Note 72 — THE ESSENES.

Porphyry omits § 6 of Josephus, but gives, with a few verbal alterations, both the whole of § 7, which describes the admission into the order, and § 8, which describes the punishment. He omits the greater part of § 9, and adds the following statement, which is not to be found in Josephus. “Their food is so poor and scanty that they do not require to ease nature on the Sabbath,72 which they devote to singing praises to God and to rest.” He omits from § 10 the description of the division of the Essenes into four classes, and simply mentions firmness in suffering and death. He also omits from § 11 the whole piece beginning with the words “In harmony with the opinion of the Greeks, &c.;” whilst he not only gives the whole of § 12, but has also the following addition, “With such a manner of life, and with their firm adhesion to truthfulness and piety, there are naturally many among them who can foretel future events, &c.;” and concludes with the words, “This is the nature of the order of the Essenes among the Jews,” omitting altogether what Josephus says in § 13 about those Essenes who marry.