Latin reference to Essenes (Pliny, Solinus, Dio, Agrippa)

Latin reference to Essenes (Pliny, Solinus, Dio, Agrippa)

• Latin reference to Essenes (Pliny, Solinus, Dio, Agrippa)

• B. Theology

• Immortality
• Angeology
• Providence
• Dualism
• Calendar

• C. Halakhah

• (1) Parah Adamah/ tevel yom

• (2) Purities

• a) Animal bones

• b) Nissoq

• c) Immersion of Menorah

• d) Negaim

• e) oils

• (3) Omer offering

• (4) No trade/mercantilism amongst themselves, share property, communists avant- la-lettre

• D. DSS MSS

• E. Archeological Surveys-Excavations

• F. Penalties for Infractions

• G. Philo’s mention of Essenes

• H. DSS scholars (Schechter, Sukenik, De Vaux)

• Carbon 14 dating

• J. Maps

• K. Hellnistic period time line when sect active

• L. Hasmonean family

• M. % Biblical manuscripts among DSS

• N. Facsimiles of DSS

• O. Eschatological Temple from Temple Scroll

• P. Essene Hypthesis Logic in Flow chart

Classical Latin Citation of the Essenes

• Ita per saeculorum milia- incredibile dictum- gens aeterna est, in qua nemo nascitur. Tam fecunda illis aliorum vita paenitentia est.

• [In this way this people has lasted- strange to say- for thousands of generations, thou no one is born within it; so fruitful for them is the penitence for life which others feel (Pliny, Natural History V.73)]

Classical Latin Citation of Essenes {Loeb Classical Library}

• Pliny refers to Ein Gedi as “lying below” (infra hos) an Essene settlement.

• Solinus describes the destruction of Ein Gedi: Engada oppidum infra Essenos fuit, sed excisum est.

• Dio (in Solinus, Collectanea Rerum Memorabilium 35.12) remarks that Essense had “a very blessed/happy city”: polis holn eudaimona

• Agrippa refers to Essenes as eternal: gens aeterna

Essene Hypothesis Link to Qumran Site and Scriptorium

• (1) Essene avoidance of oil (JW 2.123) is known to stem from role of liquids as transmitters of impurity (CD 12:16, 11QTemple 49:11

• (2) Essene loin cloth to tevel (JW 2.161)/4Q512 וכסה את בגדיו

• (3) Ban on spitting in public (JW 2.147)/ 1QS 7:13

• (4) Essene Shabbat strictness exemplified by requirement that all food be prepared beforehand and by the prohibition against moving any utensil (JW 2:147; cf. CD 10:22 & 11:17)

• (5) Married Essenes avoided sex during pregnancy (JW 2:161; cf 4Q270 2)

• (6) Essenes insisted on fulfilling their binding oaths even in the face of death (JW 2:161), in CD 16:7-8 we read עד מחיר מות אל יפדהו

• (7) Essenes banned commercial transaction between members of order who were expected to supply each other’s needs without payment (JW 2:127). Qumran neophytes designated as “sons of dawn” in CD 13:14-15 refrained from mercantilism when we read: איש מכל באי ברית אל אל ישא ואל יתן לבני השחר כי אם כף לכף

Eschatological Temple from Temple Scroll