The Essenes (/ ˈɛsiːnz, ɛˈsiːnz /; Hebrew: אִסִּיִים ‎, ʾĪssīyīm; Greek: Ἐσσηνοί, Ἐσσαῖοι, or Ὀσσαῖοι, Essenoi, Essaioi, Ossaioi) or Essenians were a mystic Jewish sect during the Second Temple period that flourished from the 2nd century BCE to the 1st century CE. [2]

Mar 11, 2025 · Essene, member of a religious sect or brotherhood that flourished in Palestine from about the 2nd century bc to the end of the 1st century ad.

Jul 5, 2019 · An almost forgotten Jewish sect until the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the 1940s -50s, the Essenes were a small, separatist group that grew out of the conflicts of the Maccabean age. Here's what we know about them from the Bible.

Feb 4, 2022 · The Essenes were a Jewish sect that emerged in the 2nd century BCE and established the community at Qumran. They emphasized ritual purity, copied books of the Jewish Scriptures, and wrote commentaries on the Books of the Prophets.

Jan 4, 2022 · The Essenes were a Jewish mystical sect somewhat resembling the Pharisees. They lived lives of ritual purity and separation. They originated about 100 B.C., and disappeared from history after the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

Of the various factions that emerged under Hasmonean rule, three are of particular interest: the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes. The most important of the three were the Pharisees because they are the spiritual fathers of modern Judaism.

The Essenes, as they appear in history, were far from being either philosophers or recluses. They were, says Josephus ("Ant." xv. 10, §§ 4-5), regarded by King Herod as endowed with higher powers, and their principle of avoiding taking an oath was not infringed upon.

Apr 27, 2024 · A recent study has sought to determine by sophisticated methods whether Khirbet Qumran was home to a community of sectarian Jews, the Essenes.

Oct 20, 2019 · Some information on the enigmatic Jewish sect known as the Essenes came to light with the Dead Sea Scrolls, but much of their story is still a mystery. The Essenes were a Jewish sect that flourished around the end of the Second Temple Period, i.e. between the 2nd century BC and the 1st century AD.

Feb 12, 2025 · The Essenes were a unique and influential Jewish sect during the Second Temple period, known for their ascetic lifestyle, communal living, and strict adherence to purity laws. Their beliefs, practices, and the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls have provided valuable insight into the diversity of Jewish thought during this time and have ...