More on the Essenes
The Essenes are one of four groups attested as a Jewish sect by the first century Jewish Historian in Antiquities 18.18-22 (Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots are the others).
The Essenes are one of four groups attested as a Jewish sect by the first century Jewish Historian in Antiquities 18.18-22 (Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots are the others). The other groups attested by Josephus there all existed, so there is no reason to think Josephus created this group as has been recently claimed, especially since there is no good reason for him to create such a group and references in Philo predate Josephus. So besides Josephus, the Essenes are described by Philo (Quod omnis Probus 12-13.75-91) and Pliny (Natural History 5.15/73).
The claim the name is absent in the Scrolls is challenged by some (Stephen Goranson, "Others and Intra-Jewish Polemic as Reflected in the Dead Sea Scrolls" in The Dead Sea Scrolls after Fifty Years, Peter Flint and James VanderKam, eds., pp. 534-551, argues they are self described as "doers of Torah" and the name comes from being a "doer"). The derivation of their name is still discussed, but Goranson’s view looks likely. Others appeal for etymology to the idea of "healers" with spiritual healing being in view, since Josephus says they had interest in medical substances and healing. Another idea is that it is a variant on the Syriac word for pious, which is a nice fit since the documents that come from the group refer to the group as the holy ones. Of the three the idea of the doer of Torah may be the best current option.
This was an aesthetic Jewish community that kept the Law very strictly. The claim was that they lived a celibate life, though some think this restriction involved periods of celibacy versus permanent celibacy, since celibacy was frowned upon by the Law. Another option is that it refers to only a minority within the group. If the Qumran community is any guide, there was an emphasis on religious purity and there was a qualification process before one could become a full member. They also kept a distinct calendar, a solar one versus the common Jewish lunar calendar. Josephus first mentions them by referring to an Essene known as Judas in the time of Aristobulus I (105-104 BC; Ant. 13.311).
This group is commonly identified as the separatist Jewish community at Qumran. Their library the Dead Sea Scrolls revolutionized the study of Jesus by giving us a solid glimpse at the variety of Jewish views in the time of Jesus, supplementing what little we knew about Judaism in the region from Josephus, by giving us a fresh array of religious texts from the period. Whatever the Qumranians were called and wherever they came from, their finds have helped us appreciate the Jewish roots of Jesus better by giving us the backdrop into which he spoke.
10 Comments
Ivan Karel
Essenes
Dr Bock.
N.Golb as Michael Wise quoted his statement in “DJG” mentioned “Jerusalem hypothesis” referred to postdates the First Revolt, describes a community living on the shores of DSS after AD 70. It’s also supported by “Copper Scroll” that points back to Jerusalem,
Kindly please comment about this argument.
Thank You.
Ivan Karel
bock
Essenes dlb
A well known minority position that cannot explain all the mikvaot (washing areas) at Qumran.
dlb
Anonymous
Essenes
Dr Bock , thank You.
So does it mean that the mikvaot is the strong evidence of Essenes living in the Shore ?.
ivan
bock
Essenes dlb
Ivan:
Yes, it is evidence of a very pious community
Mitch Larramore
Doer of the Torah
Dr. Bock:
Would Paul have had this group in mind when he wrote about the “doer of the law” not the hearer (Rom 2), those who will receive glory and honor? If so, is this a favorable reference (indeed an endorsement) of them and their separation from the Pharisees? I’m also wondering, since for 1st century readers of Paul’s epistles, knowledge of the Essenes and the Pharisees would have been part of their cultural knowledge. The way you’ve described this group, I’m very surprised there is no explicit reference to them in Jesus’ teachings, or are they? Were they mentioned in his parables?
Mitch
bock
Doer of Torah dlb
Mitch:
I do not think this is who Paul is referring to in Romans 2, since he argues later that one cannot keep the law and here he has Gentiles in mind who do so without the law.
The Essenes do not appear in the NT because they had largely separated from the larger society and so were not a major factor in it.
dlb
Mitch Larramore
Doer of Torah, follow up
Dr. Bock:
The implicit ‘condemnation’ of those in Jerusalem by the Essenes (due to their withdrawal), coupled with the fact that Jesus was likewise condemning the leaders of Judaism (those in Jerusalem), would lead me to believe that Christ would have presumed that the Jews in Jerusalem would likely be thinking something close to “I guess the Essenes are right”? I’m perhaps making an incorrect assumption that the Essense were considered “option B” if option A (Judaism/Phariseeism) was not the correct way to practice their religion. If Christ were to condemn Protestants today for getting it wrong; would our natural assumption be, “The Catholics were right after all.” (Not the best analogy, but it was the first one to come to mind.)
Can you make it so we don’t have to go through the Captcha twice, and even once would be preferable, unless you are getting gobs of SPAM.
Mitch
bock
Doer of Torah, Part Deux dlb
Mitch:
First, I can’t do anything about Captcha other than let the folks who run the site know. We do get tons of SPAM.
The Essenes were not the only other game in town. Jesus’ choice to engage was obviously different from the Eseene’s policy of withdrawing. Sadducees and Pharisees were both options and in the city engaged in life.
dlb
Mitch Larramore
Final Essene question
Dr. Bock,
Lest I be seen as beating a dead horse, I’ll make this my final question, but your remarks on this group has provoked my interest. [1] In hindsight, based on the DSS discoveries, how influential do you consider the Essenes to have been during the first half of 1st century? Were they a “highly secretive” group, considered by most in the public to be extremists? [2] By way of analogy or comparison, what two group today would be a good comparison or parallel to how the 1st century Pharisees/Sadducees viewed the Essenses? This may be an unfair question but I was hoping one example comes immediately to your mind, perhaps something like moderate Islam compared to Al- Qaida?
Mitch
bock
Final Essene dlb
Mitch:
The only influence they appear to have had is that others ahred their hope that God would come and judge those responsible for the unfaithful activity at the temple (ie, they influenced John the Baptist or at least had a similar view of things). As for contemporary parallels, I am not sure there is one for them, since they had largely withdrawn from engaging.
dlb