After the Babylonian captivity (539 BCE) in setting up the religious organization of the country, Ezra established a group of "wise men" called the Sopherim (scribes), which was responsible for teaching and interpreting the scriptures. Only the men of this group were allowed access to the "70 holy books" (The Books of the Prophets).

    The Sopherim were scattered around the country to service the synagogues (or meeting houses if the organization was small), in the cities and towns.

    Difficulties with this organization became apparent over the years. To consult the Holy Books, the Sopherim had to travel to where the books were located, probably Jerusalem, and when an interpretation of scripture was required, all the Sopherim scattered about the country had to come together in order to get a consensus ruling.

    Some time ca 170 BCE the momentous decision was made, that to overcome these difficulties, the Sopherim would be broken up into three groups.

1. Council of the Community (scribes), would be responsible for the servicing of the congregations in the synagogues and would live in rectory-like communities in the cities and towns around the country as before.
2. Council of Holiness, would consist of those men preparing "to go into the wilderness" and join the most holy group in the country.
3. Community in Israel would be responsible for the interpretation of the scriptures.

    The Community Rule Scroll was prepared to reflect these changes in the organization.

    When this change takes effect, "the men of the Community would set apart a House of Holiness in order that it might be united to the most holy things." That is, it would house the men of the Council of Holiness and the 70 Holy Books. Also "the men of the Community would set apart a house for the Community in Israel for those who walk in perfection." This house would contain no altar because the inhabitants were so holy they did not need to make sacrifices. Their prayers alone were enough to please God.

    This building was located in that part of Israel then called "The Wilderness of Judah" on a site we now call Qumran.

Later History

    Qumran was damaged by an earthquake in 31 BCE. As Josephus says, the Essenes were "friends" of the Romans (they did not actively oppose the Romans as the Pharisees did, but they were far from "friends"), so there was no danger from them. So why did they wait some 50 years before rebuilding it and re-inhabiting it?

    In 67 BCE, the Romans drove the Arabians out of Israel and assumed sovereignty.

    In 63 BCE they imposed their chose of ruler, Hyreanus II of the Hasmonian line, on the country.

    In 40 BCE, despite Essene opposition, (they believed it to be against God's will to attempt to overthrow a ruler He had chose to rule over them), Antigonius, also of the Hasmonian line, led a revolt aimed at making him ruler. After two years reign, the Romans crushed the rebellion.

    In 37 BCE Antigonius was taken captive to Rome where he died, marking the end of the Hasmonian dynasty.

    In 37 BCE the Romans made Herod, a foreigner, ruler.

    In 31 BCE Qumran was levelled by an earthquake. The inhabitants believed this was a message from God. As was their usual practice, they looked to Israel's distant past to provide them with the clues necessary to interpret the message.

    In the events prior to the Babylonian exile, they believed they had found them and the meaning of God's message.

    ca 605 BCE, the Chaldeans defeated the Egyptians and assumed sovereignty over Judah.

    ca 597 BCE, they imposed their choice of ruler, Jehoiachin, of the Davidic line, on the country.

    ca 587 BCE, despite God's orders as issued by Jeremiah, Zedikiah, Jehoiachin's successor, again picked by the Chaldeans, led a revolt.

    The rebellion was quickly crushed and God's punishment (as it was believed to be by the Essenes) was severe.

    ca 587 BCE, Zedikiah was taken captive to Babylon where he died, marking the end of the Davidic line of rulers.

    Gedaliah, a foreigner, was installed as governor

    Jerusalem was levelled, the temple, the most holy building in Judah, was burnt and all but the poorest people were taken into exile in Babylon.

    It was not until ca 538 BCE, after 49 years in exile, that God forgave them and allowed them to return to their homeland and rebuild Jerusalem.

    The parallel between the two sequences seemed almost perfect, except, unlike the punishment meted out by God in 587 BCE, Jerusalem was not destroyed, the temple was not burnt, nor the people taken into exile.

    One of the obligations assumed by the men of Qumran (the members of the Community in Israel) was "to atone for guilty rebellion and for the sins of the unfaithfulness" committed by the people.

    They equated the destruction of Qumran to the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 BCE and therefore the earthquake was a message from god calling on them to suffer the same punishments on behalf of the people who rebelled in 40 BCE as had the people who had rebelled in 587 BCE.

    After removing their holy books to the safety of nearby caves, the men of Qumran burnt the contents of Qumran (which the Essenes considered the holiest building in Israel, equivalent to the temple in 597 BCE) and, taking nothing with them, went into exile in Babylon.

    Their forebears had to stay there for 49 years before God forgave them, so the men of Qumran remained for the same number of years, then returned to Israel in 17 CE and rebuilt and re-inhabited Qumran.

    It was here that John the Baptist, and Jesus repaired to when they "went out into the wilderness".

    In retaliation for the Essene-led rebellion of 67 CE (see the Habakkuk Commentary), the Romans destroyed their holiest building and the home of the holiest Essenes, Qumran.