By Ofri Ilani : Scholar: The Essenes, Dead Sea Scroll 'authors,' never existed
Talkback
Title: The DS Scrolls do mention `Essenes` Name: Stein City: State:
The Dead Sea Scrolls do mention `Essenes`. Probably, the Greek transliterations for `Essenes` (ΕΣΣΗΝΟΙ or ΕΣΣΑΙΟΙ) derive from the Hebrew phrase `Doers (of Tora)` [Ose (Tora) עושי תורה]. Several of the DS Scrolls use this name to refer to this community. Possibly, the Essenes are a more radical faction within the Sadducees (Sons of Tsadok). Similarly, the `Zealots` seem to be a more radical faction within the Pharisees. Josephus mentions the Essenes numerous times in various contexts. It is clear he didnt make them up out of thin air, but refers to specific people.