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Prodigal Sisters — The Wiki
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EssenesThe Essenes were one of the sects of Judaism, and seemed to have became a separate, monastic group from the Jerusalem Temple cult, when a high priest was appointed there that they considered unsuitable. This seems to have occurred sometime in the 2nd century B.C.E., and they appear to have remained an identifiable group until sometime possibly in the 2nd century C.E., although this is debatable. Josephus, Philo, and other ancient writers make mention of them. Probably the main identifier of the Essenes to distinguish them from the other sects of their day was their attention to priestly purity and character. The Essenes also perhaps viewed themselves as agents to participate in Yahweh's vengeance against the evil ones. (See also Oxford Reference Online, Segal RC 1986). Many scholars believe that the Essenes were possibly the original writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls, a group of Jewish writings found near Qumran on the NW shore of the Dead Sea in 1947. Scholars come to this assumption by reading the writings of Josephus, Philo, and Pliny. The Essenes are believed to have been wiped out or scattered during the second Jewish War (Ziffer BCMJ 2006). Contributors |