[147] Euseb. hist. l. 2. c. 23. Ex Joseph. Antiq. lib. 20. cap. 8.
CHAP. XII.
Of the Essenes.
The Etymologies of the names Essæi, or Esseni, i.e. Essenes, are divers, that which I prefer is from the Syriake אסא Asa, signifying θεραπεύειν to heal, or cure Diseases. Hence[148] are the men so often termed, θεραπευταὶ and the women amongst them, θεραπευτρίδες, that is, Physicians. For though they gave themselves chiefly to the study of the Bible yet withal they studied Physick.
[148] Joseph. de bello Judaic. lib. 2. c. 12. p. 786.
Of these Essenes there were two sorts, some Theoricks, giving themselves wholly to speculation; others Practicks, laborious and painful in the daily exercise of those handy-crafts, in which they were most skilful. Of the latter, Philo treateth in his book entituled, Quod omnis vir probus: Of the former, in the book following, entituled, De vita contemplativa.
Their Dogmata, their Ordinance, or Constitutions, did symbolize in many things with Pythagoras his, where they do agree. Therefore my purpose is, first to name Pythagoras his; and then to proceed on with the Essenes. They follow thus.
The[149] Pythagoreans professed a communion of goods: So the Essenes.[150] they had one common purse or stock, none richer, none poorer than other; out of this common treasury, every one supplyed his own wants without leave, and administred to the necessities of others: only they might not relieve any of their kindred without leave from their Overseers. They did not buy or sell among themselves, but each supplyed the others want, by a kind of commutative bartring: yea, liberty was granted to take one from another what they wanted, without exchange. They performed Offices of service mutually one to another; for mastership and service cannot stand with communion of goods: and servants are commonly injurious to the state of their Masters, according to that saying of R. Gamaliel,[151] He that multiplyeth servants, multiplieth thieves. When they travelled, besides weapons for defence, they took nothing with them, for in whatsoever City or Village they came, they repaired to the Fraternity of the Essenes, and were there entertained as members of the same. And if we do attentively read Josephus, we may observe that the Essenes of every City joyned themselves into one common Fraternity or Colledge. Every Colledge had two sorts of Officers: First, Treasurers, who looked to the common stock, provided their diet, appointed each his task, and other publick necessaries. Secondly, Others, who entertained their strangers.
[149] Aul. Gell. l. 1. c. 10. It. Laer. in Pythag. Κοινὰ τὰ φίλων εἶναι.
[150] Joseph. lib. 18. cap. 2.