Bibliography
| Title: Essene Notes Pages: 263-268 Type: Generic Year: 1980 Abstract: "R. compares the evidence about the Essenes provided by Josephus with the new elements coming from 11Q Temple about the Dead Sea Covenanters. He discusses in detail: - the abolition of the declaration concerning the tithe; - the case of the function of the 'knockers'; - the prohibition of anointing the body with oil; - the prohibition of drinking wine. Against Y. Yadin, R. concludes that the first two items provide only a terminus post quem for the composition of the scroll in the reign of Joh Hyrcanus and not a terminus ante quem, and that the ceremonies of the Feast of Wine and the Feast of Oil are not connected with the alleged prohibitions, but were intended to permit everyone to consume the products of the new harvest. - F. Garcia Martinez // The author deals with some problems bearing on the interpretation of the Temple Scroll, which has been edited with an introduction and commentary by Yigael Yadin. He discusses two abrogation's ascribed by the Mishnah (Ma'aser Sheni, V,15) to Yohanan the High Priest: the abolition of the declaration concerning the Title, and the ending of the function of the Knockers. The author argues, against Yadin, that the presence in the Temple Scrolls of the Rings, which replaced the Knockers, and the absence therefrom of the Title-declaration, may only prove that the reign of John Hyrcanus I is the terminus post quem of the compilation of the Scroll and not a terminus ante quem, as Yadin suggests. The author then analyzes the prohibitions concerning drinking wine and anointing oneself with oil, allegedly ascribed by Josephus to the Essenes. He argues against the accepted view that such prohibitions existed, drawing support from their absence in Philo. Finally, the author disagrees with Yadin's attempt to connect these alleged prohibitions with the Scroll's rulings concerning the Feast of Wine and the Feast of oil. He suggests that the ceremonies performed at these festivals were intended to permit everyone to consume the oil and wine products of the new harvest." Keywords: Groups and Religious Movements in Palestinian Judaism |