and Isaiah pioneered the New found meaningful remains of a monastery Covenant, and the Qumran community there. We are almost sure that the Qumran developed it. There are many parallels sect was Essene, if only because there would between the reborn literature of the Qumran not have been room for another group in sect and what we have learned of the Essenes that vicinity. from the rabbinic literature, Josephus, Philo, There is further evidence aplenty. Both and Pliny. Josephus and the Manual Scroll speak of the Jerusalem was the crossroads of trade, and stages of probation, the limitations imposed, thus the Essenes became acquainted with the instruction, the exams before Babylonian solar symbolism, Zoroastrian admittance, the oath of initiation. The dualism, Brahman forms of worship, common meal of the Qumran sect agrees Rosicrucian Buddhist vegetarianism and self-control, with that of the Essenes, and so does the order Digest Pythagorean mysticism, the plain living and of seating at the meetings. No. 2 2007 high thinking of the Cynics, and ideas of Other points of correspondence include Web Gnosticism and emanations from the Near the decisions by assembled members on Supplement Page xviii ----------------------- Page 3-----------------------questions of admission and discipline, the The St. Marks complete Isaiah Scroll was study and interpretation of the law in groups, probably copied a little before 100 BCE. The the stress on Gods sovereignty and providence, Manual of Discipline seems to have been the division into celibate and marrying groups, written not much later than that date. The the offering of the lips instead of animal manuscript of the Habakkuk Commentary sacrifice, the physical and spiritual purification, apparently belongs to the last quarter of the the community of goods, the centralization of first century BCE. The Lamech, War, all monetary transactions, and an obscure rela- Thanksgiving Psalms, and fragmentary Isaiah tionship with the Samaritans. documents were probably made during the There were both lesser and greater first half of the first century CE. Mysteries, and a vow of secrecy was imposed. Israel did well to acquire Archbishop There was a pronounced interest in Samuels precious manuscripts. The complete eschatologythe consummation of the age Isaiah Scroll, which he reluctantly sold, is the and the divine judgment. Some parts of the oldest known entire manuscript of any book Qabalah seem to trace to the Essene secret lore, of the Bible, and is therefore important for but only now is the veil beginning to lift. textual criticism. The Manual of Discipline is undoubtedly the manual of a dissident Documents and Dates monastic order, and we have considered The Dead Sea Scrolls were challenged as compelling evidence which points to the to genuineness or antiquity by S. H. Stephen, Essenes. The Habakkuk Commentary Solomon Zeitlin, Godfrey Driver, P. R. Weis, mysteriously tells of a Teacher of Harry M. Orlinsky, and Toviah Wechsler (who Righteousness persecuted by the Man of the has changed his mind). At first it was hard to Lie. We have mentioned that the so-called find a buyer for the Scrolls at any price, and Lamech Scroll is not really that