The Essenes - Who Were The Essenes?

Who were the Essenes? What was the significance of the temple for the Jews? Work Cited.

Ancient scholars and writers gave the name Essenes to a certain community who lived around the Dead Sea and the Palestine. The community is estimated to have a population of around 4000 people. The precise nature of the group is uncertain. Though, it is generally though that the Qumran community that produced the Dead Sea scrolls was the Essenes.

In believing that they were the true remnant, they separated from Judaism and devoted themselves to personal purity and preparation for the final war between the “Sons of Light and the Sons of Darkness,” (Newadvent.org, n.p). It is noted that they practiced an apocalyptic faith looking back at the contributions of their “Teacher of righteousness” and forward to the coming of two, and possibly three, Messiahs (Newadvent.org, n.p).

Obedience, Truthfulness, continence, Justice, and temperance were the virtues that they cultivated specifically. They paid significant attention to the sick, respected the aged, and showed marked kindness and hospitality to strangers. All men were regarded as equal and slavery was regarded as contrary to nature. In the last three centuries, the Essenes have received much attention out of all proportion to their numbers, their influence upon contemporary life.