bacht

Is it true that the DSS shook up the status quo for both Jews and Christians? I thought there was more dismay from the Christian side due to the prevalence of apocalyptic/messianic material which was too close to early Xtian writings for comfort (?)

The existence of the Essenes was known from antiquity, and books like Enoch had been around for a while. Is there material in the OT commentaries that challenged accepted ideas about 2nd temple practice?

DCHindley

Everyone pretty much expected Pharisees and Sadduccees as described in the NT and Josephus, you know, with everyone being obsessed with legalism, and maybe a few peace-nik Essenes along with the Quietists (the Pharisees who humbly waited for God to conclude his punishment of Israel, not like those minority 4th Philosophy types who wanted to push things against god's will).

What they got were texts that were written by and aimed at super nationalistic, hot tempered, and war obsessed folks. There was magic, there was secret codes, there was a whole 364 day calendar that no one took seriously as a real one before but these folks used every day, there were figures like the Right Teacher who didn't seem to fit any known persons known from history, etc.

However, many of these works contained key words and described events that overlapped a bit with themes and events in Christian history, and it didn't take long for some to suggest that these were written by or for early Christians, or at least influenced their thnking. If so, they weren't the early christians described by later Christians. Maybe this was why it was insisted that they must be Essenes, as the Essened described by Josephus were peaceful ascetics (who, however, carried swords under their tunics - in case of bandits of course).

But I cannot help wonder what kind of Essene was writing the War Scroll. The whole thing, and its is HUGE, is about how the final battle with the heathen will unfold and how they are going to whup their asses and make them eat humble pie. Hmmm.

DCH