to The Jesiah Scrolls!

Bill is the Lead Pastor at Lookout Mountain Community Church in Golden, Co. He lives in the Denver front range with his wife Eunice and children.