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Beyond the Essene Hypothesis: The Parting of the Ways between Qumran and Enochic Judaism (1998) is a book by Gabriele Boccaccini.

Abstract

The intellectual roots of the Essene movement and the Qumran community are not in the Zadokite tradition but in the Enochic tradition.

<Respected scholar Gabriele Boccaccini here offers readers a new and challenging view of the ideology of the Qumran sect, the community closely related with the Dead Sea Scrolls. Boccaccini moves beyond the Essene hypothesis and posits a unique relationship between what he terms "Enochic Judaism" and the group traditionally known as the Essenes. Building his case on what the ancient records tell us about the Essenes and on a systematic analysis of the documents found at Qumran, Boccaccini argues that the literature betrays the core of an ancient and distinct variety of Second Temple Judaism. Tracing the development of this tradition, Boccaccini shows that the Essene community at Qumran was really the offspring of the Enochic party, which in turn contributed to the birth of parties led by John the Baptist and Jesus. Convincingly argued, this work will surely spark fresh debate in the discussion on the Qumran community and their famous writings.>--Publisher description.

Editions

Published in Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1998.

Translations

• Oltre l'ipotesi essenica = Beyond the Essene Hypothesis (2003 Boccaccini / Bardi), book (Italian ed.)

• Além da Hipótese Essênia = Beyond the Essene Hypothesis (2010 Boccaccini / Soares), book (Portuguese ed.)

Online reviews

• Review of Biblical Literature (2000) / Eckhard J. Schnabel

Table of contents

• 1. Introduction: Beyond the Essene Hypothesis

Part I - Historiographical Analysis

• 2. The Essenes in Ancient Historiography

Part II - Systemic Analysis

• 3. The Prehistory of the Sect
• 4. The Formative Age
• 5. The Schism between Qumran and Enochic Judaism

Part III - Comparative Analysis

• 6. Conclusion: The Enochic/Essene Hypothesis
• Bibliography: The Dead Sea Scrolls and Second Temple Judaism

External links