RelSt 225 DeadSea Scrolls Minutes #4 (9/17/96)
by David Hiltzik, with Ben Fogelman

1. Administrative Matters --
   1. CD-ROM available in the library at the reference desk.
   2. e-mail minutes to kraft@ccat.sas.

2. Different Types of Judaism Attested in the DSS Period -- 
   1. Pharisees (=? Scribes), possibly related to the early Hasidim 
        ("pious," "loyalists"), and later "rabbinic" perspective
      1. Judaism survived after two revolts against Rome in
	   66-73 c.e. and again in 132-135 c.e.
      2. Built around changes in authority structure -- the Rabbi
           operating in local synagogues, since the Temple in
           Jerusalem with its priesthood is no longer functioning
      3. Concept of "oral Torah" in addition to "written" ultimately 
           produced rabbinic Talmuds,  Midrashim literature
	 1. Exact connection between Pharisees and later Rabbinic Judaism 
              is not clear, but there are commonalities between groups.
	 2. Not clear how much (dis)continuity in 2 centuries of Pharisees.
	 3. Most surviving information has been "filtered."
      4. Pharisees seem to have had "more popular" appeal than others.

   2. Christians
      1. Joshua/Jesus died under Roman governor Pontius Pilate (26-36 ce).
      2. Joshua/Jesus and earliest followers are Jewish in origin.
      3. Christians also filter their traditions, for various reasons.
      4. Many non-rabbinic Jewish texts preserved by Chrstians (eg Philo, 
         Josephus, Apocrypha and pseudepigrapha).
      5. Eschatological focus on change from "old" to "new 
         covenant" is similar to some emphases found in DSS.
     
   3. Sadducees
      1. Named for Zadok? priestly family/ high priest.
      2. Perhaps also refer to themselves as "sons of Zadok"
      3. Ruling class, elite, monied, involved in world affairs.
      4. Involved in liturgical practices of Judaism in Jerusalem
      5. Rifts within Oniads? (the high priestly family some of whom left 
         for Egypt around 170 bce) Some probably remained in Jerusalem, 
         and might have helped form the Sadducees
      6. After the fall of the Second Temple we do not hear of 
         living Sadducees (information about them may also have been 
         suppressed in writings by their victorious opponents) 
      7. Opposed the "Oral Law" emphasis of the Pharisees
      8. Arguments with Pharisees over Halakha -- Jewish Law
      9. Uneschatological -- do not believe in Messiah, Last Judgement, 
         and other "end-times" related ideas

   4. Essenes (see also Philo's Therapeutae)
      1. Withdraw from society much like later Christian monastics
      2. Perhaps missionary minded
      3. Probably engaged in trade
      4. Pacifist
      5. Theocracy
      6. see 1 & 2 of Zealots

   4b. Note: Two manuscripts in Cairo Geniza from 10th and 12th century 
       1. describe "sectarian" group of "Damascus Covenanters"
       2. similar to DSS Manual of Discipline
       3. fragments of Damascus Document ("CD") also in DSS
       
   5. Zealots (perhaps related to Sicarii)
      1. Traditionally minded
      2. Against "worldly" moves in Jerusalem
      3. Want to recreate theocratic society with a new start
      4. Rebellion/violence as a method

   6. Samaritans (still survive today)
      1. Maintain elements similar to Pharisees (eschatology)
      2. But also resemble aspects of Sadducees (priesthood, cult)
   
/end/