Essenes

1
Essenes
Part of a series on
Jews and
Judaism
Etymology
Who is a Jew?
Jewish peoplehood
Jewish identity
Category
Judaism portal
WikiProject
The Essenes (in Modern but not in Ancient Hebrew: , Isiyim; Greek: , , or , Essnoi,
Essaoi, Ossaoi) were a sect of Second Temple Judaism that flourished from the 2nd century BCE to the 1st century
CE which some scholars claim seceded from the Zadokite priests.
[1]
Being much fewer in number than the Pharisees
and the Sadducees (the other two major sects at the time), the Essenes lived in various cities but congregated in
communal life dedicated to asceticism, voluntary poverty, daily immersion, and abstinence from worldly pleasures,
including (for some groups) celibacy. Many separate but related religious groups of that era shared similar mystic,
eschatological, messianic, and ascetic beliefs. These groups are collectively referred to by various scholars as the
"Essenes." Josephus records that Essenes existed in large numbers, and thousands lived throughout Roman Juda.
The Essenes have gained fame in modern times as a result of the discovery of an extensive group of religious
documents known as the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are commonly believed to be Essenes' libraryalthough there is
no proof that the Essenes wrote them. These documents include preserved multiple copies of the Hebrew Bible
untouched from as early as 300 BCE until their discovery in 1946. Some scholars, however, dispute the notion that
the Essenes wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls.
[2]
Rachel Elior questions even the existence of the Essenes.
The first reference is by the Roman writer Pliny the Elder (died c. 79 CE) in his Natural History.
[3]
Pliny relates in a
few lines that the Essenes do not marry, possess no money, and had existed for thousands of generations. Unlike
Philo, who did not mention any particular geographical location of the Essenes other than the whole land of Israel,
Pliny places them in Ein Gedi, next to the Dead Sea.
A little later Josephus gave a detailed account of the Essenes in The Jewish War (c. 75 CE), with a shorter
description in Antiquities of the Jews (c. 94 CE) and The Life of Flavius Josephus (c. 97 CE). Claiming first hand
knowledge, he lists the Essenoi as one of the three sects of Jewish philosophy
[4]
alongside the Pharisees and the
Sadducees. He relates the same information concerning piety, celibacy, the absence of personal property and of
money, the belief in communality and commitment to a strict observance of Sabbath. He further adds that the
Essenes ritually immersed in water every morning, ate together after prayer, devoted themselves to charity and
benevolence, forbade the expression of anger, studied the books of the elders, preserved secrets, and were very
mindful of the names of the angels kept in their sacred writings.
Essenes
2
Pliny, also a geographer and explorer, located them in the desert near the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea, where
the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in the year 1947 by Muhammed edh-Dhib and Ahmed Mohammed, two
Bedouin shepherds of the Ta'amireh tribe.
Name
Josephus uses the name Essenes in his two main accounts
[5][6]
as well as in some other contexts ("an account of the
Essenes";
[7]
"the gate of the Essenes";
[8]
"Judas of the Essene race";
[9]
but some manuscripts read here Essaion;
"holding the Essenes in honour";
[10]
"a certain Essene named Manaemus";
[11]
"to hold all Essenes in honor";
[12]
"the
Essenes").
[13][14][15]
In several places, however, Josephus has Essaios, which is usually assumed to mean Essene
("Judas of the Essaios race";
[16]
"Simon of the Essaios race";
[17]
"John the Essaios";
[18]
"those who are called by us
Essaioi";
[19]
"Simon a man of the Essaios race").
[20]
Philo's usage is Essaioi, although he admits this Greek form of
the original name that according to his etymology signifies "holiness" to be inexact.
[21]
Pliny's Latin text has
Esseni.
[22]
Josephus identified the Essenes as one of the three major Jewish sects of that period.
[23]
Gabriele Boccaccini implies that a convincing etymology for the name Essene has not been found, but that the term
applies to a larger group within Palestine that also included the Qumran community.
It was proposed before the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered that the name came into several Greek spellings from a
Hebrew self-designation later found in some Dead Sea Scrolls, 'osey hatorah, "observers of torah." Though dozens of
etymology suggestions have been published, this is the only etymology published before 1947 that was confirmed by
Qumran text self-designation references, and it is gaining acceptance among scholars.
[24]
It is recognized as the
etymology of the form Ossaioi (and note that Philo also offered an O spelling) and Essaioi and Esseni spelling
variations have been discussed by VanderKam, Goranson and others. In medieval Hebrew (e.g. Sefer Yosippon)
Hassidim ("the pious ones") replaces "Essenes". While this Hebrew name is not the etymology of Essaioi/Esseni, the
Aramaic equivalent Hesi'im known from Eastern Aramaic texts has been suggested. Others suggest that Essene is a
transliteration of the Hebrew word Chitzonim (chitzon=outside), which the Mishna (e.g. Megila 4:8) uses to describe
various sectarian groups. Another theory is that the name was borrowed from a cult of devotees to Artemis in Asia
Minor, whose demeanor and dress somewhat resembled those of the group in Judaea.
[25]
Location
Remains of part of the main building at Qumran.
According to Josephus, the Essenes had settled "not in one city" but "in
large numbers in every town".
[26]
Philo speaks of "more than four
thousand" Essaioi living in "Palestine and Syria",
[27]
more precisely,
"in many cities of Judaea and in many villages and grouped in great
societies of many members".
[28]
Pliny locates them "on the west side of the Dead Sea, away from the
coast [above] the town of Engeda".
Some modern scholars and archaeologists have argued that Essenes
inhabited the settlement at Qumran, a plateau in the Judean Desert
along the Dead Sea, citing Pliny the Elder in support, and giving
credence that the Dead Sea Scrolls are the product of the Essenes. This view, though not yet conclusively proven,
has come to dominate the scholarly discussion and public perception of the Essenes.
[29]
Josephus' reference to a "gate of the Essenes" in his description of the course of "the most ancient" of the three walls
of Jerusalem, in the Mount Zion area,
[30]
perhaps suggests an Essene community living in this quarter of the city or
regularly gathering at this part of the Temple precincts.
Essenes
3
Rules, customs, theology and beliefs
The accounts by Josephus and Philo show that the Essenes led a strictly communal life often compared by scholars
to later Christian monastic living. Many of the Essene groups appear to have been celibate, but Josephus speaks also
of another "order of Essenes" that observed the practice of being engaged for three years and then becoming
married.
[31]
According to Josephus, they had customs and observances such as collective ownership,
[32][33]
electing
a leader to attend to the interests of the group, obedience to the orders from their leader.
[34]
Also, they were
forbidden from swearing oaths
[35]
and from sacrificing animals.
[36]
They controlled their tempers and served as
channels of peace, carrying weapons only for protection against robbers.
[37]
The Essenes chose not to possess slaves
but served each other
[38]
and, as a result of communal ownership, did not engage in trading.
[39]
Josephus and Philo
provide lengthy accounts of their communal meetings, meals and religious celebrations.
After a total of three years' probation,
[40]
newly joining members would take an oath that included the commitment
to practice piety towards "the Deity" ( ) and righteousness towards humanity, to maintain a pure lifestyle, to
abstain from criminal and immoral activities, to transmit their rules uncorrupted and to preserve the books of the
Essenes and the names of the Angels.
[41]
Their theology included belief in the immortality of the soul and that they
would receive their souls back after death.
[42]
Part of their activities included purification by water rituals, which was
supported by rainwater catchment and storage.
Ritual purification was a common practice among the peoples of Palestine during this period and was thus not
specific to the Essenes. Ritual baths are found near many Synagogues of the period.
The Church Father Epiphanius (writing in the 4th century CE) seems to make a distinction between two main groups
within the Essenes: "Of those that came before his [Elxai, an Ossaean prophet] time and during it, the Ossaeans and
the Nazarean."
[43]
Epiphanius describes each group as following:
The Nazarean they were Jews by nationality originally from Gileaditis, Bashanitis and the Transjordan
They acknowledged Moses and believed that he had received laws not this law, however, but some other.
And so, they were Jews who kept all the Jewish observances, but they would not offer sacrifice or eat meat.
They considered it unlawful to eat meat or make sacrifices with it. They claim that these Books are fictions,
and that none of these customs were instituted by the fathers. This was the difference between the Nazarean
and the others
[44]
After this Nazarean sect in turn comes another closely connected with them, called the Ossaeans. These are
Jews like the former originally came from Nabataea, Ituraea, Moabitis and Arielis, the lands beyond the
basin of what sacred scripture called the Salt Sea Though it is different from the other six of these seven
sects, it causes schism only by forbidding the books of Moses like the Nazarean.
If it is correct to identify the community at Qumran with the Essenes (and claim that the community at Qumran are
the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls), then according to the Dead Sea Scrolls the Essenes' community school was
called "Yahad" (meaning "community") in order to differentiate themselves from the rest of the Jews who are
repeatedly labeled "The Breakers of the Covenant".
Scholarly discussion
The Essenes are discussed in detail by Josephus and Philo. Most 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
some, for example, by Norman Golb:
Golb argues that the primary research on the Qumran documents and ruins (by Father Roland de Vaux, from the
cole Biblique et Archologique de Jrusalem) lacked scientific method, and drew wrong conclusions that
comfortably entered the academic canon. For Golb, the amount of documents is too extensive and includes many
different writing styles and calligraphies; the ruins seem to have been a fortress, used as a military base for a very
long period of time including the 1st century so they could not have been inhabited by the Essenes; and the large
Essenes
4
graveyard excavated in 1870, just 50 metres east of the Qumran ruins was made of over 1200 tombs that included
many women and children Pliny clearly wrote that the Essenes that lived near the Dead Sea "had not one woman,
had renounced all pleasure ... and no one was born in their race". Golb's book presents observations about de Vaux's
premature conclusions and their uncontroverted acceptance by the general academic community. He states that the
documents probably stemmed from various libraries in Jerusalem, kept safe in the desert from the Roman invasions.
Other scholars refute these argumentsparticularly since Josephus describes some Essenes as allowing marriage.
Another issue is the relationship between the Essaioi and Philo's Therapeutae and Therapeutrides. It may be argued
Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Words to watch#Unsupported attributions that he regarded the Therapeutae as a
contemplative branch of the Essaioi who, he said, pursued an active life.
[45]
One theory on the formation of the Essenes suggests that the movement was founded by a Jewish high priest, dubbed
by the Essenes the Teacher of Righteousness, whose office had been usurped by Jonathan (of priestly but not of
Zadokite lineage), labeled the "man of lies" or "false priest". Others follow this line and a few argue that the Teacher
of Righteousness was not only the leader of the Essenes at Qumran, but was also identical to the original Jesus [Essa]
about 150 years before the time of the Gospels. Lawrence Schiffman has argued that the Qumran community may be
called Sadducean, and not Essene, since their legal positions retain a link with Sadducean tradition.
[46]
The Saint Thomas Christians ("Nasrani") of southwestern India may have connections with the Essenes, according to
the Manimekalai, one of the great Tamil epic poems, which refers to a people called "Issani".
[47]
The high presence
of Cohen DNA amongst today's Nazareans make further support to the full or part Essene origin of the Malabar
Nazareans. The Essenes were often of Levite or Cohen heritage and this may further explain the frequent 'priestly
heritage' claims of several Nazerean families of India.
[48]
Connections with Kabbalah
According to a Jewish legend, one of the Essenes, named Menachem, had passed at least some of his mystical
knowledge to the Talmudic mystic Nehunya ben HaKanah, to whom the Kabbalistic tradition attributes Sefer
HaBahir and, by some opinions, Sefer HaKanah, Sefer HaPeliah and Sefer HaTemunah. Some Essene rituals, such
as daily immersion in the mikveh, coincide with contemporary Hasidic practices; some historians have also
suggested, that the name "Essene" is a Hellenized form of the word "Hasidim" or "Hasid" ("pious ones"). However,
the legendary connections between Essene and Kabbalistic tradition are not verified by modern historians.
Essenes in modern times
There are several modern Essene movements that sprung up before and after the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls
that are modeled on the Ancient Essene Order. The Order of the Essenes founded by Grace ann Brown at the turn of
the 19th-20th century, Rosicrucianism took it under its curriculum.
The Order of the Nazoreans Essenes, founded in the United States by Abba Yesai Nasrai (Davied Asia Israel) in
1981, is a syncretic school of religious thought which draws on Nazarean, Gnostic Christian, Buddhist, and
Manichaean beliefs and practices.
In Quebec, Canada and in France there is a French movement named The Essene Spirit which was founded by
Olivier Manitara.
In the United States there are several new Essene movements and Essene churches.
Essenes
5
References
[1] [1] F.F. Bruce, Second Thoughts on the Dead Sea Scrolls. Paternoster Press, 1956.
[2] Hillel Newman, Ph.D Bar Ilan University : Proximity to Power and Jewish Sectarian Groups of the Ancient Period Brill ISBN
90-04-14699-7.
[3] cf. English translation (http:/ / www. archive.org/ stream/ plinysnaturalhis00plinrich#page/ n281/ mode/ 2up).
[4] Josephus (). The Wars of the Jews. 2.119.
[5] Josephus (). The Wars of the Jews. 2.119, 158, 160.
[6] Josephus (). Antiquities of the Jews. 13.171-2.
[7] Josephus (). Antiquities of the Jews. 13.298.
[8] Josephus (). The Wars of the Jews. 5.145.
[9] Josephus (). Antiquities of the Jews. 13.311.
[10] Josephus (). Antiquities of the Jews. 15.372.
[11] Josephus (). Antiquities of the Jews. 15.373.
[12] Josephus (). Antiquities of the Jews. 15.378.
[13] Josephus (). Antiquities of the Jews. 18.11.
[14] Josephus (). Antiquities of the Jews. 18.18.
[15] Josephus (). The Life of Flavius Josephus. 10.
[16] Josephus (). The Wars of the Jews. I.78.
[17] Josephus (). The Wars of the Jews. 2.113.
[18] Josephus (). The Wars of the Jews. 2.567; 3.11.
[19] Josephus (). Antiquities of the Jews. 15.371.
[20] Josephus (). Antiquities of the Jews. 17.346.
[21] Philo (). Quod Omnis Probus Liber (http:/ / www. earlyjewishwritings. com/ text/ philo/ book33. html). XII.75-87.
[22] Pliny the Elder (). Natural History. 5.73.
[23] And when I was about sixteen years old, I had a mind to make trim of the several sects that were among us. These sects are three: - The first
is that of the Pharisees, the second that Sadducees, and the third that of the Essenes, as we have frequently told you - The Life of Josephus
Flavius, 2 (http:/ / www.deusdiapente. net/ science/ Bible Research/ LifeOfJosephus. pdf).
[24] For example, James C. VanderKam, "Identity and History of the Community." In The Dead Sea Scrolls after Fifty Years: A Comprehensive
Assessment, ed. Peter W. Flint and James C. VanderKam, 2:487533. Leiden: Brill, 1999. The earlies known proposer of this etymology was
P. Melanchthon, in Johann Carion, Chronica, 1532, folio 68 verso. Among the other proposers before 1947, e.g., 1839 Isaak Jost, "Die
Essaer," Israelitische Annalen 19, 1457.
[25] Essenes, Lawrence H. Schiffman, [[Reclaiming the Dead Sea Scrolls (http:/ / cojs. org/ cojswiki/ Essenes,_Lawrence_H.
_Schiffman,_Reclaiming_the_Dead_Sea_Scrolls,_Jewish_Publication_Society,_Philadelphia,_1994. )], Jewish Publication Society,
Philadelphia, 1994.]
[26] Josephus (). The Wars of the Jews. 2.124.
[27] Philo (). Quod Omnis Probus Liber (http:/ / www. earlyjewishwritings. com/ text/ philo/ book33. html). XII.75.
[28] Philo. Hypothetica (http:/ / www. earlychristianwritings. com/ yonge/ book37. html). 11.1. in Eusebius. Praeparatio Evangelica. VIII.
[29] Ellegrd, Alvar; Jesus One Hundred Years Before Christ: A Study in Creative Mythology, (London 1999).
[30] cf. map of ancient Jerusalem (http:/ / www.biblestudy. org/ maps/ ancient-jerusalem-large-map. html).
[31] Josephus (). The Wars of the Jews. book II, chap.8, para.13.
[32] Josephus (). The Wars of the Jews. 2.122.
[33] Josephus (). Antiquities of the Jews. 18.20.
[34] Josephus (). The Wars of the Jews. 2.123, 134.
[35] Josephus (). The Wars of the Jews. 2.135.
[36] [36] Philo, 75
[37] Josephus (). The Wars of the Jews. 2.125.
[38] Josephus (). Antiquities of the Jews. 18.21.
[39] Josephus (). The Wars of the Jews. 2.127.
[40] Josephus (). The Wars of the Jews. 2.137138. Josephus' mention of the three-year duration of the Essene probation may be compared with
the phased character of the entrance procedure in the Qumran Rule of the Community [1QS; at least two years plus an indeterminate initial
catechetical phase, 1QS VI]. The provisional surrender of property required at the beginning of the last year of the novitiate derives from
actual social experience of the difficulties of sharing property in a fully communitarian setting, cf. Brian J. Capper, 'The Interpretation of Acts
5.4', Journal for the Study of the New Testament 19 (1983) pp. 117-131; idem, '"In der Hand des Ananias." Erwgungen zu 1QS VI,20 und der
urchristlichen Gtergemeinschaft', Revue de Qumran 12(1986) 223-236; Eyal Regev, Comparing Sectarian Practice and Organization: The
Qumran Sect in Light of the Regulations of the Shakers, Hutterites, Mennonites and Amish, Numen 51 (2004), pp. 146-181.
[41] Josephus (). The Wars of the Jews. 2.139142.
[42] Josephus (). The Wars of the Jews. 2.153158.
[43] Epiphanius of Salamis (). Panarion. 1:19.
Essenes
6
[44] Epiphanius of Salamis (). Panarion. 1:18.
[45] Philo. De Vita Contemplativa (http:/ / www. earlychristianwritings. com/ yonge/ book34. html). I.1.
[46] James VanderKam and Peter Flint, The Meaning of the Dead Sea Scrolls, p.251.
[47] [47] Manimekalai, by Merchant Prince Shattan, Gatha 27
[48] [48] Weil, S. (1982)"Symmetry between Christians and Jews in India: The Cananite Christians and Cochin Jews of Kerala. Contributions to
Indian Sociology.
Further reading
Alexander, David; Pat Alexander (1983). The Lion handbook to the Bible. Tring: Lion Hudson.
ISBN0-86760-271-6.
Baldwin, James (1995) [1963]. The fire next time. New York City: Modern Library. ISBN0-679-60151-1.
Bauer, Walter; Robert A. Kraft (1996) [1971]. Orthodoxy and heresy in earliest Christianity. Mifflintown,
Pennsylvania: Sigler Press. ISBN0-9623642-7-4.
Bennett, Chris; Lynn Osburn and Judy Osburn (1995). Green gold the tree of life: marijuana in magic & religion.
Frazier Park, California: Access Unlimited. ISBN0-9629872-2-0.
Bergmeier, Roland (1993). Die Essener-Berichte des Flavius Josephus: Quellenstudien zu den Essenertexten im
Werk des judischen Historiographen. Kampen, Germany: Kok Pharos Publishing House. ISBN90-390-0014-X.
Bultmann, Rudolf (1987). "Significance of the Historical Jesus for the Theology of Paul". Faith and
understanding. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress. ISBN0-8006-3202-8.
Burns, Joshua Ezra (2006). "Essene Sectarianism and Social Differentiation in Judaea After 70 C.E". Harvard
Theological Review 99 (3): 24774. doi: 10.1017/S0017816006001246 (http:/ / dx. doi. org/ 10. 1017/
S0017816006001246).
Durant, Will (1993). Caesar and Christ. MJF Books. ISBN5-552-12435-9.
Eisenman, Robert H. (1997). James, the brother of Jesus: the key to unlocking the secrets of early Christianity
and the Dead Sea Scrolls. New York City: Viking Press. ISBN0-670-86932-5.
Ewing, Upton Clary (1994) [1963]. The prophet of the Dead Sea scrolls: the Essenes and the Early Christians,
one and the same holy people: their seven devout practices. Tree of Life Publications. ISBN0-930852-26-5.
OCLC 30358890 (http:/ / www. worldcat. org/ oclc/ 30358890).
Ewing, Upton Clary (1961). The Essene Christ. New York City: Philosophical Library. OCLC 384703 (http:/ /
www. worldcat. org/ oclc/ 384703).
Legge, Francis (1964). Forerunners and rivals of Christianity, from 330 B.C. to 330 A.D. New Hyde Park, New
York: University Books. LCCN 6424125 (http:/ / lccn. loc. gov/ 6424125). OCLC 381558 (http:/ / www.
worldcat. org/ oclc/ 381558).
Golb, Norman (1995). Who wrote the Dead Sea scrolls?: the search for the secret of Qumran. New York City:
Scribner. ISBN0-02-544395-X. OCLC 31009916 (http:/ / www. worldcat. org/ oclc/ 31009916).
Lewis, Harvey Spencer (1997) [1929]. Mystical Life of Jesus. San Jose, California: Ancient Mystical Order Rosae
Crucis. ISBN0-912057-46-7. OCLC 43629126 (http:/ / www. worldcat. org/ oclc/ 43629126).
Koester, Helmut (1971). "The Theological Aspects of Primitive Christian Heresy". In James McConkey
Robinson. The Future of our religious past: essays in honour of Rudolf Bultmann. New York City: Harper &
Row. OCLC 246558 (http:/ / www. worldcat. org/ oclc/ 246558).
Larson, Martin Alfred (1977). The story of Christian origins: or, The sources and establishment of Western
religion. Washington: J.J. Binns. ISBN0-88331-090-2. OCLC 2810217 (http:/ / www. worldcat. org/ oclc/
2810217).
Larson, Martin Alfred (1967). The Essene heritage: or, The teacher of the scrolls and the gospel Christ. New
York City: Philosophical Library. OCLC 712416 (http:/ / www. worldcat. org/ oclc/ 712416).
Sanders, E. P. (1992). Judaism: practice and belief, 63 BCE66 CE. London: SCM Press. ISBN1-56338-015-3.
OCLC 243725142 (http:/ / www. worldcat. org/ oclc/ 243725142).Wikipedia:Citing sources
Essenes
7
Savoy, Gene (1980) [1978]. The Essaei Document: Secrets of an Eternal Race : Codicil to The Decoded New
Testament. Reno, Nevada: International Community of Christ. ISBN0-936202-03-3. OCLC 13952564 (http:/ /
www. worldcat. org/ oclc/ 13952564).
Schiffman, Lawrence H. (1991). From text to tradition: a history of Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism. New
York City: Ktav Pub. House. pp.113116. ISBN0-88125-372-3. OCLC 23733614 (http:/ / www. worldcat. org/
oclc/ 23733614).
Schonfield, Hugh J. (1984). The Essene Odyssey: The Mystery of the True Teacher and the Essene Impact on the
Shaping of Human Destiny. Tisbury: Element Books. ISBN0-906540-49-6. OCLC 12223220 (http:/ / www.
worldcat. org/ oclc/ 12223220).
Schonfield, Hugh J. (1991) [1968]. Those Incredible Christians. Tisbury: Element Books. ISBN0-906540-71-2.
OCLC 13536522 (http:/ / www. worldcat. org/ oclc/ 13536522).
Shaw, George Bernard (2004) [1912]. Androcles and The Lion. Fairfield, Iowa: 1st World Library - Literary
Society. ISBN1-59540-237-3. OCLC 63203922 (http:/ / www. worldcat. org/ oclc/ 63203922).
Smith, Enid S. (October 1959). "The Essenes Who Changed Churchianity". Rays from the Rose Cross.
Vaclavik, Charles P. (1986). The vegetarianism of Jesus Christ. Three Rivers, California: Kaweah Publishing
Company. ISBN0-945146-00-0. OCLC 26054343 (http:/ / www. worldcat. org/ oclc/ 26054343).
Vermes, Geza and Martin Goodman. The Essenes According to the Classical Sources. JSOT on behalf of the
Oxford Centre for Postgraduate Hebrew Studie: Sheffield, 1989.
Lillie, Arthur (1887). Buddhism in Christendom, or, Jesus, the Essene (http:/ / www. archive. org/ stream/
buddhisminchrist00lilluoft/ buddhisminchrist00lilluoft_djvu. txt). 1 Paternoster Square, London: Kegan Paul &
Co.,.
External links
Historical Facts on Essene Culture (http:/ / keralaarticles. blogspot. com/ 2007/ 07/ essenes-part-ii. html)
Encyclopdia Britannica: Essenes (http:/ / www. 1911encyclopedia. org/ Essenes)
Catholic Encyclopedia: Essenes (http:/ / www. newadvent. org/ cathen/ 05546a. htm)
Jewish Encyclopedia: Essenes (http:/ / jewishencyclopedia. com/ view. jsp?artid=478& letter=E&
search=Essenes)
Scholar: The Essenes, Dead Sea Scroll 'authors,' never existed (http:/ / www. haaretz. com/ hasen/ spages/
1070797. html) - Haaretz, 13 March 2009.
Essenes and Others (http:/ / www. duke. edu/ ~goranson/ Essenes_& _Others. pdf): argues that the Hebrew
original form of the name later spelled "Essenes" is in some Qumran scrolls as a self-designation.
"Jannaeus, His Brother Absalom, and Judah the Essene," (http:/ / www. duke. edu/ ~goranson/ jannaeus. pdf)
Stephen Goranson, identities of Wicked Priest and Teacher of Righteousness, relevant to history of the Essenes.
( Thematically compiled comparison of the parallels in the ancient sources (http:/ / ccat. sas. upenn. edu/ ~humm/
Rs/ rak/ courses/ 225/ texts/ ESSENES)) Dead at 2009/09/22.
The Digital Dead Sea Scrolls/ Essenes (http:/ / dss. collections. imj. org. il/ community)
Article Sources and Contributors
8
Article Sources and Contributors
Essenes Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=574282190 Contributors: 203.109.250.xxx, A.Aboumrad, Adamgold33, Adnanmuf, Aerialrose, Aflsfkjhsfkjshf, Aherunar, Alansohn,
Alastair Carnegie, Aleenf1, Alemily, Alexb102072, Angel ivanov angelov, AnnaFrance, Antandrus, Antiuser, Archibald Tuttle, Ari89, AriellaMeira, Ariobarzan, Armon, Avraham, Awbeal,
Axeman89, Badagnani, Bart133, Belovedfreak, Bhairava, Big Brother 1984, Bob Burkhardt, Brandon, BrokenSegue, Bryanpeterson, Bsadowski1, Bvrly, Canaen, Carbuncle, Carl Francis,
Catalographer, Cfortunato, Charles Matthews, Chris Capoccia, ChrisG, ChrisGualtieri, Codex Sinaiticus, Conversion script, Coralapus, Craigy144, Cuchullain, Cureden, DARTH SIDIOUS 2,
DBlomgren, DJ Clayworth, Dadofsam, Dampinograaf, Darkfrog24, Dbachmann, Dboatsupreme, Dchmelik, Debresser, Deor, DionysiusThrax, Djwilms, Dougweller, Drawn Some, Dusty relic,
ECKnibbs, EamonnPKeane, Editor2020, Edivorce, Edwin Hale, Eequor, Ekwos, El C, Eliyak, Eliz81, Eric Kvaalen, Ernstblumberg, Essaios, Essenenetzarim, Eubulides, Evanh2008, Fady
Lahoud, Ferdinand Pienaar, Flammifer, Fratrep, Frze, Fustigate314159, F, GalaazV, Globle one, Goblin, Goodoldpolonius2, Gr8opinionater, Gregbard, Greychr, Gyrofrog, Hanina,
Hatasamadder, Hellbus, Henriknordmark, Hhcaas, Hmains, Hoof Hearted, Hugo999, Humjewharmony, Hydrargyrum, IZAK, Ihutchesson, Ikiroid, In ictu oculi, Ineuw, Iohannes Animosus,
Iridescent, Irmgard, James Crippen, Jayjg, Jguk 2, JoannaSerah, John Carter, John J. Bulten, John Vandenberg, JohnJohn, JohnManuel, Jonathan Tweet, Josiah Rowe, Jpers36, Jpgordon,
K8ey333, Kabra, Karl-Henner, Kazvorpal, Keithh, King of Hearts, Kugland, Kungfuadam, Kuratowski's Ghost, Kurtan, Kurykh, Kwamikagami, Kyle.Mullaney, Kyng, Laplandian, LarsRK,
Linas, Link zz, Lisa, Loremaster, Lowell Boggs, MPerel, Madhero88, Manuel Anastcio, Marek69, Mashford, Mentifisto, Metasailor, Michael C Price, Michael Devore, Michael Snow, Miguel
de Servet, Mindmatrix, Mississippifred, Mkbnett, Mogism, Mr. Absurd, MrOllie, Mykkkola, Naniwako, NawlinWiki, Neale Monks, Neddyseagoon, Nemain7, Neutrality, Nightcrawlersa,
Nirvana2013, Nivix, Nmpenguin, Nolewr, Noon, Nrgdocadams, Numbo3, Nv8200p, Officiallyover, Ohconfucius, Olivier, Omnipaedista, Only, Opelio, Optim, Orphan Wiki, Osprey9713,
PICmeUp, Palica, Paul August, Paul Pieniezny, Pearle, Per Honor et Gloria, PeterCanthropus, Peyre, Phil Bridger, Philip Trueman, PiCo, Piercetp, Piledhigheranddeeper, Polarloch,
Pseudo-Richard, Pseudomonas, Purpledogstar, Pvasiliadis, QaBobAllah, Quadell, Quatreryukami, Quebec99, RK, Rafael fraga pt, Reedy, Rettetast, Rich Farmbrough, Rjwilmsi, Robertgreer,
Rursus, Sayerslle, Shan, ShekinahLove, Shell Kinney, Show no mercy, SidP, SimonP, Slawojarek, Slrubenstein, Sophia, Spiros71, StAnselm, StarlitGlitter, Str1977, Stuthehistoryguy,
SummerPhD, Sunray, Susan M Miner, TDM89034, Tahc, Tameamseo, The Rambling Man, TheEditrix, Themusicking, Throbblefoot, Tizio, Tobermory, Tom harrison, Tomisti, Traveller108,
Treelzebub, Unfree, Vanished User 1004, Vargenau, Vary, Velella, Viriathus, Viriditas, VirtualDave, Vischroni, Vmenkov, Voldemort175, Wayland, Wbeer, Wclark, WereSpielChequers,
Whosasking, Wik, Will, WilliamBarrett, Wilson44691, Wolf2191, Wwwdlhow27, XKV8R, Xact, Yesai, Zestauferov, Zeusnoos, Zoicon5, , 491 anonymous edits
Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors
File:Star of David.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Star_of_David.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Zscout370
File:Folder Hexagonal Icon.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Folder_Hexagonal_Icon.svg License: GNU Free Documentation License Contributors: Anomie, Mifter
File:People icon.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:People_icon.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: OpenClipart
File:QumranLivingQuarters.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:QumranLivingQuarters.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Wilson44691
License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
//creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/