What think ye? :)

[Hoshiyya]

Yes, I know that, (and that is why I "liked" your post on the same topic several days back). I did like the way the author of your article made the distinction between the Qumran Essenes and the more general Essene population within the population. Your recent comments there are also appreciated in that indeed Paul seems to have been quite familiar with stricter Qumranite Essene, (Zadokite) theology but that still does not mean one should throw the baby out with the bath water. The Qumranites did not have all the correct understanding but neither did anyone else. The Torah kept them "between the lines" until Messiah came and expounded all, as Paul also alludes in some places, and when Messiah came no doubt many Essenes, Ebionites, and likewise some of the more rigid Qumran Essenes became Messianics. The northerners were probably more of the Nazar-Essene "floating" sub-population group within the population. This may also be why we do not find a literal city called Nazaret anywhere until about the second or third century; Nazaret is a "moving target", a subset population group or "city" of people within the greater population group, (as well as being a frame of mind).
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The distinction between insular and urban Essenes was an "aha" moment for me as well. I haven't investigated the historicity of Nazareth, so I can't comment there.

You see a connection between Qumran and the Sadducees ?

 

[daq]

The distinction between insular and urban Essenes was an "aha" moment for me as well. I haven't investigated the historicity of Nazareth, so I can't comment there.

You see a connection between Qumran and the Sadducees ?

Yes, the Damascus Document was first discovered in Egypt but after that even more ancient fragments of it were also then found at Qumran. It is called a Zadokite work because the community at Qumran was essentially ruled by Tzaddukim, the community rulers or shepherds were themselves of the house of Zadok and brethren of the "inner city" Tzaddukim priesthood, (Sadducees) but vehemently disputed the Sadducean interpretations of the Torah, (thus the division and seclusion). The Qumranites called their community Damascus or Damaseq, (which may carry the cryptic meaning of "blood inheritor", that is, dam-mesheq) and this may even be the same Damascus that Paul went to with letters so as to bind, detain, and bring back certain "renegades" to Yerushalaim for prosecution.
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