Bibliography
| Title: The Origin and Subsequent History of the Authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls: Four Transitional Phases among the Qumran Essenes Secondary Title: RdQ Volume: 10 Pages: 213-233 Type: Journal Article Year: 1980 Abstract: "It is certain that the Qumran Essenes originated in the middle of the 2nd century B.C. and that they ceased ... Qumran in A.D. 68. ... to be four transitional phases: (1) The settlement at Qumran: The ... To a struggle for the high priesthood that involved the Hasmonean ... The Essenes predate the advent of the Righteous Teacher, who struggled with the Wicked Priest, lost some of his followers to a rival leader (the Man of Lies), and eventually led an exodus of priests from Jerusalem to Qumran. Though the identity of the Righteous Teacher remains indecipherable, scholarly consensus has moved toward identifying the Wicked Priest as Jonathan. (2) The second phase of occupation: During this phase, which ran from at least as early as the reign of Alexander Jannaeus (103-76 B.C.) until 34 B.C., the buildings at Qumran acquired their definitive form. The most striking features are the addition of massive and numerous cisterns and the general expansion of the monastery, suggesting an influx o new members into the community, probably Pharisees. (3) The abandonment of Qumran. The inhabitants left the community around the 30s of the 1st century B.C. because of either a foreign invasion (the Parthians in 40-37 B.C.) or a fire and earthquake (31 B.C.). They did not return to Qumran until some time in the early years of the 1st century A.D. (4) The final phase: The Essenes ceased to live at Qumran after the spring of A.D. 68, and some Essenes fled to other areas The Essenes may have continued to exist in Palestine or in the Diaspora after A.D. 68". - M.P.H. Keywords: Qumran |