Enochians, Urban Essenes, Qumranites: Three Social Groups, One Intellectual Movement

Abstract

While contributing at large to contemporary renaissance of Enochic studies, Enochic-Essene Hypothesis has drawn attention specifically to two related, yet distinct phenomena, that is, the Enochic roots of Qumran community and the parting of ways between Qumran and Enochic A virtually ignored topic, such as relationship between Enochians, Essenes and Qumranites, has quickly become one of crucial issues in research of Second Temple Judaism. In 2007 Fourth Enoch Seminar at Camaldoli focuses on book of Jubilees, which more and more appears to be key text for understanding both Essene and Qumran origins, on one hand, and on other, complex phenomena that led to and derived from merging of Enochic and Mosaic traditions. Keywords: Enochians; Enochic traditions; Mosaic traditions; Qumran community; Second Temple Judaism; urban Essenes