Essenes: Encyclopedia - Essenes

Essenes

The Essenes (es'-eenz) were a religious sect of Judaism that flourished from the 2nd century BC to the 1st century AD in Qumran, a plateau in the Judean Desert along the Dead Sea. The origin of the name Essene is debated. Some credible possibilities are either a version of the Greek word for "holy," or an Aramaic dialect term for "pious." Geza Vermes, a scholar and writer on religious history, traces the word to the Aramaic "Esaoin", meaning "followers of Esa". Vermes identifies this with Isa, an early name for Jesus; other scholars disagree with this etymology.

In their writings, the Essenes refer to themselves as the "Sons of Light". Many scholars today believe there were a number of separate but related groups that had in common mystic, eschatological, messianic, and ascetic beliefs that were referred to as the "Essenes."

Essenes - History

The Essenes were supposed to have come into existence as a protest following the purchase by Yehoshua Ben-Shimon II (Jason son of Simon) of the high priesthood from Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 175 BC. Subsequently the Essenes referred to Yehoshua ben Shimon and his genealogically unqualified successors as The Wicked Priest (Kohein ha-Resha lit. bad priest, instead of Kohein ha-Gadol). However, others have suggested that Queen Salome Alexandra's son Hyrcanus II (63 BC-?) and the other Roman collaborators that succeeded to him are the best qualified for the Wicked Priest appellation. Either way the new illegitimate priesthood became known as the Sadducees.

It is thought that the memories of a certain Yeshu (110-70) in the Talmud may refer to one who the Essenes called Matif ha-Kaza (the babbling preacher of lies). Likewise the man of lies (Ish ha-Kazav) has been identified variously as his contemporary Shimeon ben Shetah (80-50) or the later R. Shammai (40 BC-AD 20). It is thought that to secure the position of Av Beth Din, Shammai drove his predecessor Menahem, his & Hillel's followers to become Essenes. The aged Shammai attained complete ascendancy until AD30 after Hillel died in AD 20 and Shammai passed the 18 measures. That day is compared to the day the golden calf was built (Shabbat 17A).

Essenes - Beliefs

The Essenes were the followers of a group of priests who had essentially rejected the Second Temple. They argued that the Essene community was itself the new Temple, although they did not reject the notion of the temple outright. Eventually, they believed, they would be triumphant, gaining control of the temple and remaking it according to their own ideals. Accordingly, the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 was for them a symbol of imminent victory. With this came the end of the Sadducees and the end of the house of Shammai. They also believed strongly in the end-times and wrote an entire scroll on that subject. The "Rule of War" detailed the battle plans for the "final" battle.

Essenes - Rules and Customs

The Essenes were known for their strict monastic life. From what we can deduce, the Essenes' food was not allowed to be transformed (by being cooked, for instance). They were strict vegetarians, eating mostly bread, wild roots and fruits. They practiced collective ownership, and were forbidden from swearing, sacrificing animals, making weapons, having slaves or trading. After a two to three year noviciate, the new joining members would renounce all earthly pleasures and start a monastic life. They would take an oath pledging to be truthful, pious, and just.

Essenes - Dissolution

When the Romans overran Jerusalem in 70 CE, the Essenes believed this to be time to fight the great and final battle with the Sons of Darkness, as prophesied. They had prepared for it and apparently threw everything they had into it. They may have thought they were unbeatable, according to prophecy, but they were not strong enough to withstand the Romans. The majority of the Essenes were destroyed by the Roman legions in AD 68 as part of the Roman movements to take back Judea. The last few remaining Essenes were no longer able to maintain their identity, and some merged with the Hillelite Pharisees, out of which was born the tradition of Rabbinical Judaism.

Essenes - Parallels and Influences

The Essenes are discussed in detail by Josephus and Philo. Many scholars believe that the community at Qumran that allegedly produced the Dead Sea Scrolls was an offshoot of the Essenes; however, this theory has been disputed by Norman Golb and other scholars. Some suggest that Jesus was an Essene, and that Christianity evolved from this sect of Judaism, with which it shared many ideas and symbols.

According to Martin A. Larson, the now misunderstood Essenes were Jewish Pythagoreans who lived as monks. As vegetarians, celibates, and self-reliant communists who shunned marriage and family, they preached a coming war with the Sons of Darkness. As the Sons of Light, this reflected a separate influence from Zoroastrianism via their parent ideology of Pythagoreanism. According to Larson, both the Essenes and Pythagoreans resembled thiasoi, or cult units of the Orphic mysteries. John the Baptist is widely regarded to be a prime example of an Essene, and it is believed they aspired to emulate their own founding Teacher of Righteousness who was probably crucified.

Essenes - Modern Essenes

Several new religious movements claim descent from the ancient Essenes and describe themselves as Essenes. These groups believe that the Bible has been changed by various hands to censor Essene beliefs in the scriptures, such as reincarnation, the feminine aspect of God and vegetarianism.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Essenes", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki