This article is basically a reference article containing all the quotes of Josephus about the Essenes.
1. The Jewish War
Book II, Chapters 8.2–13 (Whiston §§119–161)
This is Josephus’s longest and most detailed description of the Essenes.
Book II, Chapter 8, Sections 119–161 (14-point Summary; for full text, see afterwards)
2. For there are three philosophical sects among the Jews. The followers of the first are the Pharisees; of the second, the Sadducees; and the third sect, which pretends to a severer discipline, are called Essenes. These last are Jews by birth, and seem to have a greater affection for one another than the other sects have.
3. They reject pleasures as an evil, but esteem continence and the conquest over our passions to be virtue. They neglect wedlock, but choose out other persons’ children, while they are pliable, and fit for learning; and esteem them to be of their kindred, and form them according to their own manners.
4. They do not absolutely deny the fitness of marriage, and the succession of mankind thereby continued; but they guard against the lascivious behaviour of women, and are persuaded that none of them preserve their fidelity to one man.
5. These men are despisers of riches; and so very communicative as raises our admiration. Nor is there any one among them who has more than another, for it is a law among them that those who come to them must let what they have be common to the whole order; so that among them there is no appearance of poverty or excess of riches…
6. They have no certain city, but many of them dwell in every city; and if any of their sect come from other places, what they have lies open for them, just as if it were their own…
7. They carry nothing with them when they travel… They are eminent for fidelity, and are the ministers of peace…
8. And if any of their sect be sick, his care is paid for out their common resources… Thus they do not allow the altering of any of the rules of their sect.
9. They are longer lived than other men…
10. And as for their piety towards God, it is very extraordinary; for before sun-rising they speak not a word about profane matters, but put up certain prayers which they have received from their forefathers…
11. They are also stricter than other Jews in resting from their labours on the seventh day…
12. Moreover, they endeavour to be perpetually clean…
13. They are very careful in the exercises of righteousness…
14. They also take great pains in studying the writings of the ancients and choose out of them what is most for the advantage of their soul and body…
Full text:
[§119] 2. For there are three philosophical sects among the Jews. The followers of the first of which are the Pharisees; of the second, the Sadducees; and the third sect, which professes a severer discipline, are called Essenes. These last are Jews by birth, and seem to have a greater affection for one another than the other sects have.
[§120] They reject pleasures as an evil, but consider self-discipline, and the conquest over our passions, to be virtues. They neglect wedlock, but choose out other persons’ children while they are instructible, and fit for learning; and consider them to be of their own flesh and blood, and mold them according to their own customs.
[§121] They do not deny outright the fitness of marriage, so that the proliferation of mankind thereby be continued; but they guard against the lascivious behaviour of women; for they believe that women are not able to remain faithful to just one husband.
[§122] These men are despisers of riches, and are so generous that it’s genuinely impressive. Nor is there any one to be found among them who has more than any other; for it is a law among them, that those who come to them must let whatever they have become common property to the whole order – to such a degree, that among them all there is no appearance of poverty, or excess of riches; but every man’s possessions are distributed according to everyone’s needs; and it’s as if all the brothers hold a single common estate.
[§123] They think that oil is a defilement; and if any one of them be anointed without his own approbation, it is wiped off his body; for they think to be sweaty is a good thing, as they do also to be clothed in white garments.
[§124] They have no one certain city, but many of them dwell in every city; and if any of their sect come from other places, what they have lies open for them, just as if it were their own; and they go into such as they never knew before, as if they had been ever so long acquainted with them.
[§125] For which reason they carry nothing with them when they travel, into remote parts; though still they take their weapons with them, for fear of thieves.
[§126] Accordingly, there is, in every city where they live, one appointed particularly to take care of strangers, and to provide garments and other necessaries for them.
[§127] But the habit and manner of life of the Essenes is such as follows. They have a common hall, where they sit together, when they take their meals: they sit down quietly, and do not speak a word till the baker or cook gives them a portion.
[§128] They give the bread to the baker, and the cook sets the dish before every one; but they eat ungrudgingly what they have, and drink what they have. And thus do they keep up their simplicity and sobriety.
[§129] They are eminent for fidelity, and are the ministers of peace; whatso’er they say, also, is firmer than an oath; but swearing is avoided by them; and they esteem it worse than perjury; for they say that he who cannot be believed without God is already condemned.
[§130] 8. And if any of their sect be sick, he is taken care of out of their common finances; and the recovery of the sick person is not grudged, or thought an expense that must be deducted from themselves.
[§131] And as for their way of living, it is such as that they have an extraordinary love for each other; and they make such use of the people’s houses as if they were their own.
[§132] They do not allow the altering of any of the rules of their sect; nor do they easily receive any new member into their sect until he be tried for a long time; and if he appear to be worthy, they then admit him in; but yet he is not presently to partake of their things.
[§133] For, after he hath given evidence that he can observe their temperance, and continence, and their modes of living, and is worthy to be of their company, they then appoint him to the rank of those that are near to them.
[§134] And on this account they set him at the lower end, and give him a small share of their most pure food.
[§135] 9. They do not take their food till after they have clothed themselves in white garments; and then they bathe themselves in cold water; and after this purification is over, they go to the common hall, as to some sacred temple.
[§136] And when they have quietly set themselves down, the baker lays the loaves before them in order; the cook also brings a single plate of one sort of food, and sets it before every one.
[§137] But neither is that allowed to be tasted before the blessing be given; and when they have eaten sufficient, they give thanks; so that they begin to eat, and end in the same manner.
[§138] 10. They are very careful in keeping the Sabbath day, and think it a crime to even remove any vessel out of its place on that day; nor do they go to ease nature on that day.
[§139] And they prepare bread for themselves beforehand, that they may not be obliged to kindle a fire on that day.
[§140] 11. They also take great pains in studying the writings of the ancients, and choose out of them what is most for the advantage of their soul and body.
[§141] And they inquire after roots and medicinal stones, which they use for the cure of their distempers.
[§142] 12. But now if any one hath a mind to come over to their sect, he is not immediately admitted; but he is prescribed the same method of living which they use for a whole year, while he continues excluded; and they give him a small hatchet, and the forementioned girdle, and the white garment.
[§143] And when he hath given evidence during that time that he can observe their continence, he approaches nearer to their way of living, and he is made a partaker of the waters of purification; yet is he not even now admitted to live with them; for after this demonstration of his fortitude, his temper is tried two more years; and if he appear worthy, they then admit him into their society.
[§144] And before he is allowed to touch their common food, he is obliged to take tremendous oaths: first, that he will exercise piety towards God; and then that he will observe justice towards men; and that he will do no harm to any one, either of his own accord, or by the command of others.
[§145] He is also to take care that he communicate none of their doctrines to any one otherwise than as he received them himself; that he will abstain from robbery; and that he will equally preserve the books belonging to their sect, and the names of the angels.
[§146] 13. And they take great pains in studying the writings of the ancients, and choose out of them what is most useful and most proper for the cure of their distempers, both of body and mind.
[§147] And if any of them be condemned by the judgment of the sect, he is cast out of their society; and oftentimes he perishes after a miserable manner; for as he is bound by the oath he hath taken, and is not able to partake of any food communicated by others, he falls into starved conditions; so that they are compelled to receive many of them again in, through compassion to them, as they are ready to die.
[§148] 14. Moreover, they are stricter than other Jews in resting from their labors on the seventh day, for they not only get their food ready the day before, that they may not be obliged to kindle a fire on that day; but they will not move any vessel out of its place, nor go to ease nature.
[§149] 15. They are long-lived also, insomuch that many of them live above a hundred years, by means of the simplicity of their diet; nay, as I think, by means of the regularity of their life.
[§150] 16. They contemn dangers, and think it a happy thing if they die for the sake of God; and this they do readily; and they are above all men of virtue, and are zealous for the worship of God.
[§151] 17. There is also another order of Essenes, who agree with the others in their way of living, customs, and laws, but differ from them in the point of marriage; for they think that by not marrying they cut off the principal part of human life, the succession.
[§152] However, they try their spouses for three years; and if they find that they can bear children, they then marry them.
[§153] They do not dissolve their marriages for any reason, but live with their wives all their life; and they maintain that those who keep up the succession of mankind, and do not, by indulging pleasures, injure themselves, are to be admired.
[§154] But their course of life is better than that of the other sort; and they accomplish the intention of marriage without having pleasure in women; for as they do not use their wives as they are their wives, so as not to have children by them, but reluctantly, and as far as is necessary for succession, so do they avoid using them for pleasure.
[§155] 18. These are the customs of the Essenes. But they take great pains in studying the writings of the ancients, and choose out of them what is most for the advantage of their soul and body; and they inquire after such roots and medicinal stones as may cure their distempers.
[§156] 19. But now, after the war broke out, they were compelled to hazard themselves for their own safety, as well as that of the Jews; for some of them were caught by the war; and they endured torture and the instrument of torture, with an extraordinary degree of fortitude; and they could not be made to blaspheme their legislator, or eat what they thought unlawful; but they cheerfully submitted to the trials of their body, and thought that death, with the preservation of their former conduct, was better than life with the transgression of their laws.
[§157] 20. Nay, indeed, the war is now over; and those that had remained of these Essenes, did still demonstrate their firmness of mind to admiration; for when Porcius, who was left to keep the country for Caesar, after the taking of Jerusalem, attempted to make them take an oath of fidelity to him, they refused to take it; although they did not deny that they would perform what was just towards all men, and particularly to Caesar himself; yet they would not swear, because they had not so been accustomed.
[§158] 21. But as for those Essenes that survived the war, they celebrated the same practice to admiration; and, indeed, their resolute and constant firmness seemed to contribute greatly to the preserving of the laws, whenever any one attempted to compel them to transgress them; but it was principally owing to this that the laws have continued until this time.
[§159] 22. Nor do they pay any very great regard to the miseries they are in, nor do they alter their conduct under them; but they persevere in the same course of life, and cannot be induced, by fear or force, to call anything unlawful which their laws have not called so.*
[§160] 23. And truly, as for other things, they do nothing but according to their laws; and these laws were made by such men formerly as were esteemed of all to be the most virtuous of men; and they suppose that it is their duty to observe them firmly, and in the way they have enjoined them; and they take great pains in studying these laws; and indeed they are so very constant and religious in performing them, that if they be at any time forced to eat anything besides what is lawful for them, they had rather choose to die.
[§161] 24. They are also long-lived; and they contemn dangers, and think it a happy thing when they can die for the sake of God; and this they do readily; and they are constant in their perseverance of their conduct, and are to be admired on account of their justice, and their skill in divine things.
2. Antiquities of the Jews
Josephus mentions the Essenes several times.
A. Book XIII, Chapter 5.9 (Whiston §171–173)
This passage describes the three Jewish sects during the time of Jonathan the Hasmonean (2nd century BCE).
Book XIII, Chapter 5, Sections 171–173
The Jews had for a great while had three philosophical sects… The first called the Pharisees, the second the Sadducees, and the third the Essenes.
These last are Jews by birth, and live the same kind of life as do those whom the Greeks call Pythagoreans.
They are noted for the simplicity of their manners, and live in perfect agreement… They have contempt for riches, and their community of possessions surpasses all others…
B. Book XIII, Chapter 10.6 (Whiston §293–298)
This passage tells how an Essene named Judas predicted Antigonus’s death.
Book XIII, Chapter 10, Sections 293–298
And here it was that the Essenes… predicted many things from observation of the sacred books. There was one of these Essenes named Judas… a very celebrated man.
He once saw Antigonus pass by, and cried out to his companions that he was to die that very day…
C. Book XV, Chapter 10.4–5 (Whiston §§371–379)
Another account of an Essene prophecy—this time by Menahem, foretelling Herod the Great’s kingship.
Book XV, Chapter 10, Sections 371–379
There was an Essene named Menahem… He once met Herod when he was a boy going to school, and saluted him as “King of the Jews.”
Herod thought this strange… but Menahem told him he would indeed be king, though he would excel in fortune rather than in virtue…
3. The Life of Josephus
A brief reference.
Life, Section 10–12
Here Josephus describes his own exploration of Jewish sects, including time spent with the Essenes.
Life, Sections 10–12
When I was about sixteen years old… I desired to gain experience of the several sects among us. There are three of these: the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes.
I tried them all, and after I had continued with an ascetic called Banus in the desert… I returned and joined the sect of the Pharisees.
Banus is not explicitly called an Essene, but the description resembles Essene or Essene-like asceticism.
This is a reference article linked to a 3-part series on the Essenes, comparing their teachings and beliefs with those of Yeshua.
Part 1: Were Yeshua and Yaakov Essenes? A Comparison of their Similarities
Part 2: The Shocking Similarities between Paul’s teachings and Essene beliefs