The Essenes

The Essenes

Essene or "assaya, which means doctor or healer.... are not mentioned anywhere in the New Testament, although their numbers were at least as great as the Sadducees and Pharisees."¹

The Essenes were a humble service oriented group who would not seek to speak about themselves. The good men of the New Testament and the followers of Christ including Jesus and John the Baptist were associated more with the Essenes and their ways than any other group of that time. According to Philos, the label 'Essene' was not their own and was derived originally from a word meaning holy or separate.

"There are about sixty proposed etymologies, involving Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic and/or Syriac, Persian Avestan, Sanskrit, Akkadian, and others."²

They were labeled as Healers and Doctors. They sought the natural herbs and the use of oils as well as the content of minerals used in healing. They were devoted to service of poor and rich, Jew and gentile alike even refusing to own slaves.They were hailed for their honesty, temperance, reason and justice, as well as their talent as healers.

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

The Essene generally lived in secluded places for a number of reasons. Cities and towns did not have a monopoly on immorality but they often had the lion share of it. They believed that service, solitude and fasting allowed you to confront the beast or evil in your own heart. With the aid of God and His holy angels could one seek and find the truth of God's Way.

Mark 1:13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

Learned

They were not exclusive but they were strict in their practices in order to test the sincerity and metal of their novitiates. They spoke of enlightenment of the soul and the mind. They were well versed in the law and more. They meditated regularly and washed constantly. Their "Schools of Prophets" were famous around the world. Josephus tells of Manahem the Essene who prophesied Herod's kingship when he was a young boy with no royal expectations.

They read all kinds of books and studied many things both natural and mystical. They guarded their knowledge and books with zeal. They believed study was important but not as essential as divine revelation.

Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Because of their simple, even austere lifestyle they were not ones to be infiltrated by lustful users and comfort seekers. They held all things in common.

They were almost a secret society in there protection of their knowledge and books. Yet, they were also in regular contact with the people. They did own land throughout Judea but only as a group holding the land in common like the Levites before them. Individually they owned no estate seeking rather the riches in the life of the Kingdom as servants and ministers of those in need.

" ...And all who volunteer for his Truth shall bring all their knowledge and powers and possessions into the Unity of God: to purify their knowledge by the truth of God's precepts, and --to measure their powers according to the perfection of his ways and all their possessions according to his righteous counsel."³

"They have no one certain city, but many of them dwell in every city; and if any of their sect come from other places, what they have lies open for them, just as if it were their own; and they go in to such as they never knew before, as if they had been ever so long acquainted with them. For which reason they carry nothing at all with them when they travel into remote parts, though still they take their weapons with them, for fear of thieves. Accordingly, there is, in every city where they live, one appointed particularly to take care of strangers, and to provide garments and other necessaries for them."⁴

Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

In almost every city their rule of hospitality and the tender care of healers was always to be found behind the Door of the Essene where their kind and caring touch was available to all.

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

They dressed simply in white garments. They shunned wealth and comfort. Even though it was a common practice to use oils in those days they would wipe it off themselves as an extravagance according to Josephus.

John 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

Poverty

Philo when he wrote of the Essenes he said:

"For they are unique among all the race of men, having become penniless and landless [no personal estate] by choice rather than lack of good luck. But they count themselves very wealthy, judging ready satisfaction and contentment with little (to be) abundance, as it is."⁵

Matthew 6:19-20 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Virtuous

The Essenes appealed to the best part of the nature of man. They were not steeped in orthodoxy and legalism. They often fulfilled the tasks of the Levites, doing the job they had been assigned by Moses centuries before. They were practical in the practice of their faith and humble and efficient in the performance of their service.

"And before he is allowed to touch their common food, he is obliged to take tremendous oaths [prayerful commitment], that, in the first place, he will exercise piety towards God, and then that he will observe justice towards men, and that he will do no harm to any one, either of his own accord, or by the command of others; that he will always hate the wicked, and be assistant to the righteous; that he will ever show fidelity to all men, and especially to those in authority..."⁶

They structured their community in cell groups with small groups gathered together in what was sometimes called twelve 'men of holiness' who act as general guides of the community. Each leader served their immediate constituency which consisted of about ten families or family groups. Also in a more general fashion they served the whole the body of the nation. They were accepted to their office by unanimous agreement of those they served. Those twelve would choose their own nominal leader or 'mebaqqerim' ⁷ also by unanimous consent. And three 'priest' were chosen among the group to perform certain duties.

Priests and Bishops

"In the council of the community there shall be twelve men and three priests."^⁸

In the Bible we see Peter, and James, and John taken aside by Jesus and given separate instructions.

Mark 9:2 And after six days Jesus taketh [with him] Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

Mark 14:33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;

Luke 8:51 And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, ...

The mebaqqer or overseers also gathered in groups of twelve to minister to their immediate group of overseers and to tie larger groups into a network of communication and efficient service. This was an identical system repeated both in the early days of the Levites and the twelve tribes and the first century Church. Remnants of this pattern were still being used in Europe at the turn of the first millennium after Christ.

Travelers and Servants

The Essenes were notorious travelers. The image we have of them living solitary lives in communes gives a distorted view. They had to get out to the people and used communes as places of learning and rest. There were some groups that were more monastic and celibate and their records have survived because of their stationary locations. They were not the rule.

Their priests were really not priests at all but stewards or servants of the group. Service was the highest valued character or virtue. They all depended on hard work, self reliance and charity amongst the brethren, not upon taxes or accounted tithes. And they were dispersed all over the country.

Matthew 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Swear not

They refused to take oaths before men or serve any gods other than the creator. Their word was considered so honorable that even Herod excused them from taking an oath of allegiance.

Matthew 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:

James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and [your] nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

No trading or commerce was done except by barter. They paid all their debts. Debts were to be avoided. They did not enjoy paying taxes and generally avoided them even if it meant avoiding Roman tolls by traveling the ancient paths or living in more secluded places in self-reliance and independence.

Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

"They master an even temper and control their anger. They advocate trust and assist peace. And all that is spoken by them has more force than an oath. But they avoid swearing, regarding it worse than perjury. For they say that he who cannot be believed unless God is against him is already condemned..." ⁹

Stoic and long suffering

Some avoided almost anything done merely for pleasure or self gratification. With some this included refusing to marry but others considered marriage a sacred relationship and duty for the procreation of children as a divine institution.¹⁰ It was customary for some Essenes who were to marry to wait three years before the marriage took place during which time they would take the oath of the Nazarite. In either case they took their vows before God and kept them devoutly. Women were accepted as part of the brotherhood as sisters and they had an almost androgynous approach to the sexes.

Matthew 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Forgiving

Forgiving and asking forgiveness was as essential in their life as breathing in and out. Giving thanks for everything that came their way both the good and the bad, the sun rise and the sunset, comfort or discomfort. All was a blessing from God and could be turned to good.

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

They obtained such resolution of mind and body that Roman torture failed to produce fear or anger. It had been said that they met death with a smile.

They were messengers of peace. They were allowed to carry a staff for defense but generally for the protection of others. Even though some trained in military style for the coming of the Messiah they were considered harmless by even the Romans who were generally suspicious of everyone.

The Mission and the Kingdom

The Essenes considered themselves as a people with a mission. They were not just the servants of God but His sons and daughters. They were the depository of His secret knowledge and wisdom of God and workers for the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. The Kingdom of Heaven on earth in the present was one of the most common themes of Essene teachings.

Matthew 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

"...From the God of Knowledge is all that is and shall be; before they were, he made all their designs. And when they come to be they testify to his glory as planned, fulfilling their deeds and changing nothing. In his hand are all judgments, and he will support them in all their needs. And he created Man (Enosh) for dominion over the earth; and he appointed two spirits for him to walk in until the time of his visitation. These are the Spirits of Truth and of Error. Those born of Truth are in a spring of Light; and those born of Error are from a well of darkness. In the hand of the Prince of Light is dominion over all the sons of Righteousness who walk in all the ways of Light. But in the hand of the Angel of Darkness is dominion over all the sons of Error, who walk in the ways of darkness."¹¹

The Essenes would regularly donate to the temple giving both free will offerings and sin offerings but they absolutely would not participate in blood sacrifice.

"The doctrine of the Essenes is this: That all things are best ascribed to God. They teach the immortality of souls, and esteem that the rewards of righteousness are to be earnestly striven for; and when they send what they have dedicated to God into the temple, they do not offer sacrifices because they have more pure lustrations of their own; on which account they are excluded from the common court of the temple, but offer their sacrifices themselves; yet is their course of life better than that of other men; and they entirely addict themselves to husbandry."¹²

The Essenes influence although not homogeneous was more in line with Abraham, Moses and Jesus Christ. They were the political party that most clearly manifested the precepts of God and it was from their teachings, members, disciples, and influence the early Church was born. They were not just Levites or even exclusively Jew or Israelite. There were Nazarene Essenes, Pharisee Essene, Mandaean Essenes, and Sadducee Essene just to mention a few. Some of all these groups likely became Christian if a Christian is someone who follows Christ and His way and does the will of the Father.

Deuteronomy 27:5 And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them.

Many of the Essenes and the early followers of Christ were men of God, seeking God and His ways and performing the tasks of the first born of God in faith, hope and charity. They were the living white covered altar stones made of flesh and bone. The law was written on their hearts and minds in service to the people on behalf of the living God and His Heavenly Kingdom on earth.

1 Peter 2:4 To whom coming, [as unto] a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, [and] precious,

Among all the people of history you will not find a people living closer to the nature of the True Church than some of those early Essenes. But like any group, there were many different opinions as to right and wrong.

Judaism had undergone many changes during its years of captivity and under corrupt kings through the Hasmonians. Herod was no exception. With vast funds available a temple was built not only in Jerusalem but many were constructed around the world. Deuteronomy 17:15 had clearly stated that "...you may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother."

"As an Idumean he (Herod) was disliked by Judeans; as the usurper of the Hasmoneans he was resented by the aristocracy. During his reign he succeeded in creating his own 'aristocracy' from those loyal to Rome and appointed by himself. But he apparently favored those traditional religious groups who did not oppose him, such as Pharisees and Essenes"¹³

"Diaspora Essenes shared the divergent [solar] calendar and many traditions of Palestinian Essenes, but did not espouse their unworldliness and strict views on morality. For the Palestinians, the Diaspora kind were 'seekers after smooth things', taking the easy way."¹⁴

Herod's grand scheme of vast Kingdom of Heaven on earth involved sending out evangelists and missionaries all over the world. The funds were collected through a networking system of home gathering congregations. These institutionalized systems of regular donations were run through the temples which acted as a treasury for managing the Corban and social security systems. To prove you were a member of you had to show a token in the form of a 'white stone' from the river Jordan with your new Hebrew name carved on it.

"The missionaries... with their leather wallets full of white stones, would come back with the same wallets full of money, in foreign currency. Once put into Jewish currency by the money-changers, it would be stored in vaults, ready to be used by Herod for his vast building projects, or any subsequent causes."¹⁵

These were not the only evangelists and missionaries of the time. There were others baptizing people into a different kind of Kingdom of Heaven on earth. There was another king who was not Idumean nor Roman. He establish his Kingdom not by Corban schemes or force but by faith, hope, charity and love.

John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

His Kingdom is not of their 'world' of force and civil control it is under the perfect law of liberty. His ekklesia or Church ministers to the people without exercising authority one over the other. They manifest the character of Christ to receive, preserve, and propagate his doctrines and ordinances.

Revelation 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it].

"It is a fixed belief of theirs that the body is corruptible and its constituent matter impermanent, but that the soul is immortal and imperishable. Emanating from the finest ether, these souls become entangled, as it were, in the prison-house of the body, to which they are dragged down by a sort of natural spell; but when once they are released from the bonds of the flesh, then, as though liberated from a long servitude, they rejoice and are borne Aloft..."¹⁶

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

The Levites stood apart and began to occupy a distinct position as the ecclesiastical primogeniture of the nation. Since that terrible scene in connection with the sin of the golden calf, They had been conferred with the office of service to the tents of the congregation. They were selected for this purpose because as a tribe they were willing to come out first and serve Moses and the Lord.

As being wholly consecrated or separated to the service of the Lord, they had no territorial possessions. Jehovah was their inheritance (Num. 18:20; 26:62; Deut. 10:9; 18:1, 2), and for their support it was ordained that they should receive from the other tribes the tithes of the produce of the land and the people but only according to their service.

Forty-eight civil jurisdictions were assigned to them, thirteen of which were called priest cities. Along with their dwellings they had "suburbs", and "commons", for their herds and flocks, and also fields and vineyards (Num. 35:2-5). Nine of these cities were in Judah, three in Naphtali, and four in each of the other tribes (Josh. 21). Six of the Levitical cities were set apart as "cities of refuge" (q.v.). Thus the Levites were scattered among the tribes to keep alive among them the knowledge and service to God.

The Levites became steeped in apostasy. They were collecting the tithe like taxes including property, sales and income tax. They were becoming rich and powerful and no longer served the tents of the of the congregation as much as the people were serving them with their sweat and drudgery.

The Essenes assumed the role of the Levites in Spirit and Truth. Their teachings and actions paralleled those of Jesus and the Levites centuries before. Many of the Essenes and repentant Levites became the ministers of the early Church. The Levites, repenting, sold their land, set the money at the foot of the appointed Apostles and went into the service as the Kindom's first ministers, His Holy Church .

Acts 4:36-37 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, [and] of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

The role, job and duties of the Levites were the same for the Essenes as they were for His Holy Church, as they have been from the beginning.

Psalms 67:2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.

If we are to understand our place in God's kingdom of heaven we must also learn from and understand the place occupied by the Healers of a Nation, the Essenes.

Revelation 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, [was there] the tree of life, which bare twelve [manner of] fruits, [and] yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree [were] for the healing of the nations.

Their origin reaches back to Enoch who walked with God. They are the men who separate themselves from the 'world' living according under the authority of His government.

They are the first servants of God and they are Children of God in repentance and in the acceptance of God's true character, doing all things in His 'Name', they feed His sheep.

John 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Luke 9:2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.