In the current discussion on Pliny`s and Philo`s Essenians as Jews or Judeans, one point is I think, noteworthy: The fact that Josephus feels obliged to declare that the Essenians are "Jews by birth", a remarkable statement if we were to ignore other sources on them than Philo`s. It seems as if in Josephus`time, there was a widely expanded opinion contesting the Jewishness of Essenes. Peter Janku For private reply, e-mail to Orion List Owner <[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. (PLEASE REMOVE THIS TRAILOR BEFORE REPLYING TO THE MESSAGE)
