Comp. Talmud, 7erusalem Sabbath, c. i.; Sheka lim, c. iii.; Bably Abode Zara, xx. 6 ; Ilfidrash Rabba, Shir flashirint, at the beginning, and Ben Chananja, iv. 374.
As contact with any one who did not practise their self-imposed Levitical laws of purity, or with anything belonging to such an one, rendered them impure, the Essenes were, in the course of time, obliged to withdraw altogether from general so-1 ciety, to form a separate community, and live apart from the world. Their manner of life and practices were most simple and self - denying. They chiefly occupied themselves with tilling the ground, tending flocks, rearing bees, and making the articles of food and dress required by the community, as it was contrary to their laws of Levitical purity to get anything from one who did not belong to the society, as well as with healing the sick and studying the mysteries of nature and revelation. Whatever they possessed was deposited in the general treasury, of which were several managers, appointed by the whole fraternity, who supplied therefrom the wants of every one, so that they had all things in common, hence there were no distinctions amongst them of rich and poor, or of masters and servants. They reprobated slavery and war, and would not even manufacture martial instruments. They rose before the sun, and did not talk about any worldly matters till they had all assembled together and offered up their national prayer for the renewal of the light of the day (j'1t6 whereupon they dispersed to their respective engagements, according to the direc tions of the overseers, till the fifth hour, or eleven o'clock, when the labour of the forenoon ter minated, and all reassembled, had a baptism in cold water, after which they put on their white garments, entered their refectory with as much re ligious solemnity as if it were the holy Temple, sat down together in mysterious silence to a com mon meal, which had the character of a sacra ment,—and may be the reason why they did not offer sacrifices in the temple,—the baker placed before each one a little loaf of bread, and the cook a dish of the most simple food, the priest invoked God's blessing upon the repast, and concluded with thanks to the Bountiful Supplier of all our wants. This was the signal of their dismissal, when all withdrew, put off their sacred garments, and resumed their several employments till the evening, when they again partook of a common meal. Such was their manner of life during the week. On the Sabbath, which they observed with the utmost rigour, and on which they were more especially instructed in their distinctive ordin ances, Philo tells us ' they frequent the sacred places, which are called synagogues, and there they sit according to their age in classes, the younger sitting below the elder, in becoming attire, and listening with eager attention. Then one takes up the holy volume and reads it, whilst another of the most experienced ones expounds, omitting that which is not generally known ; for they philosophise on most things in symbols, ac cording to the ancient zeal ' (Quad omnis prob. lib.
sec. xii.) The study of logic and metaphysics they regarded as injurious to a devotional life. They were governed by a president, who was chosen by the whole body, and who also acted as judge. In cases of trial, however, the majority of the com munity, or at least a hundred members of it, were required to constitute the tribunal, and the brother who walked disorderly was excommunicated, yet was he not regarded as an enemy, but was ad monished as a brother, and received back after due repentance.
As has already been remarked, the Essenes generally were celibates ; their ranks had there fore to be recruited from the children of the Jewish community at large, whom they carefully trained for this holy and ascetic order. Previous to his final admission, the candidate for the order had to pass through a noviciate of two stages. Upon en tering the first stage, which lasted twelve months, the novice (vecezararos) had to cast in all his pos sessions into the common treasure, and received a spade (alcaals, ciElvciplop=irr) to bury the excre ment (comp. Deut. xxiii. 12-15), an apron (rept Punta =1"11), used at the baptisms, and a white robe to put on at meals, which were the symbols of purity, and, though still an outsider, he had to observe some of the ascetic rules of the society. If, at the close of this stage, the community found that he had properly acquitted himself during the probationary year, the novice was then admitted into the second stage, which lasted two years. During this period he was admitted to a closer fel lowship with the brotherhood, and shared in their lustral rites, but was still excluded from the com mon meals. Having passed satisfactorily through the second stage of probation, the novice was then fully received into the community (els TIP 6AuXov), when he bound himself by awful ' that, in the first place, he will exercise piety towards God ; and then that he will observe justice towards all men ; and that he will do no harm to any one, either of his own accord or by the command of others ; that he will always hate the wicked, and help the righteous ; that he will ever be faithful to all men, especially to his rulers, for without God no one comes to be ruler, and that if he should be ruler himself he should never be overbearing nor endeavour to outshine those he rules either in his garments or in finery ; that he will always love truth, and convince and reprove those that lie ; that he will keep his hand from stealing, and his soul clear from any unjust gain ; that he will not conceal anything from the members of his society, nor communicate to any one their mysteries, not even if he should be forced to it at the hazard of his life ; and finally, that he will never deliver the doctrines of the Essenes to any one in any other manner than he received them himself, that he will abstain from all species of robbery, and carefully preserve the books belonging to their sect and the names of the angels 't (Bell.