The Sect

Josephus, in "Wars", describes three different groups within the Sect of the Essenes.

Group 1

The description of the members of this group is almost identical with the description of members of the Council of the Community in the Community Rule Scroll. It is the many similarities between the two that has led me, and most others to the conclusion that the Scrolls were written by the Essenes described by Josephus. Members of both had to be unmarried.

Josephus states that the members "take great pains in studying the writings of the ancients". 

The Community Rule Scroll states the members "study the law continually, day and night" and "the group watched in common for a third of every night of the year, to read the Book and to study the law and bless together."

They served the congregation by "answering any questions concerning any counsel or matter coming before it" and "providing counsel in all things to the priests."

I believe the members of this group were the scribes in the Sect of the Essenes.

Group 2

Josephus states that the members of this group "undertake to foretell things to come by reading the Holy Books and using several sorts of purification and being perpetually conversant in the discourses of the prophets". Members of both had to be unmarried.

The Community Rule Scroll states that men of the Council of Holiness "study the Law He commanded by Moses that they may do according to all that has been revealed by His Holy Spirit". The had purification rituals and, as the Commentary on Habakkuk shows, they did "foretell the future by reading the Holy Books".

I believe members of this group were the Rabbis or Teachers in the Sect of the Essenes.

Group 3

Josephus says little of this group other than its members had the same beliefs as the other two groups, but while the members of those groups could not marry, the members of this group were encouraged to do so.

I believe the members of this group were the priests and Levites in the Sect of the Essenes.

Conclusion

What Josephus calls the Sect of the Essenes consisted of the scribes, the rabbis and the priests and Levites only and does not include its followers.

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