A new article by Bezalel Bar-Kochva, in my view, is relevant to study of Essenes at Qumran and elsewhere, as well, perhaps, as Bob Kraft's thread a few weeks ago on Essenes as a gens (in Pliny, his Herodian source M. Agrippa) or genos. "Apollonius Molon versus Posidonius of Apamea," Internationales Josephus-Kolloquium Aarhus 1999 (J.U. Kalms, ed.; Munster: Lit, 2000) 22-37. The article reaffirms that the History of Posidonius, which began in 146 BCE (when Polybius ended)--the same time Josephus first mentions Essenes--was the source of Strabo on Jews in Geography 2: 35-37. Strabo's History, also a source for Josephus, used Posidonius extensively. The Geography account gives a quite favorable account of Moses and those who live according to the law he gave. Strabo went on to say that golden age ended, and names as a superstitious and tyrannical priest Alexander (Jannaeus, proposed Wicked Priest.) (On Posidonius and Strabo for sources on Essenes, see JJS 1994.) Bar-Kochba argues that the orator Molon wrote negative things about Jews, in part, to contradict his rival in Rhodes, Posidonius, the Stoic philosopher, geographer, ethnographer, scientist. Josephus spends a considerable portion of the work mistitled Contra Apion (2.151-186) refuting Molon. For example, Posidonius presented Jews under Moses as peaceful (cf. Essenes); Molon as cowardly. Posidonius and Molon apparently differed on circumcision and on whether following the law was voluntary (relevant under Hasmonean policy). That same pro-Posidonius anti-Molon section of contra Apion 2 includes many overlaps with Essenes, several of which are noted in Loeb ed. In fact book 2, now called Against the Greeks, was considered to be a source of information on Essenes by Porphyry (De abstinentia 4,11-13) and Jerome (Adversus Jovinianum 2,14). Many scholars have suggested that Contra Apion 2 shared a source with Philo's Apologia (Hypothetica), which presents Essenes as Jews par excellence (cf. true Judah; see DSS After Fifty Yrs. v2 p540f for further bibliography). Joseph Baumgarten, "A fragment on Fetal Life and Pregnancy in 4Q270" [Milgrom FS], noted that 4QD and Contra Apion 2.202 both appear to forbid intercourse during pregnancy. While Josephus presents this as though it described practice of Jews generally, this portion and others appear to describe Essene practice. Baumgarten refers to line 15 of 4Q270 9 ii 15 (elsewhere numbered 2 ii 15). Now in line 19 of that very same fragment, the originally-assigned editor Milik (according to my notes from the index card concordance) partly restored a reading of 'osey hatorah. Baumgarten, DJD XVIII, restored differently; Wacholder and Abegg follow the concordance reading, which restoration would give: And now hearken to me, all who know righteousness and observe the torah in your hearts, that I may reveal... best, Stephen Goranson [EMAIL PROTECTED] For private reply, e-mail to Stephen Goranson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from Orion, e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: "unsubscribe Orion." Archives are on the Orion Web site, http://orion.mscc.huji.ac.il.
